Jill Gaines Two local school districts underwent a changing of the guard Tuesday.

Oak Park Unified School District Board of Education said goodbye to longtime members Mary Rees and Cindy Vinson and welcomed newcomers Mary Pallant and Allen Rosen during a farewell reception Tuesday evening at Oak Park High School.

Taking the helm as board president for the first time is Barbara Laifman. Jan Iceland will serve as vice president for the coming year and Marie Panec will be the clerk.

At its headquarters in Calabasas, the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education welcomed Jill Gaines as the new president. Cindy Iser will be vice president and Dave Moorman clerk.

Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent Tony Knight commended Rees and Vinson for their work over the years.

Vinson, who served on the board for 12 years, was known for working tirelessly to “create a deeper and richer experience for all . . . students,” Knight said. “Most importantly, Cindy will always be remembered for putting students first in all decisions.”

Vinson, a chemical lab scientist, works as a volunteer for the Westminster Free Clinic in Thousand Oaks. She plans to devote more time to the clinic and its 7,000 patients.

Knight credited Rees with “dramatic increases in student achievement” during her tenure.

“People really work here,” she said. “It’s more than a job— it’s a calling to education,” Rees said.

Pallant said she hopes to continue the work of Rees and Vinson. “I don’t want to change it if it ain’t broke,” Pallant said.

Rosen said he’s excited about tackling his new challenge as board member.

“I’m still thinking about how to improve communication in the community,” Rosen said, particularly when it comes to Oak Park’s District of Choice designation. The District of Choice allows students to transfer into the district without being formally released from their existing district. The 1,000 out of district students who attend Oak Park schools on permit generate $5 million each year.