Two Local School Boards Have Vacancies
The Fullerton School District and the Anaheim Union High School District are seeking applicants to serve on their school boards through the Nov. 2026 election.
The Fullerton School District and the Anaheim Union High School District both have a vacancy on their respective school boards and the districts are actively seeking applicants to fill the positions.
After 29 years of service to the AUHSD representing Trustee Area 3, Katherine H. Smith recently resigned. During a Special Board Meeting on Oct. 2, the board decided to initiate a process to appoint someone to fill out the remainder of Smith's term, rather than hold a special election. The appointee will serve through the November 2026 general election. Applicants must be registered voters and reside within Trustee Area 3 of the Anaheim Union High School District.
The district is hosting an information session for anyone interested in seeking a provisional appointment to the position. It is scheduled for Oct. 13 from 5:15-6:15 p.m. in the AUHSD Board Room at 501 N. Crescent Way in Anaheim.
Smith was reelected to the school board less than one year ago with 52.92% of the vote over former AUHSD teacher Jose Paolo Magcalas.
The Fullerton School District is searching for a new board trustee and a new superintendent.
On September 10, FSD Board Trustee Aaruni Thakur announced plans to step down from his position representing Trustee Area 1 after nearly seven years.
Thakur, an attorney, attended FSD schools, met his wife at Sunny Hills High School, and his children were students at FSD campuses. "I am, and always will be, a proud Fullertonian. While I will no longer be serving as a trustee, I am grateful that my family and I will continue to be active members of our Fullerton community," Thakur wrote in a letter to the community. The board publicly celebrated Thakur at its September 16 meeting.
The board is now seeking to fill the seat to represent Trustee Area 1. Candidates must live in the Trustee 1 area which includes the FSD campuses of Valencia Park, Orangethorpe, and Pacific Drive Elementary Schools. Applications will be accepted until Oct. 17, at 5 p.m. Applicants are scheduled to be interviewed Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 5 p.m. in the Board Room. The temporary appointment would last until the Nov. 2026 election, when the position would be on the ballot. Find more information here.
Thakur's departure comes at the same time that FSD Superintendent Bob Pletka, Ed.D., announced his retirement. Dr. Pletka will retire February 1, 2026 after 13 years with the district. “This district is so much more than a system of schools—it’s a true community, woven together by people who care deeply about children and one another,” Dr. Pletka said in a press release.
The district has not publicly begun the process of selecting Dr. Pletka's successor. Visit www.fullertonsd.org/ for updates.