On July 18, 2017, Mrs. Cheryl Taylor, former Vice President of the Governing Board of the Duarte Unified School District, filed notice with the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools that she would resign as a member of the Governing Board effective July 31, 2017. At its meeting of July 20, 2017, the Board took action to follow the appointment procedure permitted by Education Code Section 5091 to fill the vacancy.

At a special meeting on September 5, 2017, the Governing Board took action to provisionally appoint Dr. Irene Murray to fill the vacancy. Dr. Murray earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Youngstown State University. She also holds a master’s degree in education from California State University Los Angeles and doctorial degree in education from Pepperdine University. Dr. Murray has over 27 years of K-12 experience in school districts and charter schools. During this time she has served as a teacher, Math Specialist, Title 1 Coordinator, Dean, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Dr. Murray has also worked as an adjunct professor for two universities in the education department. In addition to her experience in the field of education, Dr. Murray is a business owner in Duarte, a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and her own child attended Duarte schools.

Irene Murray is conferred with all powers and duties of a governing board member immediately following her provisional appointment. Unless a petition calling for a special election, containing a sufficient number of signatures is filed in the office of Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools within 30 days of the date of Irene Murray’s provisional appointment, hers shall become an effective appointment, and Dr. Murray will serve as a member of the Governing Board for the remainder of the vacated term through the next regularly scheduled election of November 2018. View Notice and Duration of Provisional Appointment of Board Member public announcement here.