Cupertino Union selects new School Board of Education member

Photo courtesy of Cupertino Union School District Facebook page.Photo courtesy of Cupertino Union School District Facebook page.

The Cupertino Union School District has a new face on its Board of Education.

The board appointed Sylvia Leong as its new school board trustee on Jan. 31. She takes over for Liang Chao, who was elected to the Cupertino City Council in November.

“On behalf of the CUSD Board of Trustees, we are pleased to have Sylvia Leong as our newest Trustee. We are looking forward to working together in providing exemplary learning conditions for all of our students,” Board President Phyllis Vogel said in a District-issued statement.

In December, the District voted unanimously to fill Chao’s through an appointment.  From Dec. 17 through Jan. 14, the District received 14 applications from community members. Each candidate was screened by a Board-appointed subcommittee and six finalists were selected and interviewed by based on Board criteria.

According to the District, the Board reviewed candidate packets and responses to interview questions. Board members took turns naming the person(s) they chose as their top candidate(s) for the appointment. Every Board member unanimously agreed that Sylvia Leong was the top choice.

Leong will complete Chao’s vacated term, which expires in 2020.

For more information about the CUSD Board of Education, click here.