The board of trustees voted Feb. 14, 2025, to provisionally appoint Dr. Jason Lau to fill the vacant Area 2 trustee seat and administered the oath of office the same day.

The vacancy stemmed from the resignation of Lucia Martel Daoud, which the superintendent said became effective Dec. 17, 2024. Superintendent Steve Martin told the board the district had 60 days to make a provisional appointment, with a statutory deadline the board noted as Feb. 14, 2025.

The board had received two applications for the vacancy. After the board did not reach a decision at an earlier special meeting, one applicant withdrew, leaving Dr. Jason Lau as the sole remaining candidate. Trustee Rodas moved to approve the provisional appointment; a trustee identified in the meeting as Kernard seconded the motion. The chair called for the ayes, and the motion passed. Dr. Jason Lau was then sworn into office by City Clerk Lindsay Laura.

Public commenters at the meeting expressed support for Lau. Maria Aguila, a community speaker, said Dr. Lau "will make sure that the students in San Rafael will be served," and Erica Erickson, identified herself as a former county planning commissioner and child-care commission coordinator and said she had worked with Lau and "wholeheartedly support[s] his nomination." A parent, Jackie Devereaux, thanked a withdrawing candidate for helping avoid what she described as a costly process. After the oath, Dr. Jason Lau thanked the board and audience, saying, "All I want to say is just thank you ... and I appreciate the opportunity."

The board also approved the meeting agenda at the start of the session; Trustee Kerner moved to approve the agenda and Trustee Bridal seconded. That motion passed on a voice vote.

No roll-call vote tally was recorded in the meeting transcript for either approval. The appointment was recorded by the board as approved and the oath was administered at the meeting.

Background: Superintendent Steve Martin summarized the timeline: the district advertised and accepted applications, interviewed candidates at a prior special meeting and, when the board could not reach a decision, continued the process. The board noted the statutory 60-day provisional appointment deadline as the reason for convening the Feb. 14 special session. The transcript records expressions of gratitude to both candidates and to those who participated in the process.

The meeting adjourned after the oath and brief remarks.