LB School Board Applicants Narrowed to 22 (From 27) For Vacated ELB/Lakewood Seat; Details On Selection Procedure

(March 13, 2012) -- There are now 22 applicants (down from 27 after LBUSD says some didn't meet threshold requirements for residency in the area to be represented and voter registration) for the ELB-Lakewood School Board seat vacated by Dr. David Barton (citing health issues).

As LBReport.com has previously reported, LBUSD has chosen to fill the unanticipated vacancy by appointment rather than by a special election. LBUSD's selection process will consist of the submitted applications plus interviews.

The 22 applicants will undergo initial interviews conducted by a committee comprised of one representative from each of the following groups: Classified School Employees Association (LBUSD support staff), Association of Long Beach Educational Managers (LBUSD mgm't), Long Beach Council PTA and the Board of Education. The Teachers Association of Long Beach was invited to be part of the committee but declined in February, indicating it believes the Board vacancy should be filled by an election, not by appointment.

Below are the 22 candidates who'll be interviewed by the committee:

The applicants deemed by the committee to be the "top three" will be interviewed a second time -- this time in public -- with all members of the Board of Education at a meeting tentatively scheduled for Tuesday Mar. 20 at 9 a.m. (LBUSD HQ, 1515 Hughes Way).

Three days later, the School Board's four incumbents will vote to fill the Board vacancy, choosing their new Board colleague at a special meeting scheduled for March 23, at 9:00 a.m.

The new Boardmember will become part of a five member Board whose majority in the coming weeks will decide whether to approve or modify budget cuts proposed by LBUSD management (some to teachers/certificated personnel already proposed, others to non-certificated employees may be announced in the coming weeks). Decisions on what and whom to cut will ultimately affect parents, students, teachers and taxpayers throughout CA's third largest school district. In addition, School Board members set overall LBUSD policies on matters including school facilities, educational policies and multiple oversight areas.

Once appointed, the new board member will complete the remainder of the term, which expires in July 2014.

Watch for continued coverage of this story on LBReport.com.