Saugus Governing Board elects new president, clerk

From left to right, Saugus Union School District Governing Board President Christopher Trunkey and Clerk Paul De La Cerda. Courtesy Photos
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The Saugus Union School District Governing Board elected Christopher Trunkey as its new president and Paul De La Cerda as its new clerk during its regular governing board meeting Tuesday.

This is the first time Trunkey, appointed in November 2014 and re-elected in 2016, will serve as the SUSD Governing Board President.  He had served as the board’s clerk this past year.

“I’m grateful to my colleagues for the trust they have given me,” Trunkey said.  “I am most looking forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the board and the great employees we have at the district, from the superintendent and the cabinet to our teachers and administrators and our classified staff.”

During his time as board president, Trunkey said he hopes to continue to pursue the Saugus District’s goals as described in its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).

“As a board we have to look at all of (the LCAP goals), that is part of our job,” Trunkey said.  “My vision is the same as the district’s, which is academic and personal success for every child.  That informs everything we do, that shapes the specific goals we have as a district that are included in our LCAP.”

In addition to being a trustee for Area 5, Trunkey works as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Phoenix Pictures, a film production company based in Los Angeles.

His role as a finance professional for more than 25 years has provided him with experience in fiscal operations and information technology, according to SUSD.

Before he joined the Governing Board, Trunkey served in volunteer positions at West Creek Academy and at Bouquet Canyon Elementary as a member of the Site Council and PTA Executive Board.  He also served as a board member for the William S. Hart youth baseball program and as a member of the Hart District Measure V Citizens Oversight Committee.

De La Cerda

This is the fourth time De La Cerda has held the position of clerk on the SUSD Governing Board; his previous terms as clerk were in 2008, 2009 and 2013.  During his 12-year tenure, he also acted as president in 2010 and 2014.

“I would stress that having served now for over 12 years as a elected official, I am honored to continue to represent and serve an amazing community,” De La Cerda said.  “I look forward to continuing to deliver on our promises to our community to put our students first and support teachers, staff and administrators by giving them the tools to continue to be high performing in everything they do for our families and students.”

De La Cerda was first elected to the SUSD Governing Board, as a representative for Area 1, in November 2005.

In addition to his position on the SUSD Governing Board, De La Cerda is active in the LA County Trustees Association, Latino School Board Association and National Association of Latino Elected Officials.

“It was recently pointed out to me by a respected leader in our community that I am currently the youngest and longest-serving Latino in public office in our valley,” De La Cerda said.  “My response is that I certainly understand and respect the importance of diversity in publicly elected and other leadership positions in all communities is very important, yet I serve to represent all children and families in our our district which is wonderfully multicultural.”

In his position as clerk, De La Cerda said he plans to continue to work with his fellow board members to accomplish the goals the district has set for itself and its future.

“I would like to see us launch a Education Foundation that can support the alternative revenue needs of our school district and bring the community together under a common cause to support public education,” he said.

Outside of his position on the board, De La Cerda serves as the executive director of the East Los Angeles College Foundation, dean of resource and institutional development at East Los Angeles College and dean of Economic and Workforce Development and Career Technical Education at East Los Angeles College.

In these roles, De La Cerda is responsible for the oversight of grant-funded education programs, STEM programs, and engineering and technologies programs, among several others.

In 2005, he acted as the founding director of the College of the Canyons Small Business Development Center and as an adjunct professor in the business department at the local community college.

[email protected]
661-287-5575
On Twitter as @_ChristinaCox_

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