Meet Your New School Board Trustee - Bobbie Singh-Allen

We have a new EGUSD School Board Trustee. Now, Meet Bobbie Singh-Allen and see how she was elected.

Also: Listen for a special announcement. This week, RadioElkGrove goes LIVE!

Listen in New Window/Tab

In a rare look at the workings of the Elk Grove School Board, we'll see what went into the appointment of the newest School Board Member, Bobbie Singh-Allen, and hear from the new trustee on her appointment.

This, on today's edition of RadioElkGrove. Let's look into it together.

Don't forget to Subscribe, and share.  We have new links to Facebook, and Twitter on the left, and a new "Subscribe" tab at the top.

This week, RadioElkGrove goes LIVE! On Friday at noon, August 24^th, RadioElkGrove will have the first of our Friday call-in talk-show segments. Our scheduled guest will be Steven Ly, one of the candidates for the EGUSD School Board area 6 position.

The program can be heard online, live at noon, linked from our site at www.radioelkgrove.com. And YOU will get a chance to ask your questions. There will be phone lines and chat sessions where you will connect directly to us. All the information will be right there.

This is the first in what is planned to be a regular feature on RadioElkGrove. So plan to have lunch with us Friday, for this first ever live event.

It took almost 3 hours, and a split decision, but after a rare look into the working methods of the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees, a replacement was appointed Thursday, for the Area 4 seat vacated by the resignation in June of Pollyanna Cooper-Levangie.

Board President Chet Madison: “We did come to a decision in a 4-2 vote in favor of Ms. [Bobbie] Singh-Allen as board trustee of area 4.”

Singh-Allen between appointment candidates (L-R) Brad Lee Strong and Jose Reynoso

Photo Courtesy of Cody Kitaura, Elk Grove Patch

Singh-Allen was visibly moved by the announcement, which made her the first Indian-American to hold public office in Elk Grove. She called it very humbling, and stated her intention to place children first.

“I can't thank you enough for this tremendous opportunity. I won't let you down and I won't let our kids down. I'm here to do the work to put education first and our kids first. Thank you for believing in me.”

Ms. Singh-Allen was selected after extensive deliberations, and multiple votes which left the board, deadlocked until Trustee Priscilla Cox became the swing vote to appoint Singh-Allen. It was uncharacteristic of the board, which takes as a source of pride the unity in which they make their decisions. But as Trustee Bill Lugg said, sticking to their vote was a matter of integrity.

“There are just some factors that folks weigh when they deal with this sort of thing...if they don't feel they can compromise their beliefs, then maybe a split vote is what you have to take.”

The entire board admitted it was a very difficult decision. Al Rowlett:

“Folks, this was a marvelously difficult process. You folks distinguish yourselves and highlight the very best things about our district.”

But despite the split decision, board members agreed that the new candidate would be supported as part of the team. As Trustee Amavisca stated, herself casting a minority vote:

“It's not the first time I've been on the losing side of a vote before. As individuals we're nothing, but together as a board we are one. We will wecome the new person with open arms.”

Singh-Allen has a strong background with local youth and education, having worked on the board of the Elk Grove Youth Center for over 8 years. There she developed a student mentoring program called “Homework Help” pairing highschool AP and Honors program students with students needing help, and helping to develop a reading program for “at risk” children, and a Summer Reading Camp for the City of Sacramento.

The board was also influenced by Ms. Singh-Allen's application, including a letter of reference from former School Board Trustee Pamela Irey, and her passionate remarks in her opening statement about public education.

“I'm also an immigrant from India. I moved to this country when I was four years old...I am the face and product of public education. Public education...allowed this immigrant family to participate in the American Dream...So you could say I am the face of a true immigrant success story.”

We got a chance to speak to Ms. Singh-Allen moments after her appointment. [On Recording]

The new trustee will serve through the end of 2014, and the Area 4 seat will be up for a public vote in November of that year.

You can review your new board member's background by clicking the link here in our story resources. You can also experience the entire Board deliberations through our recorded archive of the meeting. (Click here).

This is RadioElkGrove.

Credits

RadioElkGrove is written and produced by Denny Gomez.

The program is hosted online by “The Internet Archive” creating Universal Access to All Knowledge at www.archive.org

Our theme music “Victory” and incidental music were written and produced here in Elk Grove by Local Composer and musician Jason Elmore.

Sources for our Local News Headlines Can be found on the tab “Headline News” at the top of our page.

To comment on our program, you can use the comment button at the bottom of each entry on our web page, or you can email "comments@radioelkgrove.com" And you can record a comment on our telephone comment line. Look for the link that says "Comment line" on our new tabs at the top of the page.

Do you have a story idea or resource? Email stories@radioelkgrove.com

This program is a production of RadioElkGrove and Denny Gomez who are solely responsible for it's content. You can contact the producer by email at producer@radioelkgrove.com

Thanks for listening.