AUSD Board Vacancy: Applications Due September 11
The AUSD board voted to fill Jennifer Williams' open seat by appointment, not a special election. Alameda residents who want the job have until September 11 to apply.
By The Alameda Pulse
The Alameda Unified School District needs a new board member, and this time it won't be decided at the ballot box. The board voted unanimously on August 25 to fill its open seat by appointment rather than a special election, and it's now taking applications from anyone in the district who wants the job.
Why the seat is open
The vacancy opened up when board clerk Jennifer Williams resigned, effective August 12. Rather than spend the money and months a special election would take, the board decided to appoint someone directly. That's a common route for districts to fill a vacancy this far from the next regular election, and it means AUSD residents get a faster say through applications instead of waiting for a ballot. Even if you're not applying, it's worth knowing who ends up with a vote on your kids' schools, since the board sets everything from the budget to school boundaries.
How to apply and by when
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on September 11. To qualify, you need to be:
- At least 18 years old
- A California citizen
- A resident within AUSD's boundaries
- A registered California voter
- Not disqualified from holding civil office under state law
The district wants a Candidate Application and Information Sheet, a resume, and a letter of interest. You can mail those to Ryan LaLonde, President of the Board of Education, c/o Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi, at 2060 Challenger Dr in Alameda, or email them to klonergan@alamedaunified.org. Questions go to Kerri Lonergan, the board's senior executive assistant, at 510-337-7187.
What happens next
The board expects to vote on who fills the seat at its September 22 meeting. Whoever gets picked serves through November 2028, when the seat comes up again in a regular election. It's a real chunk of a term, more than two years, decided by five board members instead of the whole city.
If school governance is something you follow, it's worth knowing the board just worked through a packed August meeting on the budget and a housing plan, so whoever joins is stepping into a board with plenty already on its plate.
