At its December 12 public meeting, the Board of Education for the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) voted unanimously to appoint Margie Sherratt to the seat left vacant when former Board Vice President Megan Sweet resigned in late October.
Sherratt, a retired AUSD administrator and former Board of Education member, will be sworn in at the January 9, 2024 meeting. She will serve through November, 2024, the remainder of Sweet’s term.
Appointment process
The Board voted to fill the vacancy through an appointment, rather than an election, at its November 3 special meeting. The application period started November 6 and ended December 6. The vacant seat and application process were publicized via the AUSD newsletter, website, and social media channels, and local media partners.
Eleven community members applied for the position. One withdrew, and one could not meet the criteria for becoming a board member. The remaining nine candidates were interviewed at a special meeting on November 8. Of those, the Board Members unanimously voted for Sherratt at the December 12 meeting.
“We appreciate all the candidates who were willing to serve in this capacity,” said Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi. “We were impressed with their qualifications and their heartfelt commitment to helping to lead the district, and we encourage them to share their time and talents with the district going forward.”
Experienced leader
Sherratt has worked as an AUSD teacher, counselor, and principal. She served on the Board of Education from 2010 to 2014 and was Board President from 2012 to 2013. She endorsed and campaigned for parcel tax Measures E, B1, and A and bond Measures C and I, and she and her late husband, Don Sherratt, also volunteered with the Alameda Boys Club, Girls, Inc. of the Island City, and the Alameda Education Foundation. She currently serves on the foundation’s board.
“We are grateful to Margie for stepping forward at this time,” said Jennifer Williams, who rotated into the Board President role at the December 12 Board meeting. “With the troubling news about the state’s budget and a renewal parcel tax measure on the ballot in March, we felt we needed someone with leadership experience as both an administrator and board member—someone who could hit the ground running. Margie fit the bill perfectly.”
At the Board meeting, Member Gary Lym also rotated to Vice President, and Member Ryan LaLonde was voted to the Board Clerk position.
More information is available on the AUSD “Board Vacancy Process” web page.
