Without candidates running, Patterson Unified seeks school board member applications
The Patterson Joint Unified School District is accepting applications to fill two board member seats because no candidates filed to run for election.
While the board has experienced high turnover with more than 20 trustees in the past 12 years, Superintendent Philip Alfano said this election cycle marks the first time no one ran for openings in that same period.
Those interested and qualified to represent Trustee Areas 1 or 5 have until Oct. 9 to apply for a provisional appointment set to last for two years. Neither of the incumbents filed to run and their terms expire in December. The appointments, scheduled to be announced on Nov. 2, will come two years after trustees made a short-term appointment in the wake of a resignation, board meeting records show.
Trustees moving out of the area have also contributed to turnover on the seven-member board, Alfano said, adding that several races were uncontested the past few years. Current political polarization may have discouraged people from running for public office this year, Alfano said. He identified how local school districts more often implement federal and state legislation instead of creating educational policies like they did 70 years ago as another possible reason for the lack of candidates.
School board members often work to find solutions to problems, such as distance learning issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering Patterson’s many working families live in poverty, Alfano pointed to how trustees worked to provide free internet service in ways that boards in more affluent communities did not.
The board for the district of about 6,000 students also determines the budget, reviews expulsions and approves contracts with service providers. Regular meetings take place once a month with special meetings scheduled as needed.
“Even though a lot of the policy is sort of thrust upon us, your local board plays an important role in representing the community and helping us as a district understand how we adapt that state and federal policy to meet our local needs for families,” Alfano said.
Alfano said Patterson might benefit from the state reevaluating the requirement for district elections per the California Voting Rights Act of 2001. Given the city’s population of about 20,000 and how a few votes can cause candidates to lose, he said some might be more willing to run to represent the community at large.
If two qualified candidates compete in a district race, only one can win and join the board, Alfano said. In an at-large election, he said both could receive enough votes to serve.
“I’m hopeful that through the appointment process we can get a diverse field of candidates who maybe hadn’t considered or were afraid to run for office, but might be willing to serve if they’re simply coming in as somebody who cares about kids, wants to represent their community and is interviewing with the board for the position,” Alfano said. “That might alleviate some of the concerns.”
To bring different perspectives to the board, Alfano said the district is looking for diverse candidates in terms of socioeconomic, educational, ethnic and occupational backgrounds. Applicants must reside in either trustee area 1 or 5, which cover east and a section of west Patterson, respectively, and be registered voters and California residents. Board members receive an annual stipend of $300, district spokesperson Johnny Padilla said.
The school board member applications can be found on the Patterson school district website. Interviews are scheduled to take place during a special board meeting on Oct. 19. If there are no qualified applicants, the board will make appointments, according to a public notice.
This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
