GALT, CA (MPG) - A couple of new faces and a few familiar ones were sworn into office last week for seats on both the Galt High School and Elementary School districts’ board of trustees, marking a new era for both bodies.  

The Galt Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees held a swearing-in ceremony for incoming Area 3 Trustee Karol Messersmith, who narrowly defeated longtime incumbent Patrick Maple with 51% percent of the vote. She was joined during the ceremony by Area 5 Trustee Terry Parker, who ran unopposed and will serve a second term on the board. 

“Merry Christmas and thank you for all giving me the opportunity to try to serve,” Messersmith said during the Dec. 19 meeting. “Please feel free to ask me a question; I probably won’t have the answer, but I will try to serve my best.” 

During their annual reorganization of the board, Parker was tapped as its latest president, while Area 1 Trustee Mark Beck was named board clerk. 

Area 4 Trustee Melissa Neuburger, Area 2 Trustee Dennis Richardson and Beck will serve until their terms expire in December 2026.  

Before the board held the swearing-in ceremony, Maple, who had served as a trustee for more than 15 years across multiple stints and had a 55-year career as both a coach and educator, was given a plaque by Superintendent Anna Trunnell for his service as a trustee. 

“I feel very honored to have been hired by Trustee Maple as one of the five board members who brought me into the district and so I am forever grateful for Trustee Maple for that,” Trunnell said. “As a small token of recognition of which we cannot repay you for the years of service that you have really dedicated to the students, staff communities and families of this district.” 

“We are forever appreciative (of) you.” 

Before exiting the meeting, Maple offered a heartfelt message to the students and the rest of the board before welcoming Messersmith to the dais.   

“I appreciate this; I appreciate what people have said to me lately,” said Maple. “Now we welcome a new board member, but I’d also like to say to all is that for the past 55 years I’ve coached and been a part of school boards and I’ve enjoyed it, but what I’d really like to say is to the children and it’s very simple, I appreciate you for allowing me to be a part of your life.”  

Galt Joint Union Elementary School Board of Trustees 

A day prior, civil engineer Matthew Ward was sworn in as Area 4 Trustee for the Galt Joint Union Elementary School during final meeting of 2024, replacing former Board President Traci Skinner, who opted not to seek reelection. Ward ran unopposed for the seat and will serve his first term in the role. 

He was joined by Area 3 Trustee Carol Raboy, who returned after running unopposed for her seat.

One of their first courses of action was to vote for board president, vice president and representative and clerk. The positions are selected every year during the board’s organizational meeting and will reshuffle in December 2025. 

Area 2 Trustee Katherine Harper was nominated board president by Area 5 Trustee Annette Kunze and Area 1 Trustee Wesley Cagle nominated Raboy. Harper said she was willing to defer the position to Raboy, but the board ultimate voted in favor of Harper.

Raboy was later appointed vice-president. Cagle was elected board clerk.