21 applicants interviewed for seat on Chino Valley school board
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
CHINO - The four-person Chino Valley Unified school board spent Friday interviewing nearly two dozen candidates to fill a seat on the board.
The applicant selected by board members will serve a two-year term. A top priority during the term will be determining how to address a $31 million deficit over the next two years.
The applicant selected by board members will serve a two-year term. A top priority during the term will be determining how to address a $31 million deficit over the next two years.
The appointment comes just a few weeks prior to the Nov. 2 election in which two of the interviewers - board incumbents Charles Dickie and Sylvia Orozco - will be up for election.
Dickie, Orozco, board President Fred Youngblood and board Vice President James Na listened to each of the 21 candidates answer six questions for 15 minutes each.
"I think we have excellent candidates, and we expect to have a very excellent appointment to fill the vacant position," Na said.
Youngblood said he is looking for the appointee to be able to work with board members and have a good understanding of what needs to be done.
Interviewing 21 candidates in one day, Youngblood said, was a challenge, but he expressed confidence in the process due to the lack of outside interference and applicants not being able to "bid their time."
"This process gives us an opportunity to concentrate on what we're doing today," he said.
Among the questions asked was how the applicants would vote in a case involving a controversial issue - whether they would vote with their consciences or would they go along with the majority, and why?
Other questions focused on how applicants would deal with the district's projected $31 million budget gap, views on the roles and responsibilities of board members and the superintendent, the three most critical priorities for the district for the next three years and a general overview of the applicant's personal qualities and community involvement.
The board is in need of a fifth member after the resignation of former trustee Michael Calta in September.
Officials are working fast to fill the seat before Superintendent Wayne Joseph and his staff determine how to fill a projected $31 million deficit, which board members are set to discuss and consider later this year.
Applicant David Black said he thought the interviews should have been longer.
"The challenge for the board is to make the best decision they can in a reasonable amount of time," Black said.
Board members agreed to announce their decision at their Thursday meeting.
For more information on the applicants and their interview schedule, visit www.insidesocal.com/chinovalleynow.
THE APPLICANTS
Paul Vargas, vice president of government relations for Parsons Inc. publishing company
Peter Atwood, systems software programmer
Silver Aguilar, United Parcel Service plant engineer
Brandon Blanchard, district sales manager
Rolland Kornblau, school district administrator
Meg Savella, teacher
Eva McDaniel, teacher
David Black, solutions architect
Carin Taylor, substitute teacher
Mark Anderson, learning director, Rowland Unified School District
Earl Griffin, retired engineer
Barbara Marquez, teacher
Mark Hargrove, lieutenant with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Bernardino Rodriguez, community college instructor
Carol Main-Lerma, retired educator
Catalina Olvera, teacher
John Pruitt, human resources consultant
Rainbow Lee, Accounting
Michael Milliner, executive president AFSCME local 1902
Gina Kleeburg, homemaker, PTA member
Melvin Keith Dobbins, retired businessman and current SAG actor
Dickie, Orozco, board President Fred Youngblood and board Vice President James Na listened to each of the 21 candidates answer six questions for 15 minutes each.
"I think we have excellent candidates, and we expect to have a very excellent appointment to fill the vacant position," Na said.
Youngblood said he is looking for the appointee to be able to work with board members and have a good understanding of what needs to be done.
Interviewing 21 candidates in one day, Youngblood said, was a challenge, but he expressed confidence in the process due to the lack of outside interference and applicants not being able to "bid their time."
"This process gives us an opportunity to concentrate on what we're doing today," he said.
Among the questions asked was how the applicants would vote in a case involving a controversial issue - whether they would vote with their consciences or would they go along with the majority, and why?
Other questions focused on how applicants would deal with the district's projected $31 million budget gap, views on the roles and responsibilities of board members and the superintendent, the three most critical priorities for the district for the next three years and a general overview of the applicant's personal qualities and community involvement.
The board is in need of a fifth member after the resignation of former trustee Michael Calta in September.
Officials are working fast to fill the seat before Superintendent Wayne Joseph and his staff determine how to fill a projected $31 million deficit, which board members are set to discuss and consider later this year.
Applicant David Black said he thought the interviews should have been longer.
"The challenge for the board is to make the best decision they can in a reasonable amount of time," Black said.
Board members agreed to announce their decision at their Thursday meeting.
For more information on the applicants and their interview schedule, visit www.insidesocal.com/chinovalleynow.
THE APPLICANTS
Paul Vargas, vice president of government relations for Parsons Inc. publishing company
Peter Atwood, systems software programmer
Silver Aguilar, United Parcel Service plant engineer
Brandon Blanchard, district sales manager
Rolland Kornblau, school district administrator
Meg Savella, teacher
Eva McDaniel, teacher
David Black, solutions architect
Carin Taylor, substitute teacher
Mark Anderson, learning director, Rowland Unified School District
Earl Griffin, retired engineer
Barbara Marquez, teacher
Mark Hargrove, lieutenant with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Bernardino Rodriguez, community college instructor
Carol Main-Lerma, retired educator
Catalina Olvera, teacher
John Pruitt, human resources consultant
Rainbow Lee, Accounting
Michael Milliner, executive president AFSCME local 1902
Gina Kleeburg, homemaker, PTA member
Melvin Keith Dobbins, retired businessman and current SAG actor
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