Mehas lands CSU post
Fresno Bee 3/31/07
Mehas has been candid about his desire to snag an appointment from Gov. Schwarzenegger to either the CSU board or the University of California Board of Regents.
He must still be confirmed by the state Senate, but he said he does not anticipate any roadblocks.
Mehas said as a graduate of the CSU system -- Fresno State -- he was especially pleased with the appointment.
He also said his background as an educator should serve him well on the board, noting that CSU campuses produce 70% of the state's teachers.
"It's going to be something I'm going to really enjoy and look forward to contributing to," said Mehas, 67, of Fresno.
Mehas has been a trusted source for Schwarzenegger on educational issues for years and will add to the Valley's representation on the CSU board, said Margaret Fortune, a spokeswoman for the governor's office.
The governor was pleased to appoint Mehas, "a fabulous educator and a real icon in public education in California," Fortune said.
The board, responsible for oversight of the CSU system, includes 24 members and a nonvoting trustee.
Members, who serve eight-year terms, convene seven times a year.
The system is embroiled in a dispute with the California Faculty Association over pay and other issues, and the union has threatened a walkout at some campuses beginning April 10.
Mehas joins Selma grower Carol Chandler, who has been the central San Joaquin Valley's only representative on the CSU board of trustees. California State University, Fresno, student Jennifer Reimer is a nonvoting student representative.
Chandler said she was delighted to hear of Mehas' appointment: "He and the governor are very close. This is something Pete wanted, and I'm very, very happy for him."
Schwarzenegger also appointed Chandler, whose eight-year term began in 2004.
She said she welcomed the prospect of another CSU trustee who knows the region. "One of the issues that we have in the CSU is getting students prepared to do college work. So I really look forward to working with Pete on the readiness issue.
"His wealth of knowledge will stand him in good stead, and he can bring the K-12 dimension to the forefront."
Chandler said the Valley also has one of the lowest college-going rates in the state, and that "having another champion for the students of the Central Valley would be extremely helpful."
Asked about Mehas' chances of being confirmed, Chandler said, "I'm sure he has many champions in the Senate, and I hope they'll support his trustee confirmation."
Mehas agreed that the Valley has for years been slighted when it comes to appointments to statewide boards.
Mehas, a Republican, campaigned with a coalition of educators for Schwarzenegger's re-election last year and has strong ties to the state Capitol dating to his years as a lobbyist for school districts from 1984 to 1987 and his subsequent appointment as education adviser to then-Gov. George Deukmejian.
He served in that post for three years.
In July, Mehas chose not to seek a fifth term as county schools superintendent, a position he held for 16 years. The Fresno County Office of Education provides services to 34 school districts, tracking their compliance with federal and state regulations and their financial stability.
The office operates schools for incarcerated youths as well as migrant education, vocational training and special education services to districts.
Since retiring from the county schools office, Mehas took over as executive director of the Fresno Compact, an effort by business and education leaders to boost school programs. The organization is independent of Fresno State but has an office on campus. Mehas said he will continue in that job if time allows.
He has also been teaching a class at Fresno State for students seeking doctoral degrees in education, which he will give up if he wins confirmation.
John Welty, president of Fresno State, praised the appointment of Mehas: "His lifetime of work in education policy will be a valuable addition as the CSU seeks to partner more closely with the K-12 education system in our state."
Mehas began his 44 years in education as a teacher at Roosevelt High School in the Fresno Unified School District. He was also a teacher and administrator for 20 years in the Clovis Unified School District.
He has also served on the state Board of Education, overseeing K-12 issues, and on the California Community Colleges Board of Governors.