Pomona Unified board has two new members
Author: Monica Rodriguez , Staff Writer
POMONA - Voters of the Pomona Unified School District on Tuesday chose to keep two current Board of Education members and replace two others.
Board President Andrew Wong and board member Adrienne Konigar-Macklin will return for four-year terms.
Board members John Avila and Steve Lustro will be replaced by Roberta Perlman, who was elected to a four-year term, and Jason Rothman, who will fill a two-year term.
The 22-year-old Rothman said Wednesday that first on the list of tasks the new board must address is the appointment of a new superintendent, and he will prepare for that.
To do so "I need to meet with all the candidates for superintendent," Rothman said, adding he and Perlman should have an opportunity to meet with the six candidates for the job.
As for the 2009-10 budget, which district administrators have predicted will require more deep cuts, Rothman said: "I'm not making any decisions until I fully understand the budget and then take it from there."
Lustro, who came in second for the two-year seat, said he's disappointed but never presumed he had the race nailed down.
However, in speaking with members of the public during meetings related to the superintendent search, people seemed satisfied with the school district and its leadership, he said.
"The community was pleased and supportive of the direction the district is going in," Lustro said. "So seemingly everybody is on the same page and then two new board members are elected."
Board member John Avila, who was fourth in the race for one of three four-year seats, said groups such as the Associated Pomona Teachers played a role in the election.
"The teachers union had a position in there to change the direction of the vote," Avila said.
All though he wasn't re-elected, "I'm certainly not bitter," he said.
The new board will not have an easy time, Avila said.
"The future is going to be a challenge," he said adding that regardless of who supported the candidates' campaigns, "I hope they keep the best interest of the kids at heart. ... I hope they all vote their conscience."
Board President Andrew Wong said there is a great deal of work ahead.
"I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work," he said.
monica . rodriguez @inlandnewspapers.com
(909) 483-9336
Board President Andrew Wong and board member Adrienne Konigar-Macklin will return for four-year terms.
Board members John Avila and Steve Lustro will be replaced by Roberta Perlman, who was elected to a four-year term, and Jason Rothman, who will fill a two-year term.
The 22-year-old Rothman said Wednesday that first on the list of tasks the new board must address is the appointment of a new superintendent, and he will prepare for that.
To do so "I need to meet with all the candidates for superintendent," Rothman said, adding he and Perlman should have an opportunity to meet with the six candidates for the job.
As for the 2009-10 budget, which district administrators have predicted will require more deep cuts, Rothman said: "I'm not making any decisions until I fully understand the budget and then take it from there."
Lustro, who came in second for the two-year seat, said he's disappointed but never presumed he had the race nailed down.
However, in speaking with members of the public during meetings related to the superintendent search, people seemed satisfied with the school district and its leadership, he said.
"The community was pleased and supportive of the direction the district is going in," Lustro said. "So seemingly everybody is on the same page and then two new board members are elected."
Board member John Avila, who was fourth in the race for one of three four-year seats, said groups such as the Associated Pomona Teachers played a role in the election.
"The teachers union had a position in there to change the direction of the vote," Avila said.
All though he wasn't re-elected, "I'm certainly not bitter," he said.
The new board will not have an easy time, Avila said.
"The future is going to be a challenge," he said adding that regardless of who supported the candidates' campaigns, "I hope they keep the best interest of the kids at heart. ... I hope they all vote their conscience."
Board President Andrew Wong said there is a great deal of work ahead.
"I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work," he said.
monica . rodriguez @inlandnewspapers.com
(909) 483-9336
Leave a comment