Board appoints Jess Pettit to fill Trustee Area 5 vacancy

The Eureka City Schools Board of Trustees voted to appoint Jess Pettit to fill the Trustee Area 5 vacancy.

A committee member moved to appoint Pettit to the remainder of the term for Trustee Area 5; another member seconded the motion. Chair called for the vote and the transcript records members responding "Aye." No opposing votes were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Pettit, a longtime Eureka resident who described herself as having taught at multiple levels and recently worked as a substitute teacher across local schools, told trustees she applies her classroom and consulting experience to the governance role. During the interview, she said she would prioritize communication, teacher buy-in and policies that make contested decisions less ambiguous.

Trustees who spoke during deliberations pointed to Pettit’s neighborhood outreach—she described walking her neighborhood and talking with residents—as evidence of her readiness to represent the area. One trustee summed up the panel’s view by saying Pettit’s combination of practical classroom experience and local ties made her a good fit for a board moving toward competency-based education.

The appointment fills the remainder of the term left vacant when the previous trustee, identified in the meeting only as Jessica, moved out of the area. Staff noted the seat’s upcoming election cycle with filing deadlines in late July/early August for the November ballot.