AUSD Board of Education Announces Details for Boardmember Selection Process

Information submitted by Alameda Unified School District:

The Board of Education for the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) announced the details on its process for selecting a new boardmember.

Nearly two dozen candidates applied for the seat vacated by Trish Spencer when she became mayor of Alameda. Because of the number of applicants, the board plans to hold two special meetings, both to give boardmembers a chance to interview the candidates and to give the public ample opportunity to comment on the applicants.

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“What an inspiring sign of civic engagement this is,” said Interim Superintendent Sean McPhetridge, Ed.D. “I am delighted to see that so many well-qualified community members want to participate in this very important political process. Because of this interest, we have worked to provide more time for the board to make an informed decision.”

Logistics of the Special Meetings

The first meeting will be held at 6 pm on January 22 in Island High School’s gymnasium. At that meeting, candidates will have a chance to give personal statements, and community members will be able to provide public comments. Boardmembers will then select their top candidates for the position.

The second meeting will be held on February 3, at a location to be determined. At that meeting, boardmembers will engage more deeply with the group of top candidates by asking them questions. Once every candidate has answered the questions, the boardmembers will vote on who they believe is the best candidate for the seat.

Public Participation

Community members will be able to speak at both board meetings. They also are encouraged to send their comments about candidates to the Board of Education before the meetings. (Boardmember contact information is available on the AUSD Board of Education web page.) All of the candidates’ applications will be posted on the district website by end of day on Friday, January 16.

The meetings cannot be televised, as they are being held at school sites rather than at City Hall. AUSD staff will videotape the meetings, however, and post them to the district’s website within a few days of each meeting. AUSD staff will also live tweet the names of the candidates, the questions being posed to them, and the public comments.

“We are excited that so many community members applied,” says Board of Education President Barbara Kahn. “We’re looking forward to interviewing them and then collaboratively selecting the person we believe is the best fit for this board.”

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