The Belmont-Redwood Shores School District board has filled its Area 5 seat by appointment because no one ran for it. At a special meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22, trustees chose Rhut Vasavada, 39, a parent volunteer from the Central Elementary community, the Redwood City Pulse and the San Mateo Daily Journal reported.
The district is switching from at-large elections to trustee areas. The first two area seats were elected in 2024, and the other three were set for this November's ballot, but no one filed a campaign for Area 5, which covers southwest Belmont, the Daily Journal reported. The appointment is for the four-year term.
A 3-2 vote
Trustees interviewed Vasavada and Mirela Cukovic and chose Vasavada 3-2 after seven questions. Jackee Bruno, Anne Dang and Shelley Tang voted for him, according to the Daily Journal. "We lucked out either way, and we really appreciate both candidates stepping up and our new trustee," Trustee David Koss said.
Vasavada has lived in Belmont since 2019 and works as a principal product manager at Adobe, the Pulse reported. He is a Cub Scout leader and a founding member of the Belmont Dads Club.
What he's focused on
"Declining enrollment, financial pressures, potential school consolidations present difficult choices," Vasavada said during his interview. "Families want to understand not just what decisions are being made and considered, but why." He told the Pulse he wants to work with new Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero on a long-term plan centered on educational excellence, financial sustainability and community trust.
The district says it faces a deficit of up to $5.7 million this fiscal year and plans to use reserves to help close it, the Pulse reported. The board recently weighed closing one of its two smaller middle schools as enrollment is expected to decline over the next six years, but decided against it, the Daily Journal reported.