Parent and community activist Robert Hall was named to the Hart School District Governing Board last week, filling an open seat on the board, following the resignation of Chris Fall in August. Hall will be sworn in at the annual organizational meeting on Dec. 11, 2013 for a four-year term.

Hall has resided in the Santa Clarita Valley for 27 years and is currently the director of human resources with Advanced Bionics, a medical device company headquartered locally. In his position with Advanced Bionics, Hall has been involved with the Hart School District’s Regional Occupational Program, mentoring and shadowing students interested in biomedical and engineering careers.

Hall and his wife, Laura, have two adult children who graduated from Hart High School and another child currently a freshman at Hart High School. Hall enjoys serving the schools and community and has served on the Valley Industrial Association board, College of the Canyons Foundation golf tournament board and is involved with the Placerita Canyon Property Owners Association. Hall previously coached city youth sports and volleyball at Hart High School and looks forward to attending games and school events in his new capacity.

Following the selection, Hall said he was excited and looking forward to serving the District. “The board has been very effective over the years and I am proud to serve next to these wonderful people,” Hall said. “I plan to hit the ground running and first understand where programs and efforts are being set forth and secondly I will jump in with my skills and expertise that will complement these projects and programs.”

“As a long-time resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, parent of a student and alumni in our district and executive for a large locally-based corporation, Rob understands the importance of building strong relationships with our stakeholders,” Robert Challinor, Superintendent, said. “Rob’s past board and corporate experience provides him with a clear understanding of board member responsibilities and he will have the best interests of our students in mind.”

Hall was selected from a field of 11 candidates, who were interviewed during the board meeting open to the public. Following the interviews, the board members each voted for their top candidate. Board president Joe Messina selected Rhonda Chobanian, Steve Sturgeon and Bob Jensen selected Robert Hall and Gloria Mercado-Fortine called a tie between Chobanian and Ann Kerman. Sturgeon made a motion for Robert Hall, which was seconded by Jensen, with the final vote 3-1 for Hall, with Mercado-Fortine as the sole dissenting vote. In addition to Hall, Chobanian and Kerman, the candidates included: Bruce Fox, Lee Schramling, Sharon Hill, Jinghong Li, Jim Heffernan, Eileen Connolly, Philip Phillipson and Linda Calvo.