Melvin ‘grateful’ to fill seat on MUSD board

Rhonda Melvin ran for a seat on the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board last year, but came up short.

She came through this week, however, in a crowded field of contenders for another seat that opened during a non-election year. With the resignation of Leslie Carlyle-Burnett, Melvin and five others sought the appointment from the Pinal County Superintendent.

“I am very grateful and honored to be considered,” she said.

Melvin is a homemaker with an associate’s degree in early childhood development. Her three children attended MUSD.

She said she sought election to the board and pursued the appointment because she wanted to retain good teachers and “create a budget to assist in that area.”

Melvin said the county staff asked her how much time she would be willing to give to the board responsibilities. "Wow, they asked a lot of questions," she said.

She knows board member Torri Anderson and said she encountered board President Patti Coutre and member AnnaMarie Knorr after Superintendent Steve Chestnut asked her to attend budget committee meetings. She said she looks forward to getting to know them and member Gary Miller as well.

“I’m glad to have the seat filled because it’s helpful to have a full board when we’re going into issues we’re going into,” Coutre said. “We’re talking budget time.”

Coutre said she hoped everyone who applied for the position was keeping up to speed with the items before the board, but she expects Chestnut and Business Services Director Aron Rausch to give Melvin the necessary tutorials and training.

***ADVERTISEMENT***Melvin was informed of her appointment Tuesday. Chestnut said she will probably be sworn in at the June 9 board meeting.

The board had hoped to have the appointment made earlier than this week so Melvin could be sworn in tonight, with the new budget on the agenda. With the appointment only a day old, however, Coutre said they did not want to rush her.

Melvin’s term expires in December 2016. At this point, she said, she is already interested in running again.