By Brittany Hanson/Garden Grove Journal
Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education was led by Superintendent Laura Schwalm and was crowded with photographers and press to witness the swearing in of Lan Nguyen and Bob Harden.
Bill Habermill, the county superintendent of education, did the swearing in, something he said he was pleased to do.
“It was a real honor when Dr. Schwalm called me to do this tonight,” said Habermill, whose career started in GGUSD. Habermill commented that he admired the work done in Garden Grove presently.
Afterward the swearing-in, Schwalm was given the duty of starting the nominations for president of the board. Lan Nguyen was nominated by board member Linda Reed and seconded by George West.
“I thank everyone who came here to support me, mom, brother and wife, I don’t think that I have Andrew here, he has a concert at school and his concert is more important than his dad being sworn in,” said Nguyen, “It has been a pleasure to serve on the board here and I look forward to more.”
Nguyen is in his third term as a board member in GGUSD, something he says would be a mean feat were it not for the support of family and the excellent work he said that is a part of staff and employees of the district.
Nguyen’s first duty as president was to pass on a honorary gavel to last year’s president, Bob Harden, who has been a member of the board for 16 years.
“Sixteen years ago I woke up the morning after an election and I though, oh my gosh I’ve won,” said Harden, “ I’ve had a couple of those moments, this time around . . . [watching the budget issues in Sacramento] I’ve caught myself thinking what have I got myself into?”
Harden, who is grateful to elected again, also said, “I love watching how this team is going to keep things running . . . regardless of what goes on up in Sacramento for the next four years.”
Next, West was nominated and voted in as vice president of the board.
Afterwards, the date and time of the future meetings were set, and the school board will still meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at 10331 Stanford Ave in Garden Grove.
West was also appointed as the representative for the Orange County Committee on School District Organization.
