Philip Hu Appointed to AUSD Board of Education

The Board of Education for the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) voted Tuesday night to appoint Philip Hu, an experienced school board member and relative newcomer to Alameda, to the seat vacated by Trish Spencer in December.

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Hu has worked as an instructor and professor in the California State University and community college systems for 19 years and is currently the assistant general manager for Public Employees Union Local 1. He also served as a board member for the San Gabriel Unified School District for six years before moving to Alameda. He will be sworn in at the Board of Education meeting on February 10. Hu will serve out the remaining two years of Spencer’s term, unless a petition is filed with the county calling for a special election.

“I am excited that the board has chosen a candidate who brings both deep experience in education and a fresh perspective to our community,” said Interim Superintendent Sean McPhetridge, Ed.D. “I also would like to thank the many community members who stepped forward to apply for this seat. We are grateful for their willingness to serve our children, and we thank them for their commitment to AUSD.”

Twenty-three people applied for the board position. Three formally withdrew, and one did not appear at the first special board meeting devoted to selecting an appointee on January 22. At that meeting, the board chose 10 finalists, all of whom were interviewed Tuesday night before the voting process began. Through a series of votes, the board winnowed that list of ten down to two: Jane Grimaldi and Philip Hu. When Grimaldi withdrew, citing the need for the board to “get to the finish line,” Hu became the top pick.

“I am deeply humbled by the trust the board has placed in me,” Hu said. “I want to thank all of the candidates who applied; they showed me Alameda is teeming with caring, community- and service-minded people. The magnanimity Jane Grimaldi showed was beyond extraordinary. It’s time to get to work for the most precious resource we have — our children. I look forward to working well and collaboratively with my new board colleagues.”

Said Board President Barbara Kahn, “We look forward to having a full board once again and beginning a new era of cooperation, collaboration, and mutual respect.”

--Information and photo from Alameda Unified School District