By Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

Bob Fass was installed board president at the final 2023 Claremont Unified School District Board of Education meeting on December 14.

Fass, who represents CUSD’s Trustee Area 5, replaces outgoing Board President Kathy Archer, and will serve a one-year term. Archer will continue to serve as Trustee Area 2 representative. Trustee Area 1 representative Kathryn Dunnalso changed jobs, moving from clerk to vice president, while Trustee Area 3 representative Richard O’Neill took over as clerk. Dr. Alex McDonald will continue in his current role as Trustee Area 4 representative.

Fass, a 55-year-old Claremont resident and product of CUSD schools, said he’s ready to help the district that has served him and his family for many years.

“It’s an absolute honor to serve the district in this leadership role. It’s a district that I love,” he said Tuesday.

(L-R) Claremont Unified School District Board of Education member Dr. Alex McDonald, student board member John Ramirez, board President Bob Fass, board member Kathy Archer, board Vice President Kathryn Dunn, Superintendent Jim Elsasser, and student board member Abigail Kupetz at the December 14 meeting at which Fass was named board president. Photo/courtesy of CUSD

His priorities as board president include building upon the CUSD commitments outlined in its 2022 strategic plan.

“In it, there are some strategic initiatives to close the achievement gap and increase student success,” Fass said. “There’s a lot in there about student well-being coming out of COVID. It’s very important to me that we address mental health concerns and the development of the whole child. I’m particularly concerned with issues surrounding equity and continuing to make progress on those initiatives, including working with the equity advisory council, which is a fairly newly appointed group within CUSD.

“I think generally as we face declining enrollment and some level of economic uncertainty in the state’s budget, I’m really concerned about making sure that we’re able to make strong fiscal decisions for the future of our district while also protecting jobs and fair compensation for our staff and our teachers.”

Fass is also hoping the sale of the former La Puerta Middle School property to Trumark Homes, which has proposed a 56 single family home development with nine ADUs there, will go through in the coming year.

“It’s been a long time coming, and the funds will do a lot of good for our district at a time when resources are scarce,” Fass said. “It’s excess property. It’s not doing any good for the district right now, but it could do a lot of good if that sale is finalized.”

Fass said people can expect an open line of communication during his tenure as president.

“I think it’s really important that we are able to hear from the community members that we represent,” he said. “That includes students and their families, but also the community at large. That’s what we’re elected to do, and I hope that people in our community know that they can always contact me, and I will always respond.”

Fass said he will be student focused.

“It’s all about the students,” he said. “They’re our north star. And so everything that we do as a school board, every decision we make, every issue we face is about ensuring their success. And that’s the greatest privilege about being a school board member.”

The next CUSD Board of Education meeting is set for Thursday, January 18, 2024. Meetings begin with a closed session at 5:30 p.m. before opening up to the public about 30 minutes later at the Richard S. Kirkendall Education Center, 170 W. San Jose Ave., Claremont.

Visit cusd.claremont.edu for meeting info and agendas.