Monday deadline to apply for FUHSD open seat

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

Monday, Oct. 10, is the deadline to apply for the Area 2 open seat on the board of trustees of the Fallbrook Union High School District. The area covers Camp Pendleton and no one sought the seat for the November general election.

The vacancy created by a failure to elect must be filled by appointment of the current board. The district has provided public notice of the vacancy and has solicited applications from eligible individuals.

At the Sept. 26 board meeting, trustees appointed Eddie Jones, board president, and Oscar Caralampio, clerk, to a sub-committee to review applications for eligibility and announce the names of the eligible candidates. Confirming eligibility does not mean that the sub-committee will vet the qualifications of candidates. Reviewing qualifications will be reserved for the full board as part of its deliberations.

The board is required to interview applicants and make an appointment prior to its regular Nov. 8 meeting. Superintendent Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez said there would be a special meeting to consider applicants on Oct. 18.

The individual selected will be seated at the board’s organization meeting in December and serve until the November 2024 election.

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements specified in Education Code, which include being 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the state, a resident of the district and Area 2, a registered voter, and not otherwise disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding a civil office.

The application period began Sept. 29.

Voters will select the other two board seats expiring this year on Nov. 8. Candidates in Area 1 are Jim Dooley, a retired engineer, and Courtney Hilborn, parent. In Area 3, the candidates are Paul J. Christiansen, captain, fire department; Jennifer Sexton, parent/revenue operations; and Karen CG Weisberger, retired science teacher.

Trustees Lita Tabish in Area 1, Elana Sterling in Area 2, and Diane Summers in Area 3 have chosen not to run for another term. Each was elected four years ago as at-large members, prior to the district establishing representatives by geographic area. None live in Area 2.

More information and the applications for the Area 2 position are available on the district web page, http://www.fuhsd.net.