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Both the Hollister School District and San Benito High School District boards of trustees recently appointed new trustees to fill upcoming vacancies.
Two residents vied for the Trustee Area 1 vacancy on the Hollister School District board and, during the board’s Oct. 27 meeting, Matthea Anderson was chosen as the new trustee in a 3-2 vote. Anderson will fill the spot to be vacated by Kim O’Connor and will be sworn in during the board’s organizational meeting in December.
Anderson and Veronica Mendez applied for the vacancy.
Anderson lives in Hollister and has six children, four of which are in district schools. She is a former Hollister city parks and recreation commissioner and has worked as a dental assistant, receptionist and artist. She is currently a homemaker.
Asked by school board trustee Elizabeth Martinez why she is interested in serving as the Area 1 Trustee and what skills she would bring to the board, Anderson said, “I have a personal investment” in the schools.
She said she believes every child deserves to have their needs heard, their potential supported and an opportunity to succeed.
Trustee Cheryl Rios asked about the school district’s commitment to student achievement and what it means to the candidates, as well as how the board should support improved academic outcomes for all students.
Anderson said student achievement means every student should be supported. She said “everyone learns differently” and in order to achieve outcomes, policies should be put in place to support children and educators.
The prospective trustees were asked by Cathy Toste how they understand the respective roles of the board of trustees, superintendent and district staff, as well as how they would maintain governance boundaries while ensuring accountability.
Anderson said her understanding was that the board of trustees is responsible for putting policies in place so district staff can carry them out. If she were approached by a parent with an issue, she said it would not be her role to address the issue directly, but she would instead tell them where to send their concerns and be empathetic.
Regarding a question from O’Connor about how she would approach a difficult decision if community expectations, student needs and available resources appeared to conflict, Anderson said she would have an open mind and “I would want to have all of the facts” to make an informed decision.
Anderson said her goal would be to have the student’s best interest at heart in making her decision.
Asked by Rios to consider a situation where a parent contacts them directly about an issue at the school and asks for intermediate intervention, Anderson said she would be empathetic to the parent and let them know their concerns are being taken seriously. She said she would ask questions, listen and help identify appropriate steps.
In response to a question from Toste about collaboration with fellow trustees and the superintendent in a situation where she disagreed with a decision, Anderson said she would be sure to speak up, share her concerns and be courageous while listening to her fellow trustees’ perspectives. “We are all there to serve students and our community,” she said, and promised she would look for common ground.
Effective school board service, Anderson said, is about keeping the best interests of students at heart of every decision. “I have a strong willingness to help our children and be their voice.”
On Oct. 29, the San Benito High School District Board of Trustees appointed in a 4-0 vote Gladys Trejo Espinoza to complete the remainder of the Trustee Area 2 term. She will fill the spot of Miguel Sahagun, Jr., and begin her service on Dec. 15.
Trejo Espinoza will serve until the next election for district board members in November 2028.
The seat was scheduled for election this month. However, no candidate filed for the position. Consequently, the board was required to make a provisional appointment or call a special election to fill the vacancy.
From Sept. 29 to Oct. 16, the high school district board of trustees accepted applications to fill the seat. The applicants were Trejo Espinoza, Alberto Arevalo and John T. Ivancovich.
Trejo Espinoza, who works as a behavior support specialist in the Aromas San Juan School District, said she views the trustee position as a way to work together as a group. She said that as a trustee, she would listen to the concerns of everyone and she noted an effective school board has to understand the diversity of families in the district.
During questioning by board members, Trejo Espinoza said it is important for a trustee to listen, be open-minded, humble and a team player. The Baler alumna said she comes from a family of immigrants, earned a master’s degree in early childhood education and has worked with students, parents and staff members throughout her career.
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.
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