The Jurupa Unified School District Board of Education last week unanimously voted to fill the vacancy on the board created by the resignation of Trustee Robert Garcia through a provisional appointment instead of a special election.
According to Superintendent Trenton Hansen, a special election could cost the district up to $80,000 and would likely not happen until the spring, leaving the board one member short for an extended period of time.
“It’s my opinion that we should save the money and appoint somebody,” Board President Joseph Navarro said. “One is having to spend that money then six months without a fifth board member, I would think that we should vote to approve this.”
Garcia resigned his seat on the board the Friday before the meeting, writing in a Facebook post that it was “time to hang up [his] spurs.”
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“As I have reflected on my personal and professional commitments as of late, I have come to the decision that it is time for me to step down and focus on other aspects of my life,” he wrote. “Thank you to my fellow board members both past and present, the community and all my friends for your support. It’s been a good run!”
Garcia has served on the board since he was first elected in 2014. His current term was set to expire in 2026.
“It’s been quite an honor to serve alongside him, along with all of you,” Hansen said. “We’ve had some great experiences in doing the work, and so just again, [I want to] thank him for his years of service to this district and to our students.”
Applications for the board vacancy can be submitted online through a Google form on the district’s website or in person at the Jurupa Unified School District Education Center, 4850 Pedley Road, in Jurupa Valley.
In order to be eligible, applicants must be at least 18 years of age or older, a registered voter and a resident of Trustee Area 1. Applications must be submitted to the district by Oct. 28 at 4:30 p.m.
Following the application window, an ad hoc committee of trustees Karen Bradford and Melissa Ragole will screen the applications to determine the qualified candidates. Those candidates will then be interviewed by the full board at the regularly scheduled Nov. 4 meeting.
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