Union City resident Carlos Vallejo, who lives with his family on 19th Street, said that he has been thinking about becoming a member of the Board of Education for quite some time, and has even stated that desire to Union City Mayor Brian Stack many times.
On June 27, at 9 a.m. Vallejo was sworn in as the Board of Education’s newest trustee at a special meeting of the board.
Vallejo, 44, was appointed by Stack to replace Tilo Rivas, who was appointed in May, 2001. Rivas had to resign from his position with the Board of Education after he was sworn in as a member of the city’s Board of Commissioners in May.
“Carlos [Vallejo] has an avid interest in the education of the children of Union City,” said Union City Mayor Brian Stack. “He has children in the [school] system, and, as a parent, has a stake in the board’s future actions and decisions.”
The Union City Board of Education members are appointed by the city’s mayor for five-year terms. The terms of each trustee are staggered so that one trustee’s term expires each year.
The city had an elected Board of Education until 1992, when the city’s residents voted to create the appointed board.
In May, Alicia Morejon was elected to the Board of Commissioners to replace former Board of Education President Carlos Perez whose term had expired this year.
Parents know best
Vallejo, a father of three children, said that he will bring the experience that he has had and will have from his children to the board with him.
“With my life experience, with my children in the school district, I think I can make a difference,” said Vallejo. “There are many aspects that I like about the Board of Education and many aspects that I disagree with. We have to make the right decisions for the future of our children.”
Vallejo’s oldest child, who is now 18, recently graduated from Emerson High School. His middle daughter, 16, will begin her senior year at Emerson in September; and his youngest son, 13, will begin the eighth grade at Christopher Columbus School.
“I am very concerned about the education of Union City’s children,” said Vallejo. “While I realize that the Union City schools have come a long way in the past several years, I know there is always room for improvement. Education is our children’s future.”
Vallejo, currently employed with Popular Club in Garfield, was one of the original members of the city’s Urban Enterprise Redevelopment Board.
This board, which acts as the Board of Directors for the city’s Urban Enterprise Zone program, consists of the city’s merchants and two residents.
However, a conflict in his work schedule forced Vallejo to resign from this board.
“[Vallejo] is a very diligent man,” said Stack. “If he can’t serve to the best of his ability he won’t serve.”
Stack said that Vallejo, who now has a different position with his company, does not have a conflict with the time of the Board of Education meetings. Their public meetings are held on the last Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.