3 Positions Available for The Rio Hondo Board of Trustees

Rio Hondo’s Board of Trustees consists of five members that are elected to a four-year term; the terms are staggered.

However, there are three Included in this cycle, and two in the following cycle. The three positions on the ballot for this election cycle are area’s 1, 3, and 5.

Area 1 covers the City of El Monte, Area 3, the City of Whittier and South El Monte, and Area 5, South Whittier (East Whittier).

The incumbent for Area 1 is Norma Edith Garcia, Area 3, Mary Ann Pacheco, and Area 5, Madeline Shapiro.

Board Policy (BP) No. 2200 – Board Duties and Responsibilities: (verbatim)

I.

The Board of Trustees governs on behalf of the citizens of the Rio Hondo
Community College District. In accordance with the authority granted and duties
defined in Education Code Section 70902.

II. The Board is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities to:

  • Represent the public interest
  • Establish policies that define the institutional mission and set prudent, ethical,
    and legal standards for college operations
  • Hire and evaluate the Superintendent/President
  • Delegate power and authority to the Superintendent/President to effectively lead
    the District
  • Assure fiscal health and stability
  • Monitor institutional performance and educational quality
  • Advocate and protect the District

III. Sources/References:

ACCJC Accreditation Standard IV

While In an interview on Wednesday, Candidate Dylan Logas, challenger to Madeline Shapiro, stated that he intends to bring transparency to the position. He plans to bridge the gap between the board, students, and the community. Logas, a Rio graduate (2015 – 2018), currently works for the East Whittier school system as an Instructional Assistant, working with special needs students, and comes from a family rooted in the Whittier educational system.

Logas earned a degree in History and Communications at Rio. He was Student of the Year for Communications in 2016. Logas was on the Speech and Debate team. He won various medals competing in state and national tournaments.

Furthermore, his professional history includes the Peer Advisory Leaders (PAL’s) program, Pathway to Law School program, the Violence Intervention Program (VIP), and founder of Rio Students UNITE.

He has worked with the Faculty Union, Classified Union, the Academic Senate, and Associated Students, advocating for change. Logas believes fighting for change in this policy was a defining experience.

Therefore, resulted in his choice to run for Board of Trustees.

Importantly, Voting for California’s general election begins at 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Nov. 6th. In order to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen living in California and must be at least 18 in age and registered where you currently live.

Anyone on parole for the conviction of a felony or found mentally incompetent by a court, cannot vote.