Board approves uniform interview process and advances three candidates for Trustee Area Three vacancy

The San Mateo County Board of Education on Feb. 19 approved a standardized process for interviewing candidates to fill the Trustee Area Three vacancy and moved three applicants forward for interviews.

Board President Hugo Torres and Board Members discussed and agreed the Board would interview candidates individually, present the same questions to every applicant, allow follow‑ups, randomly draw interview order, and begin selection with a straw poll. The procedure was approved after a motion by Board Member Beverly Gerard and a second by Susan Alvaro; the vote was five in favor and one absent (O’Neill).

Following that procedural vote, the Board considered members’ top candidate lists and, after separate motion and second, voted to invite Edith Arias, Marco Durazo, and Manuel Santamaria to interviews. The vote to advance those three candidates passed 5-0 with one absence (O’Neill). The interviews are scheduled to take place during the Board’s regular meeting on March 5, 2025, and the Youth Commission Liaison, Bethany Zhao, will participate by asking questions.

The Board emphasized fairness and consistency in the selection process: candidates will hear questions for the first time at their interview and the Board will attempt to reach consensus in its final selection, either by motion or by voicing preferences until one candidate receives a minimum of four votes.