The Moreno Valley Unified School District Tuesday voted to fill the board vacancy created by the retirement of Area 3 Trustee Cleveland “CJ” Johnson by provisional appointment.
“This is a very hard item to do, because the very first item that you must approve tonight is the acknowledgement of [the] board member retirement of Mr. Cleveland Johnson,” Claudia Jauregui, executive assistant to the board, said at the January 27 meeting.
Johnson, who submitted his letter of retirement earlier this month with less than a year left of his term, said serving on the board had been a “tremendous honor.”
“After careful reflection on my personal commitments, I have decided to retire from public service currently to prioritize my health,” he wrote in the letter. “I am deeply grateful to you, my colleagues on the board, and the entire MVUSD community for the collaboration we have shared over the years.”
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Because Johnson’s retirement was effective January 23, the district was not able to call for a special election to take place in June, which meant that the seat would remain vacant until after the results of the November election, which none of the remaining trustees wanted.
“Unfortunately, we’ve missed the ability to have a vote,” Board Clerk Rhodes Williams said. “And I think we need to fill the seat.”
“We don’t want those community members to be disenfranchised,” Board President Brandy Clark, who earlier called Johnson a “very dear board member and colleague,” said. “Everybody needs representation, and that’s what we stand for.”
The application window for those interested in filling the vacant seat will open February 2. Applications are due by 4 p.m. February 17. The board will then interview candidates and potentially make an appointment at a special meeting set for 5 p.m. February 25.
In order to be eligible for appointment, a candidate must be at least 18 years of age and a registered voter within Trustee Area 3. The person selected will serve the remainder of Johnson’s term, which is set to expire in December.
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