Meet the Finalists for School Board

After the Milpitas Unified School District board received for its , the names of five candidates were chosen and announced at the regular meeting on Tuesday.

The finalists are: Gary Cerezo, Cheryl Flesner, Danny Lau, Rajeev Madnawat and Demetress Morris.

Gary Cerezo attended Milpitas public schools in his youth, preparing him for a career with the U.S. Navy in which he later retired. Three of his children attend Milpitas schools; one has already graduated, and his youngest son will attend when he gets older. Cerezo has served on the school district's Community Board Advisory Council for three or four years and is a substitute teacher for the district.

Cheryl Flesner works as a registered nurse for a major hospital system. She has lived in Milpitas for nearly two decades. Her son is currently in college and  her daughter attends Milpitas High. One attends Spangler Elementary, where Flesner is president of the PTA. She has also served for several years on the school site council. She volunteers as the 4H leader for the 4H Club and is actively involved in the Mt. Olive Church Women’s Retreat Committee.

Danny Lau is a 30-year Milpitas resident who works as a program manager in high tech. He has two daughters who graduated from the district and a son who attends . He is a member on the MUSD Community Board Advisory Council and has been past treasurer for the  PTSA and was a member of the school site council. He is also involved with the  where he served on the board for 15 years. He hopes to improve communication between the school district and parents.

Rajeev Madnawat has his own law practice in Milpitas specializing in contracts, patents, trademarks and licensing. He serves on the city's Community Advisory Commission and as treasurer for the nonprofit Milpitas Community Educational Endowment. He serves on the district's and works with the Pomeroy Elementary School Site Council. Two of his children attend Milpitas schools at Pomeroy and Milpitas High.

Demetress Morris' resume includes school site councils and PTAs (Milpitas High, Weller Elementary and Rose Elementary). She has served on the MUSD Community Board Advisory Council, WASC Accreditation Committee, ESL Steering Committee, Milpitas Foundation for Education, Yes on Measure B Committee and the employment-screening panel to hire a principal at Milpitas High. She also established Flame Keeper's, an intervention program at Milpitas High. Two of her children graduated from the district and she has a 9-year-old at Spangler Elementary.

The Board of Education plans to make a selection on Tuesday after interviews and swear in the new board member on the same day.