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Lemon Grove board appoints Antonio Davis to fill vacant seat after interviews
Summary
After interviewing two candidates, the Lemon Grove School District board appointed Antonio Davis to the vacant Board of Education seat by a 3-1 vote. The board conducted brief interviews, asked standard questions, and administered the oath at the meeting.
The Lemon Grove School District Board of Education appointed Antonio Davis to the board at its Aug. 8 meeting, filling a vacancy created when a prior trustee left the seat. The board voted 3-1 to appoint Davis after public interviews of two applicants.
The board followed a process of two-minute opening statements, one question from each trustee and two-minute closing statements for each candidate. Antonio Davis and Serena Tortoriela answered the same set of questions posed by trustees about priorities, community engagement and how they would respond if approached by a constituent outside of a public meeting.
Antonio Davis, who said his children attended schools in the district and described his background as a military retiree and associate pastor, told the board his highest priority would be ensuring that "all children are able to go to school and get the best education they can receive" and emphasized a commitment to safety and student well-being. "I would tell them this isn't the way that you do it," Davis said when asked how he would respond if a parent cornered him in a grocery store asking for support on a hot issue; he added that decisions are collective and require formal procedures.
Serena Tortoriela said she relocated to Lemon Grove in 2021 and described long-standing volunteer involvement in school-site councils and PTA, and said her priority was the children's safety and support. "My highest priority always is gonna be the kids, my kids and everybody else's kids," she said. Tortoriela also said she would direct constituents to public comment processes and school-based engagement channels rather than offering immediate commitments outside a formal meeting.
Trustees praised both applicants' community involvement and focus on students. Trustee Chelsea Smith highlighted candidates' alignment with district priorities such as student safety and community engagement. Trustee Preciado said both candidates displayed passion and experience and encouraged continued engagement from both applicants regardless of the outcome.
Trustee Dorinda Miller made the motion to appoint Antonio Davis; Trustee Chelsea Smith seconded. The roll-call vote was: Trustee Miller, aye; Trustee Smith, aye; Trustee Preciado, nay; Trustee Ayala, aye. Following the vote, the board administered the oath of office and welcomed Davis to the dais.
The board asked both applicants to remain engaged with district volunteer and advisory opportunities even if not appointed. The new trustee will serve under the board's standard procedures and will be included in future agenda packets and assignments.
Votes and formal action
- Motion to appoint Antonio Davis to the Board of Education (mover: Trustee Dorinda Miller; second: Trustee Chelsea Smith) — outcome: approved, vote 3-1 (Miller: aye; Smith: aye; Preciado: nay; Ayala: aye).
