Dobbins chosen as new school board president

The Windsor Unified School District Board of Trustees on Dec. 15
unanimously selected Sandy Dobbins as board president for the
upcoming year, her second term as president since joining the
elected body in 2001.
Dobbins, the second longest tenured board member, declined the
same nomination last December for board president following the
death of her father. Now, a year later, she’s ready and eager for
the challenges of the upcoming year.
“I feel I have a thorough understanding of the challenges the
district is facing and I’m up to the challenge,” she said. “It’s a
good year for me to be president.”
District officials expect the next 12 months to include the
regular share of budget woes and cuts as the state’s fiscal crisis
continues, but Dobbins’ top concern on Tuesday was a possible
superintendent search. Superintendent Steve Herrington announced
last month that he would run for county superintendent this
summer.
With incumbent Carl Wong expected to announce his retirement
early next year, the trustees are realistic—and hopeful—that
Herrington will win the election. “We’re anticipating an opening,”
said Trustee Ted Seche at the meeting. “Yes, we are,” agreed
Dobbins. The board happily endorsed Herrington immediately
following his announcement.
Dobbins was last president in 2004, the same year Herrington was
found and ultimately hired in a superintendent search. In a
statement issued to the board, Dobbins told her fellow trustees she
believes she can lead a second successful search.
“This district will require a knowledgeable, steady leader
during that time of transition,” she wrote. “I was board president
when hiring Dr. Herrington; beginning with the superintendent
search through the final contract negotiations that brought him to
our district. I have a thorough understanding of this process, and
will work hard as the spokesperson and facilitator for the board
during this transition.”
Herrington said Dobbins brings experience to the board. “The
board is going to be facing many challenges, and being that she’s
faced many of the same challenges before she’s qualified to face
them this year,” he said.
Dobbins also listed the continuing budget crisis and the
district’s ongoing constructions projects as other major issues the
board will face in the coming year.
Trustee George Valenzuela was unanimously selected as board
vice-president on Tuesday. He will meet with Dobbins and Herrington
before every board meeting to set the agenda. “I think it’s a very
rational next step and I think it’s a good place to be,” said
Dobbins to Valenzuela after the vote.
Both the president and vice-president positions are one-year
terms that are decided by a majority vote each December.