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Jeannie McCaten appointed to ABC Unified Board to fill Trustee Area 5 vacancy
Summary
After interviewing seven finalists and a roll-call process, the ABC Unified School District board provisionally appointed Jeannie McCaten to Trustee Area 5; the board then administered the oath of office. The decision follows candidate interviews focused on enrollment decline, consolidation and student supports.
Jeannie McCaten was provisionally appointed to the ABC Unified School District board to represent Trustee Area 5 after the five-member board interviewed seven finalists on a special Saturday session and held roll-call votes.
The board conducted a lottery to set interview order, allowed each candidate 20 minutes for questions, then voted candidate-by-candidate. In the initial roll call on candidates, McCaten received a majority of votes. Mrs. Mendoza moved and Tatiana Yokoyama Buui seconded a subsequent motion to appoint McCaten under Education Code section 5091 and ABC board bylaw 9223; the motion passed in a unanimous roll-call vote (5–0). Dr. Zitlo then administered the oath of office.
McCaten, speaking after her oath, thanked the board and said she was glad to be part of the district during a time of important decisions. “It's all about kids and doing the best thing for um kids um whether they be high achievers or or struggling,” she said.
Board members said they were impressed by multiple applicants but chose McCaten because they believed she was prepared to help the board make difficult, near-term decisions about budget and enrollment. President Mr. Nishi opened the meeting and described the interview and voting procedures; Mrs. Mendoza moved the appointment and Clerk Tatiana Yokoyama Buui seconded the motion.
The board earlier approved a motion to excuse board member Olgaras from the special meeting, completed the candidate lottery and conducted individual interviews that emphasized enrollment decline, learning supports and community engagement. The board closed the meeting with an adjournment following the oath.
The provisional appointment fills the current trustee-area vacancy; any additional procedural or timeline items required by state code were referenced at the meeting but not detailed in public remarks.
The board did not take separate, public votes on other items during this special session; the district will update its calendar and governance materials to reflect McCaten's appointment.
