Azusa Unified board elects new officers in annual seat rotation

The Azusa Unified School District Board of Education completed its annual rotation of officer seats during its Dec. 16 meeting, approving motions that install the district's leadership for the next year.

Vice President Benavides was elected board president for the term Dec. 2025'Dec. 2026 after a motion from Board Member Carlos Ramos and a second by Board Member Greer; the board recorded a unanimous hand vote of 5'0. The board likewise approved Iola Rodriguez Pena as vice president and, following an amended motion after Board Member Adrian Greer declined the clerk seat, appointed Carlos Ramos as board clerk.

Board members discussed the rotation rules, which the president cited as being in accordance with board bylaw 9 100, explaining the stepwise rotation of seats. When Greer declined the clerk position, he told colleagues that, because it was his final year on the board, serving as clerk would affect his committee commitments and asked to be excused from that seat. The board adopted an amended motion to appoint Ramos as clerk and voted to approve the amendment and the appointment.

The changes were procedural and carried without recorded opposition. Throughout the election items, votes were taken via hand vote or roll call with a consistent 5'0 outcome recorded where a tally was noted.

The board paused for a scheduled closed session and resumed open session at 7:00 p.m., then continued with recognitions and the remainder of the agenda. The new officers will assume the listed roles for the year beginning Dec. 2025.

What happens next: the board will continue its yearly committee appointments and assignments over the coming weeks, with members already discussing committee preferences and alternates during the same meeting.