School board shuffles seats

La Cañada Unified School District Governing Board President Ellen Multari and Vice President Andrew Blumenfeld swapped seats Tuesday night, as the board reorganized and elected its new officers for 2015.

Multari and Blumenfeld, both elected in 2011, are the more senior members of the school board. Fellow board members Kaitzer Puglia, Dan Jeffries and Davis Sagal were elected in November 2013.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to express my sincerest and most heartfelt thanks to Ellen Multari,” LCUSD Supt. Wendy Sinnette said during her superintendent’s report. “She’s a woman and a leader of the highest caliber. (And) she’s fun to work with. There’s a lot of work that this board does, and when you have someone you enjoy working with, it makes all the difference in the world.”

When it was time for new officers to be elected, Multari nominated Blumenfeld for president. The other board members unanimously agreed. Blumenfeld nominated Multari to serve as vice president, and that received a 5-0 vote as well.

Multari thanked Sinnette and fellow board members for their hard work and support. She offered special thanks to Blumenfeld, who she said has taught her a lot in their time together on the board.

“I have learned so much from you,” she said. “ I really value our relationship as colleagues and as friends, and I’m looking forward to this next year.”

Sagal was elected to continue in the role as board clerk. At the board’s next meeting, members will decide who will represent the district in a number of board liaison positions, taking into account any preferences members may have.

The new officers will take their seats at the board’s next meeting on Jan. 13.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine