Mike Morowit has experienced an array of educational routes under his own roof.

His two daughters attended college at top tier schools – Elizabeth, a 2006 graduate of Sierra High, went to UC San Diego while Lauren, who was valedictorian for SHS Class of 2010, attended UC Berkeley.

His stepson Darren went the vocational route.

He and his wife, Georgette, are the legal guardians to their young granddaughter Sophia, who is a Manteca Unified School District student currently engaged in distance learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kids need to be back at school even if it’s hybrid sessions,” said Morowit, who is a candidate for the MUSD Trustee Area 7 race.

He recently had to remind a voter that he was running for the local school board and not city council – Morowit is a former Manteca City Council member, from 2014 to 2018.

A local business owner, Morowit was a previous appointment to the MUSD 2X2 Committee and the Measure M Citizens' Oversight Committee. He supports Measure A, if passed in the Nov. 3 ballot, would authorize $260 million in bonds to "upgrade classrooms and school facilities for safe in-person learning," according to www.sjgov.org.

Morowit is currently on the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency and the Local Agency Formation Commission-San Joaquin County.

As for MUSD, he sees some tough challenges ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's going to be tough for some students to return to the classroom. They'll need more one-on-one instructions, more tutoring," said Morowit.

He added: "What makes a good board member is reading all the material. If elected, I would plan to visit all the school sites and attend city council meetings."