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Alisal Union board honors late trustee Jose Antonio Jimenez, moves to appoint replacement within 60 days
Summary
Trustees held a moment of silence for trustee Jose Antonio Jimenez and staff recommended a special meeting and appointment process to fill the vacancy within the 60‑day legal window; the board outlined advertising, application and interview steps rather than holding a special election.
The Alisal Union School District board opened its meeting with a memorial for trustee Jose Antonio Jimenez, who the superintendent said died on January 12. Superintendent Missus Anzo described Jimenez’s service dating to 2018 and his role as board president in 2022 and invited family members to speak; Maria Jimenez, identified as his sister, thanked the board and praised his commitment to students.
After remarks and a brief recess for the family, the superintendent told trustees the seat is officially vacant as of January 12 and that state law gives the district 60 calendar days to fill it. "We have 60 calendar days to fill that vacancy," she said, and staff recommended a special board meeting to appoint a trustee rather than fund a costly special election, because about nine months remain in the term. The superintendent outlined a schedule: publish an application period (applications due by February 5 under the proposed timeline), have a two‑member subcommittee (board president plus one trustee) review applications, hold interviews in February and seat the appointee by March 11 to meet the March 13 deadline.
The superintendent said legal counsel has provided board policy and a memorandum guiding the process; the board emphasized the goal of a transparent appointment and said it will advertise and accept applications per the proposed timeline. Trustees did not take a binding vote on the appointment steps at this meeting but directed staff to schedule and advertise the special meeting and associated deadlines.
Next steps: the district will publish the application process and timeline, convene the subcommittee for application review, and hold interviews in February. The board indicated its intent to appoint, with the new trustee expected to take a seat in March if the timeline proceeds as recommended.
