School Board to Interview Publicly For Empty Seat

The Menlo Park City School District (MPCSD) Board of Trustees has begun accepting applications for the seat that will soon be vacated by Trustee Mark Box, who that he and his family will relocate to Barcelona this summer.

On May 31, the school board met  to discuss whether a special election should be held to fill the vacancy, since board members are elected officials, or whether a new board member should be appointed, since there is only 18 months left in Box’s four-year-term. The board to serve out the rest of Box’s term.

On June 8, Superintendent Ken Ranella held an informational meeting for interested candidates at the district offices in Atherton.

“We are seeing interest from the community,” said Carol Metzler, assistant to the superintendent, of the position. “I believe the superintendent has had a couple of in-person appointments, and a few phone appointments as well, so far.”

Though, as superintendent, Ranella is not part of the selection of the new candidate, Metzler said he has been facilitating the application process and educating interested applicants as to what it means to be a trustee.

“He can help them make up their minds whether they want to apply or not, and answer questions, such as, what is the time commitment?” Metzler explained.

Metzler said, applications can be turned in up until this Friday, June 17, and then the school board is planning a special meeting on June 21, which will be completely open to the public.

At the June 21 meeting, candidates officially applying for the board position will be given time slots and called upon to address the board at a specific time during the meeting. Candidates can introduce themselves, speak about their experience and interest in serving on the school board, and current board members will be able to ask them questions.

“It will be like any job interview, except it will be done in the context of a board meeting,” Metzler explained.

“The applicants will be interviewed by the board with no comments from the audience. Then, the board will deliberate with no comments from the audience,” she explained. "Then, a motion will be made by a board member [to appoint the person the board wants to fill the position], and then, at that time, comments can be taken from the audience, once a motion is on the floor.”

The new board member will serve from July 1, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2012.

Applications for the board position, as well as a list of qualities a desirable candidate should possess, is available on the school district’s website at http://district.mpcsd.org/.

For other questions, call the district offices at 650-321-7140.