Dana Dean’s departure leaves vacancy on district panel

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Dana Dean resigned from the Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees on Thursday after announcing her appointment to replace John Galvan on the Solano County Board of Education, effective March 1.

“The BUSD is a better place because of your leadership,” Superintendent Janice Adams told Dean. “She is a good steward of the community resources, and has produced excellent leadership during the most challenging years of public education.

“I know that you will bring your intelligence, your passion and your commitment to children to your new role at the county level.”

Dean, who was first appointed to the BUSD board in 2008 before being elected to a full term in 2009, will be the trustee for Area 3, representing Benicia, eastern Vallejo, Glen Cove, portions of south and east Fairfield, Cordelia, Travis Air Force Base and Collinsville.

“To say this is bittersweet is an understatement,” she said. “Five years is a good, long time. It’s been an amazing experience. Great highs, and really tough lows. But I’ve learned so much, and I take everything that I learned with me to the county level.

“The reason that I came to this position in the first place is this incredible community. You don’t see the kind of involvement that we have in Benicia in every school district,” Dean said. “What a place to raise your children.”

Dean briefly explained the process of applying for the position at the county level, after the board had decided to go through the appointment process instead of having a special election.

Dean said Friday she had considered running for a seat on the county education board if Galvan had chosen not to run in November 2013. Because the county panel voted last week to move its election year to even years, Dean’s term has been extended to November 2014.

She said Friday she intends to run for re-election at that time.

“Of the last 18 (county board) elections, 15 were uncontested,” she said. “The board has a fairly substantial amount of responsibility, but they go about their business quietly.”

Dean said she was motivated to serve at the county level for a couple different reasons. “I’m on the First 5 Commission, and have been for the past four years. That’s a countywide view of children’s issues from 0-5. I’ve taken a liking to working at that more regional level,” she said.

Also, her daughter Maddy recently graduated from Benicia High School, and is now in college. “I do feel like there’s something about having parents who have children in the system on the board that’s of value,” she said. “My time had kind of run its course on the board, and it’s time to move on and let somebody else step into that role, who is deeply engaged in the community. And I will move on to be deeply engaged at the county level.”

BUSD now has to find a replacement for Dean, and will do so by appointment.

“We have 60 days. We will advertise and then the Governing Board will interview and appoint a new trustee who will serve out the term of office until the next election,” Adams said.

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