Departing from its troubled political past, the school board has voted in a new president and vice president to bridge new and longtime members together.
The Santa Monica Malibu Unified school board elected long-time member Julia Brownley as president and new-comer Maria Leon-Vazquez as vice-president.
Since the November elections when voters placed three new board members — including Leon-Vazquez —- school board officials have been working hard to forge new personal bonds to avoid the partisan bickering of the past.
“This new cooperative spirit is a good thing (that) we want to continue,” said Brownley. “I want to encourage this new attitude of working together.”
“This new cooperative spirit is a good thing (that) we want to continue. I want to encourage this new attitude of working together.” — — JULIA BROWNLEY Santa Monica Malibu Unified school board member
The school board traditionally elects new leadership every year, even though it’s not written into the board’s bylaws. Last year, Brownley was vice president and Tom Pratt served as president, but Brownley previously served as school board president four years ago.
“I think bringing someone new in as a vice president is important,” said Brownley, who was first elected to the school board in 1994. “By the time it’s said and done, I would hope
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 12, 2001. Read the original PDF.