Above: Tasha Saffold (right). Below: Sergio Bichao (right)

Bichao, Saffold Wrest BOE Control From Machine

On Wednesday, April 30, Sergio Bichao and Tasha Saffold joined the Hillside Board of Education as its newly elected members. The new Board also elected Sip Whitaker its President and Nathalie Yafet as its Vice-President.

“I am thrilled to serve Hillside on the school board,” Saffold told the crowd who attended the Organization meeting held at the High School's Media Center, “I am looking forward to serving the children of this district.”

Bichao told the crowd how he was confident that the new school board will work diligently to improve the district, but warned that the task would not be easy.

“People must understand that this job will not take a month, or even a few. The task of fixing up our district will take a long, concerted effort by members of this board along with the support from the citizens of this community.”

Saffold and Bichao join the three other current school board members who are endorsed by the community watchdog site HILLSIDESCHOOLS.ORG – Bryan “Boomer” Scipio, Sip Whitaker, and Nathalie Eve Yafet.

The five members now have a one-vote advantage over the four machine-backed board members: Helen Schierer-Dino, Raymond Monel, Nagy Sileem, and Elbert Smith.