Saratoga News

News

Local school boards swear in members to begin new terms

By Michele Tjin

December brought several changes to local school boards, as trustees who won election in November were formally sworn in to begin their terms of office.

At the Dec. 12 meeting of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District board meeting, trustees Cynthia Chang, Roger Mason and Michele van Zuiden took their places at the board table. Chang returns for a third term, while the other two are new.

The new members got their feet wet with a short and speedy meeting, which was done in an hour. Trustees received updates on funding issues and budget reports. Van Zuiden said she liked how her first meeting went.

"It was efficient," she said. "Everybody did their homework. It takes several hours of going through the material."

Mason said he also spent a considerable amount of time getting informed on the issues.

"It's exciting to be making decisions," he said, even though the ones he made so far weren't earth-shattering.

The board also nominated its officers for the next year, electing Chang to the board presidency.

"I feel that now that I'm in this leadership position, I will try my very best to be a committed and devoted board member," she said. "I'm very passionate about the quality of education of our kids and well-being of our whole school district."

Chang last held the post in 2002-03. In other board positions, trustee Rosemary Rossi will be the vice-president and van Zuiden, the clerk.

Chang said she was happy the new board members are finally serving.

"This is a team fully ready to take up the challenges we will face," she said.

The Saratoga elementary school district similarly reorganized its board on Dec. 12. At the Saratoga Union School District, trustees Jack Chang, Michael Gipe and Pragati Grover were sworn in. Gipe, who returns for a second term, was named board president.

Grover said she feels ready to decide on the policies for the district. Like many new board members, she has attended workshops sponsored by the California School Board Association to learn more about her role. She has also received help from administrators, as well as current and outgoing board members, to get herself up to speed.

"I'm really reassured that I'm working with wonderful people," she said. "Public school education has been my passion, and this is a chance to make positive contributions."