School District celebrates swearing in of new trustees

The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Board of Education celebrated the swearing in of four trustees earlier this month, two of which are new to the Board.

Trustees Mikki Cichocki and Mary Ellen Abilez Grande joined returning members Danny Tillman and Abigail Rosales-Medina to take the oath of office before a crowd of 100 people.

Cichocki recently retired from SBCUSD after a long career in and out of the classroom. A former elementary school teacher and graduate of the District, Cichocki most recently worked for the Positive Youth Development Department as a member of the District’s student Attendance Review Board and was part of pioneering work to reduce bullying and expand restorative justice practices.

Grande, a graduate of San Bernardino Valley College and Cal State San Bernardino, also taught in the District, working with older special education students at Anderson School.

The Board also held its annual organizational meeting Tuesday, re-electing Dr. Scott Wyatt to his second year as Board president and Tillman as vice president.

Former trustees Dr. Gwendolyn Dowdy-Rodgers and Dr. Barbara Flores were thanked for their service and leadership and were presented special framed resolutions, photo collages, and a commemorative trophy.