Teachers union gains majority on Grossmont school board after election

East County voters have changed the composition of the Grossmont Union High School District board by electing two new members, flipping the previous conservative super-majority to a 3-2 majority supported by the teachers union, the Times of San Diego reported.

The election saw administrator Jeneé Littrell nearly unseat longtime board member Gary Woods, who has served for 20 years. Littrell currently leads by just under 300 votes, while incumbent Jim Kelly, the board's longest-serving member, retained his seat.

With the new board makeup, Kelly and Scott Eckert will represent the conservative faction, but without the previous 4-1 voting advantage. The teachers union-backed members, including Littrell and Steve Mull, are expected to join current lone dissenting vote Chris Fite in January when they take office.

Jackie Naah, a teacher at Valhalla High School, expressed optimism that the new board majority will prioritize students over political ideology, signaling a shift in the district's governance approach after years of strife.

The election marks the first time the Grossmont teachers union actively campaigned against long-time board members, reflecting local voters' response to ongoing governance issues in the district.