Garfield Board appoints Adrian Diaz to fill vacant seat after interviews

The Garfield Board of Education on Nov. 1 appointed Adrian Diaz to fill its recent vacancy after a sequence of public interviews and an executive‑session deliberation.

The nomination for Diaz was made from the floor and seconded; the board then voted by roll call. Board members who recorded “aye” during the roll call included Taylor, Odo, Hassan, Quillis, Gabba, Patiri and Focarino. The board directed the superintendent and business administrator to complete onboarding steps, including fingerprinting and background checks.

Diaz, a sheriff’s officer and father of two Garfield students — one of whom has autism — addressed the board during his interview, saying, “We need parents with firsthand insight sitting on that table,” and urged stronger emergency‑medical readiness and better follow‑through on individualized education programs (IEPs). He told the board he would press for “training staff, not just for academics, but for medical emergencies and sensory needs.”

During his presentation, Diaz also said he supports expanding career and technical education so students have immediate post‑graduation pathways into skilled work.

The board’s appointment followed public, on‑record interviews with multiple applicants. Members first conducted a public interview sequence and then moved into executive session to deliberate. When the board returned to public session, it called for nominations and confirmed Diaz by roll call. The superintendent and business administrator were named as the points of contact for next steps.

Discussion at the meeting and during candidate answers focused on three recurring priorities: student safety and medical readiness in schools, supports for special‑education students, and creating career‑ready programs. Diaz emphasized parental perspective and operational experience as qualifications for the role.

The appointment fills the seat vacated earlier by a resigning member; the board said it will provide administrative guidance on orientation and the statutory requirements for newly seated members.