 | | | Parker Colvin Photo provided
| | | | | | It took less than an hour for the Moraga School District Governing Board to decide on Parker Colvin to fill the seat left empty by Dexter Louie's sudden resignation. The choice of Colvin over Dr. Irwin Tallarico, a longtime educator and former Moraga school staff member, is the triumph of youth over experience. None of the board members still has children enrolled in the district but Colvin does; the board also agreed that a fresh perspective was needed. The fact that Colvin sought a seat on the board in the November election, winning 3,206 votes, was an important deciding factor as well.
In his opening statement at the Dec. 20 school board meeting, which was held for the purpose of selecting a provisional member, Colvin reminded the board of his financial experience as an investment-banking underwriter that he believes convinced many Moraga voters of his ability to participate in the administration of the schools. "I want to serve for the best interest of my children and their friends," said Colvin, who has one child enrolled in a local elementary school and two younger children.
Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School math teacher Brett Lorie spoke in support of Colvin. "Our boys went to kindergarten together and Parker (Colvin) always showed a great interest in what I did and the school system in general," said Lorie.
Colvin's relative inexperience in the area of education was not seen as a problem for the existing board members, even in contrast to his opponent's vast knowledge. A current lecturer and instructor in local colleges, Tallarico worked in the Moraga School District as a vice principal and principal; today it is his grandchildren who go to school in Moraga. Board vice president Kathy Ranstrom remembered Tallarico as the assistant principal at JMIS when she was in middle school.
After hearing the candidates' statements and asking them questions, the board made its decision within minutes. In nominating Colvin, board member Kym Leserman said, "I think that he will bring a fresh perspective." Colvin's campaign rival Shari Simon, who was elected to the board in November, praised his cooperative spirit.
"I'm very pleased that we had two highly qualified candidates for the job," said Ranstrom. "Dr. Tallarico has such a breadth of experience; I was taking notes of all his excellent ideas. But what is important to me is to bring balance to this board. None of us have kids in the school district anymore and Parker will bring that connection to the schools."
Colvin was sworn in by Superintendent Bruce Burns and will serve on the five-member body until the next scheduled school board election in November, 2014.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA