At a session that included the swearing in of newly elected trustees, one other turned in his resignation at the Riverbank Unified School District board meeting on Dec. 10.
Trustee Steve Walker has resigned from the board effective Dec. 31.
Walker and fellow trustee John Mitchell have come under fire for repeated absences from board meetings and Walker, in fact, did not submit his resignation in person, as he was not in attendance at the session where it was announced.
Stanislaus County’s Consolidated District Election was held in November and there were three open seats at the time on the School Board. Incumbent Elizabeth Meza, and newcomers Susan Taylor and Suzanne Dean were elected to fill the seats.
There were five candidates on the ballot including the three that won the race and challengers Charles E. Neal and Patrick Hagan, both of whom had the support of Mitchell and Walker.
“We would like to thank Mr. Walker for his two years of service on the school board,” stated RUSD Superintendent Daryl Camp. “He was elected to the board during the 2011 election.
“At a future board meeting, the Riverbank Unified School District will discuss how to proceed with filling the vacant board of trustees position.”
The newly elected board members were given the Oath of Office at the school board meeting and took their seats on the dais.
New trustee Taylor made the motion to elect Meza as Board President and Dean seconded the motion and with a vote of 3 to 0, Meza was named Board President.
Taylor was nominated for Board Clerk and Dean for the Trustee Representative to Stanislaus County Committee for School District Reorganization.
Board member Mitchell was absent from the meeting on Tuesday night.
Back for another term, Meza said she hopes the panel will shoot for some specific goals.
“My vision (for the future) is we will be a board that will set the example of leadership for the district through communication and engagement,” stated Meza. “I believe there will be challenges as we face new standards. Ultimately, Riverbank Unified School District will continue to strive for excellence.
“I am very honored and privileged that the voters allowed me to serve them for a second term on the RUSD Board.”
The meeting continued with business as usual as everyone settled into their new seats and positions.
Outgoing Board President, Egidio “Jeep” Oliveira and outgoing Board Clerk Ron Peterson were given special recognition at the meeting and a short reception followed.
All schools are now closed for Winter Break, the break running from Dec. 16 through Jan. 5. Classes resume Jan. 6.
The District office will be closed from Dec. 23 through Jan. 1, reopening on Thursday, Jan. 2.
