WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - On Tuesday, December 13, the Yolo County Board of Education held its final meeting of 2022, with an agenda that included selecting new officers, administering the oath of office to new and returning trustees, and recognizing an outgoing trustee.

The meeting opened with the board recognizing Trustee Carol Souza Cole of Woodland, who declined to run for re-election after serving two terms in office.

Board of Supervisors Chair Angel Barajas presented Souza Cole with an honorary resolution on behalf of the board. In presenting the resolution, Barajas said, “[Souza Cole] is an amazing leader in Yolo County for our students, residents, schools, teachers, and staff. She is someone that is definitely a role model for me and many people in Yolo County.”

Barajas and Souza Cole previously served together on the Woodland Joint Unified school board.

Souza Cole was first elected to the board in 2014 and then reelected in 2018. While on the board, she represented Trustee Area 5, which covers areas of Woodland, Esparto, Winters, and Knights Landing.

In her final comments, Souza Cole added, “Being part of this governance team has been so inspirational. I have worked with nine board members and two superintendents. The quality of leadership here on the Yolo County Board of Education is pretty much unmatched at this moment in time.”

Souza Cole noted that while she declined to run for reelection to the board, she has not decided if she will fully retire from public service. Souza Cole said, “I may or might not be continuing in public service but for right now, I am stepping off of the board.”

Souza Cole was also presented with honorary resolutions from Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Senator Bill Dodd, and Congressman John Garamendi.

During the meeting, the oath of office was administered to four board members, including three returning and one new member.

The oath of office for current trustee Elizabeth Esquivel was administered in English by her husband, Nick Esquivel, and in Spanish by her mother, Obdulia Munguia. Earlier this year, Esquivel was appointed to a vacancy for Trustee Area 1, representing West Sacramento. In November, she was elected to a four-year term.

The oath of office for current trustee Melissa Moreno was administered by former Assemblymember Mariko Yamada. Moreno was first elected to the board in 2018 and represents Trustee Area 2, which covers west Davis and Winters. In November, Moreno was reelected to a four-year term.

The oath of office for current trustee Shelton Yip was administered by County Superintendent Garth Lewis. Yip was appointed to the seat in 2021 after the seat was vacated by former trustee Jerry Jimenez. In November, Yip was elected to a two-year term to complete the remaining term for Trustee Area 4, which covers central and south Davis.

The board will be joined by new trustee Armando Salud-Ambriz, who was elected to his first term in November. He will serve a four-year term representing Trustee Area 5, which covers Esparto, Woodland, and Knights Landing. His oath of office was administered in English by his sister, Janet Andrade, and in Spanish by his mother, Dioselina Ambriz de Salud.

Tuesday’s meeting was also the board’s annual organizational meeting. Trustee Tico Zendejas of Woodland was elected president. Zendejas has served on the board since 2019 when he was appointed to an open trustee seat. In 2020, he ran unopposed for the seat and was elected to a four-year term.

Trustee Shelton Yip of Davis was elected vice president. Yip was appointed to the board in 2021 and elected to a two-year term in November. He previously served on the board from 2012-2020.

Additional information on the Board of Education can be located on the Yolo County Office of Education website at www.ycoe.org.