The Milpitas Unified School District’s (MUSD) Board of Education voted this evening to appoint Robert Jung to occupy the board seat that had been open following last November’s election.
After interviewing four applicants from the community, the Board deliberated briefly then voted on Jung’s appointment. He was swiftly sworn in and stood up at the podium to take the Oath of Office.
With Jung filling the seat, MUSD’s Board of Education is complete, with five board members total.
Jung is no stranger to MUSD. He served on MUSD’s Board of Education from 2017-2018. Back then, he was appointed to fill Bob Nuńez’s seat after Nuñez won his bid for Milpitas City Council in 2016.
Jung is also the Founder of Milpitas Community Educational Endowment (MCEE), which works to offer scholarships to students and grants to schools in the district. The organization also hosts events like the annual STEAM showcase, which receives wide participation among students throughout the district.
“Growing up in a single-parent immigrant family, I’ve seen firsthand how education can be an equalizer and a springboard for success in America,” Jung told the board during his opening statement.
Jung will serve out the remainder of former Board Member Hon Lien’s term, which ends in November, 2024. Lien had to resign from her board seat back in December, 2022, after she won her election for Milpitas City Council and was sworn in as a council member.
MUSD received a total of five applications for the board seat. A Board Subcommittee consisting of Trustees Minh Ngo and Kelly Yip-Chuan reviewed all candidates beforehand to ensure that they all fulfilled the qualifications. One applicant backed out of the running and did not appear for the interview process.
Along with Jung, three other applicants were being considered for the seat: Rosana Cacao, who worked for the City of Milpitas for nearly three decades; William Lim, a parent who was deeply involved in serving on committees and volunteering in the district when his daughter attended school there; and Doug Sueoka, who has extensive experience in retail management and handling large budgets. All applicants, Jung included, had children who once attended MUSD schools.
After the applicants’ closing statements, the Board deliberated, going back and forth a bit before Board President Chris Norwood made a motion to appoint Jung. Board Vice President Ngo seconded the motion. All voted to appoint Jung except for Trustee Yip-Chuan, who mentioned she was leaning toward voting for Sueoka, whom she felt could bring a fresh perspective as a parent of a son with special needs.
“I’m ecstatic to be able to serve our community as an MUSD trustee again,” Jung shared with The Beat. “It’s perfect when you can feed your passion while helping to serve our future.”
Milpitas residents and employers are blessed to have such a strong team navigating all the changes coming at us.