The newest member of the Morgan Hill School Board, Don Moody, is
a long-time volunteer in the district who stays involved even
though both his daughters have now graduated from Live Oak
High.
The newest member of the Morgan Hill School Board, Don Moody, is a long-time volunteer in the district who stays involved even though both his daughters have now graduated from Live Oak High.
“I think it is my experience with the district that gave me that little bit of an advantage,” Moody said Wednesday. “As I listened to the interviews last night, I was impressed by the high qualifications of the applicants. I feel honored to have been chosen.”
The board held a special meeting Tuesday night to determine which of 12 applicants would fill the remaining two years of the term vacated by former Trustee Tom Kinoshita when he resigned in March.
Moody will be sworn in Dec. 6, along with the three top vote-getters in the Nov. 2 election.
In selecting Moody, the board conducted interviews with the applicants in an open meeting, asking each the same question. Then trustees voiced their top six picks, ending up with three finalists once the results were tabulated. Trustees then ranked the three: Robert Benevento, Jim NcMahon and Moody after another round of questions.
Moody said for him, the top priorities for the district should focus on concern creating a healthy district.
“I think we need to focus on creating an environment where students will excel,” he said. “I think we also need to create a good work environment for employees to succeed, which will in turn benefit our students, and we want to have a board that has a good working relationship with the community.”
He is optimistic, he said, about the state of the district and its future.
“Sure we are facing some challenges, among them the new board coming on, the hiring of a new superintendent, but I think overall the district is in good shape,” he said. “The reason for that is the people that are involved, beginning with our motivated students, our dedicated educators and classified employees.”
Moody has been a longtime member of the Live Oak Band Boosters and Emerald Regime. He also has been involved in community organizations, including the Live Oak Foundation
