Mayor Shuey, Meriam Among CVCHS Governing Board Candidates

Clayton Valley Charter High School's governing board might have some familiar faces.

Clayton Mayor David Shuey and former planning commissioner Ted Meriam submitted applications for the community member seats on CVCHS's nine-member board. The board will make policy decisions, including appointing the executive director, for the new school.

It's not the first time Shuey and Meriam have competed for a seat. The two ran for the City Council in 2010, with the incumbent Shuey finishing first in the four-person race for two seats. Meriam finished third.

In total, 18 people submitted applications to sit on CVCHS's board. The board will comprise of:

• Two teachers
• Two parents
• One administrator
• One classified staff member
• Two community members
• One retired teacher.

The teachers, parents, administrator and classified staff member seats will be determined by an election, with the teachers voting for the teacher seats, parents voting for the parent seats and so on.

Voting takes place in the multi-use room at  on Thursday, Sept. 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The community members and retired teacher will be appointed by the board's elected members.

Pat Middendorf and Neil McChesney, the co-chair's of Clayton Valley Charter Steering Committee, are running unopposed for the teacher seats.

Seven parents are running for two seats, two classified members for one seat and with CVCHS not having an administration in place yet, that spot will temporarily be appointed by the elected members.

No retired teacher applied, but McChesney said potential teachers are being recruited. If a retired teacher doesn't steps forward, it would be filled by a third community member.

Though the board is quickly being formed, Clayton Valley High has yet to officially convert to a charter school. The charter still needs approval from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District board, which is expecting to vote on the proposal at its Sept. 13 meeting. If a majority of the board members say no, charter advocated can appeal the decision to the Contra Costa County Office of Education.

The candidates for Clayton Valley Charter High School Governing Board:

Teachers (2)
Pat Middendorf
Neil McChesney

Parents (2)
Grant Brazan
Bill Holmquist
Megan Kommer
Jennifer Giantvalley
April Winship
Dee Coughlin
Alison Bacigalupo

Classified (1)
Diane Bailey
Nancy Kahl

Community Members (2)
Mark Weinmann
Lee Ann Pftozer
John Gray
Kevin King
David Shuey
Ted Meriam
George Somoff

Parentheses indicates numbers of seats available. For a bios of the candidates, click here.