Palo Alto Unified board swears in three new trustees, elects president and vice president

Miss Seagull was elected president of the Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education on Dec. 17, shortly after three newly elected trustees took the oath of office.

Rowena (recorded in the transcript as “Rowena 2”), Allison Camhi and Josh Salsman were sworn in at the start of the meeting. Each repeated the oath affirming support for the U.S. and California constitutions before applause from the room.

The board then moved to nominations for officers. A trustee nominated Miss Seagull for president; she said, “I accept,” and board members recorded student preferential votes before the motion passed. The board also nominated and elected a vice president; the transcript records a second, acceptance and applause.

Board members approved committee assignments for 2025 and the proposed schedule of board meetings for the 2025–26 school year. Trustees and the superintendent said a governance/onboarding workshop and several study sessions will be scheduled in January to orient the new board and discuss topics including the PUSD Promise, the budget and curriculum priorities.

The board named Miss Seagull as its representative to the Santa Clara County committee on elections, a role the board traditionally assigns to its president.

The meeting followed Brown Act rules: trustees explained that some committee assignments will be brought back for formal action at the Jan. 21 meeting because committee membership and meeting notices are subject to open‑meeting requirements.

The session closed the organizational items with a recess and then proceeded to staff reports and presentations.

The board adjourned after additional business later in the evening.