Tom Bundros, longtime Gilroy Unified School District board
trustee and former board president, was diagnosed with stage III
lung cancer in May. He doesn’t plan on letting that get in the way
of attending meetings, however, even if he can’t be there in
person.
Tom Bundros, longtime Gilroy Unified School District board trustee and former board president, was diagnosed with stage III lung cancer in May. He doesn’t plan on letting that get in the way of attending meetings, however, even if he can’t be there in person.
As Bundros’ immune system will be vulnerable during treatments, “I’m thinking about setting up a room in the district office where I can dial in from there,” he says.
When a trustee attends meetings remotely via phone, Bundros explains trustees are legally required to call in from a location where the public can attend.
“Ironically, I couldn’t do that at my home, but I can do that from the hospital,” he says.
Beginning his 10th year of service, Bundros has served the most time on the GUSD school board next to trustee Jaime Rosso. Bundros occupied the president’s seat in 2007, when Debbie Flores was sworn in as GUSD’s new superintendent.
Since undergoing a surgery July 20 to remove a portion of his lung, Bundros says “things are much better.”
Bundros plans to attend the next school board meeting, which is open to the public at 7 p.m., Sept. 1 at 7810 Arroyo Circle.
While he is considering second opinions when it comes to treatment, Bundros says chemotherapy begin sometime in late September and last for about 12 weeks. Whether remotely or in person, Bundros says he expects to continue his attendance at school board meetings.
