Incumbents Mary Dougherty, 57, and Joann Steinmeier, 47, beat out challenger Debbie Ewing, 29, for 2 Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education positions. A bond measure to raise funds to renovate AUSD facilities won by a vote of 71% to 28.3% (67% was needed to pass).
In the election for Arcadia Unified School District board members, it seems incumbents Joann Steinmeier and Janet Chew are ahead. Steinmeier is seeking to extend her five terms on the school board.
The Arcadia Board of Education swore in newly elected member Joann Steinmeier and re-elected member Mary Dougherty at an organizational meeting. Dougherty was also elected president as the board selected its new officers.
Incumbent Mary Dougherty and Joann Steinmeier were elected to the School Board in an election that brought out only 9.8% of Arcadia' registered voters.
Arcadia Unified School District has faced the reality of mid-year school budget cuts for the past 3 years. To prepare for a possible fourth year of mid-year cuts, the AUSD school board is exploring the option of a parcel tax, an amount to raise hopefully a few million dollars that would help offset what the State is expected to take away. Arcadia School Board Vice President Joann Steinmeier and colleagues are investigating the need for a parcel tax and what form it might take to get passed at the March election.
Arcadia School Board members unanimously approved the funds to prepare and file the necessary legal documents to hold a bond election on September 15 that could raise nearly $28 million to renovate the district's classrooms.
Two challengers and two incumbents in this month's school board election are vying for two seats. Mary Dougherty, David Leong, Joann Steinmeier and Annie Yuen are running in an election that could result in Arcadia's first-ever Asian school board member.
The new J Building and Music Building are ready at Arcadia High School, made possible by passage of the $28 million bond issue in April, 1993. The new facilities include the Library Technology Center, the new nurse's office, Associated Student Body Office and the Trading Post student store.
An evaluation panel of Arcadians for Arcadia has found each candidate running for the Board of Education to be well qualified. Their "best selections" are Mary Dougherty and Joann Steinmeier.
Due to a lack of interest in the two seats on the school board opening up in April, the election may be cancelled. If election is cancelled, the school board can appoint the people who have been nominated-Annie Yuen and Joanna Steinmeier, or appoint any eligible voter.