More than 4,000 Temple City residents went to polling stations on Nov. 6 to vote for local and state measures and candidates in the midterm elections, including up to three of the nine candidates for the Temple City Unified School District Board of Education.
Dr. Mike Lin and Ms. Donna Georgino, both first-term board members, will be serving four-year terms starting in December.
“The first thing I plan to do is to work with the hiring committee to select the most qualified applicant for the school district’s superintendent position,” Dr. Lin said. “I plan to work with fellow school board members to govern through supporting the superintendent and provide the superintendent regular reviews on his/her performance.”
Voters also elected Mr. Matt Smith to a two-year position on the board that was formerly held by Mr. George Goold.
Mr. Goold was appointed on Aug. 17, 2016 to replace Mr. Robert Ridley after his resignation, but the final two years of the term were on the ballot in this election cycle due to state law.
Mr. Smith previously served on the board for 15 years, four of those years as the school board president. He was also on the Temple City Chamber of Commerce board and the chair of the San Gabriel Valley Legislative Coalition of Chambers.
“Board members need to be transparent and act with dignity,” Mr. Smith said. “Board members always need to remember that doing what’s best for students is our number one priority.”
Dr. Lin worked in TCUSD for seven years as an administrator, including as the principal of La Rosa Elementary school from 2010 to 2014. He has been the principal of KL Carver Elementary School in San Marino since 2016.
Ms. Georgino was the director of Parks and Recreation for 25 years in Duarte and the Regional Occupational Program teacher at Duarte High School for 16 years. She also wrote grants for the city.
“As an alumna of TCHS and the parent of a TCHS graduate, I have a deep commitment to TCUSD,” Ms. Georgino said. “I am very hopeful that I can use my education, skills and experiences to help govern the district in a way that provides all students with the best possible educational opportunities.”
Six other candidates for the board were on the ballot, including incumbents Mr. Vinson Bell and Ms. Louise Huff as well as Mr. Greg Rodriguez, Mr. Joe Pacilio, Ms. Cindy Vance and Mr. Kien Tiet.
The board members who will remain on the board after the new members take office are Board President Mr. Larry Marston and member Mr. Kenneth Knollenberg. Both of their terms will end in 2020.
TCHS School Newspaper