MONROVIA >> The president of the Monrovia Unified School Board’s decision to not seek re-election ensures there will be one new face on the board after Tuesday’s election.
Alex Zucco is seeking re-election to a second term and challengers Scott Pomrehn, Terrence Williams and Ruhiyyih Yuille are also seeking one of two seats on the board.
Zucco, who is a field representative for Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, said there is more work for her to do on the board.
She said with the new Local Control Funding Formula, she hopes to get as many community members involved as possible.
“There is a perception that in the past we’ve had very little control over our funding,” she said. “It might take a little bit of effort to get the community involved because their input is going to be critical.”
If she is re-elected, some of her goals include: developing a facility plan to maintain school campuses, bringing back an annual joint meeting with the City Council and moving the school board elections to coincide with the city’s elections in the spring.
Pomrehn, who has worked in public administration in different cities and was the executive director of a learning center in Downey, is a first-time candidate.
“I’ve worked with city councils for over two decades,” he said. “The business part of running a school district, I totally understand that.”
Pomrehn said he’s been working on getting people registered to vote.
“Should I win, it will be because of a lot of first-time voters,” he said.
If he is elected, he said he will be a facilitator.
Williams, who is a managing partner of a trucking company, sought a seat on the school board two years ago.
He said he has a passion for children from his involvement in the Monrovia Schools Foundation, Kiwanis Club and Town Council.
“Transparency right off the bat,” he said. “I’m going in as a parent. I’m going to think like a parent. I’m going to respond like a parent.”
He said he has plans to reach out to businesses to help subsidize funding efforts for PTA groups.
“It’s all about aligning myself up with 6,000 kids in the district. That’s my motto,” he said. “That will set the tone for any drama coming my way.”
Yuille, a Baldwin Park teacher, is also running for the first time.
“One of the greatest strengths I will bring is a real clear understanding of what is needed in a modern, educational setting, in the battlefield, in the classroom,” she said.
She said she is going to be dedicated to teacher training, professional development and student achievement.
“I haven’t spend a lot of time critiquing our current board,” she said. “Instead, I’m trying to figure out what makes the best functioning board.”
She said her leadership style is focused on collaboration,
