LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — After losing two of its members earlier this fall, on Wednesday the Middletown Unified School District Board of Trustees finalized the process to select two community members to fill the vacancies.
Appointed to fill the seats are veteran county educator Annette Lee and businesswoman and teacher Allison Berlogar. Both women also have children attending school in the district.
The first of the board vacancies was created when LaTrease Walker abruptly resigned her seat during a heated Oct. 13 meeting in which a group of angry community members confronted the board over COVID-19-related mandates.
Walker, elected in 2018, sided with those against the mandates, saying her own children would not be vaccinated.
The following month, Trustee Thad Owens resigned. He also was elected in 2018 and is a principal in the Konocti Unified School District.
Middletown Unified Superintendent Tim Gill told Lake County News that in his resignation letter, Owens did not give a reason for his decision to leave the board.
The district held a public recruitment for board candidates and received applications from 10 community members.
In addition to Berloger and Lee, Michael Beehler, Kelly Fairless, Todd Fiora, Janina Hoskins, Chris Ochs, Bryan Pullman, Charise Reynolds and Kurtis Woodard applied for the board positions.
During a special board meeting Wednesday night at Middletown High School, board members Misha Grothe, Zoi Bracisco and Larry Allen interviewed the 10 applicants in open session following a random number draw by candidates to determine interview sequencing, Gill said.
Gill said each candidate was asked the same five questions and the opportunity was provided for public comment following the interviews. There was no public comment.
Following the board’s deliberation, the trustees voted to appoint Lee and Berlogar, who then were sworn in, Gill said.
Lee is a longtime educator who currently teaches at Woodland Community College. She formerly served as dean of the college’s Clear Lake Campus.
Lee, who holds a master's degree in business administration, graduated from Middletown Unified and has two children currently attending schools in the district. The district said Lee “brings a wealth of education knowledge to the board and will be a valuable asset.”
Berlogar is a longtime community member and business owner. She has taught for the district as well as been an active volunteer. She has two children, one of whom graduated from the district and the other who is attending school in Middletown Unified.
“Her ties to the community and perspective as a parent and former teacher are a welcome addition to the dynamic of the board,” the district said in a Thursday statement.
The board thanked all of the applicants for putting themselves up for consideration for the positions and for participating in the interview process.
“Their willingness to stand up and serve their community and students is admirable and appreciated. We look forward to leading the district forward and striving to bring the best possible education to our students,” the district statement said.
Pursuant to California Ed Code section 5092 and 6091, members of the public are advised that unless a petition calling for a special election containing a sufficient number of signatures is filed in the office of county superintendent of schools within 30 days of the date of these provisional appointments, they shall become effective appointments.
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