New school board member sworn in

Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board members and Supt. Tracey Lopeman welcomed their newest school board member, Carolyn Lopez, during a brief swearing-in ceremony last night.

Board President Robert Downey swore in Lopez while her family and other invited guests watched in the district’s boardroom on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway.

Following the ceremony, Lopez said she believes she has prepared as best as she can for tonight’s school board meeting, her first.

“I think I need to learn a lot,” she said.

Lopez said she studied board policy and watched previous board meetings posted online to get ready for her new role.

Pinal County Schools Supt. Jill Broussard appointed Lopez last month among six finalists for the position. The seat was vacated by longtime school board member Gary Miller, who resigned in September, citing changes in his career.

Lopez told InMaricopa in an interview after her appointment she believes special education issues are where she can make her greatest contribution.

Lopez has more than 20 years of experience in education to share.

She has been a board member and parent committee member for Pinal Gila County Child Services, based in Casa Grande.

“I started getting involved with her in the realm of disabilities, education, and through her therapies,” Lopez said last month about her adult daughter, who lives with cerebral palsy and mental disabilities. “I went into advocating for parents with kids of disabilities.”