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JUDITH SCOTT - JSCOTT@SIERRASTAR.COM
JUDITH SCOTT/SIERRA STAR
Newly appointed YJUHSD board member Linda Olson will represent the Coarsegold
area for the next 14 months.
Monday
night a special board meeting was held to appoint the vacated Coarsegold
representative for the Yosemite Joint Union High School District (YJUHSD)
Board of Trustees. Linda Olson found herself at the end of that meeting
sharing the stage with the rest of the board members.
Four people applied to fill the vacant position of the board representing
the Coarsegold area. Bill McCabe set the stage by stating the rules that
were to be applied to each applicant. He explained to the audience and
the board members that because of the resignation by Dave Hartesveldt
“the board has an obligation to fill the seat within 60 days.” He also
reminded everyone in attendance that the appointment for this seat would
be eligible immediately to sit on the board, but the appointment was provisional
until the final appointment was made during the September board meeting.
The procedure that followed consisted of each candidates name being thrown
into a hat, and the names were retrieved in the order that they would
be interviewed by the board members. After each applicant received a number,
they were placed in an office and each called into the board room for
the interviewing process. After each applicant was interviewed, they could
remain to hear the interviews of the others or could leave the board room.
Each applicant after being interviewed remained to hear the competition.
The board members were each given ten questions that each respondent would
answer. The applicant themselves also had a hard copy of the questions
being asked of them.
The first applicant was Tammy Loveland. A Yosemite High School graduate
and Coarsegold resident. Her reasons for running for the vacant position
included community involvement, education and children. Ms. Loveland stated,
“We’re here as leaders ... [it’s] important to set policy.” Ms. Loveland
is currently a manager of Costco in Fresno.
The second applicant was Don Lescoulie. The lawyer with a practice in
Fresno stated his reasoning behind running for the position. “A lot of
what I do is decision making ... you hope to make the right decision ...
in public education ... it deserves our time and attention.” When asked
about what he would do on a board with limited resources (money) Mr. Lescoulie
said that he would take the resources available and turn them into the
best benefits for the kids. Mr. Lescoulie found himself surrounded by
support. After the cessation of the interviews, several people in attendance
stood and vocally supported Mr. Lescoulie for the position.
The third candidate was Linda Olson. Her first statement was “I’ve been
involved in education my whole life.” And she went on to confirm that
statement by stating that she had served on educational governing boards
for a quarter of a century. “I believe in the roll of education,” and
she continued, “[I am] ready to get back into stuff that will help the
community.” Ms. Olson is a recent resident to the Coarsegold area. She
and her husband are currently building a home in Coarsegold, and when
the structure is finished, they plan on retiring there.
The final candidate was Scott Larson. Mr. Larson is a Sierra High School
graduate and a local resident since 1971. He has seen many changes. At
one point in his career, he was a teacher for Oak Creek Intermediate school
for 10 years. Currently he works as a senior biologist in Fresno. Mr.
Larson’s priorities as a board member included supporting school staff,
meeting student needs, school environment, instructional needs and programs
(sports, vocational, etc.) “They need to be well rounded when they leave,”
stated Mr. Larson. He also stated that a board member should be visible
and accessible to the community they serve. He stated to the board members
that when he was teaching there were times that he never knew who was
on the school board.
When all was said and done, it was the responsibility of the current board
to make the final decision as to who would fill the Coarsegold position.
Each board member discussed how they felt about each candidate and then
a nomination was made. Tom Allcock, YJUHSD president and board member
representing Ahwahnee, stated that he was “saddened that I only get to
pick one person.” Karen Hutchings, YJUHSD board member representing Raymond,
nominated Linda Olson for the position. Priscilla Pike, YJUHSD board member
representing Oakhurst, seconded the motion. Mr. Allcock asked all board
members who were in favor of Linda Olson state aye. Ms. Hutchings, Ms.
Pike and Mr. Allcock all stated aye, while Bert McSwain, YJUHSD board
member representing Bass Lake, voted against the majority of the members.
Mr. Allcock counted three votes in favor of Ms. Olson, and so she joined
the others at the front of the room. She proudly took her seat as the
new YJUHSD board member representing the Coarsegold area.
Ms. Olson will serve in this position for approximately the next 14 months.
After the 14 month appointment, Ms. Olson will have to run in a public
election in 2004. Tom Allcock’s and Karen Hutchings’ appointments will
also expire in 2004.
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