The election of three new members to the Sacramento Unified School District board will usher in a new era for the district.

Nine candidates were vying for three contested seats.

The new trustees will replace incumbents Rick Jennings, Karen Young and Manny Hernandez – members of the late Mayor Joe Serna Jr.'s reform slate of 1996.

With all 48 precincts reporting in the Trustee Area 3 race, Donald Terry led Vicki Simpson, 33.5 percent to 32.4 percent.

Gustavo Arroyo prevailed over Theresa Saechao, 46 percent to 39 percent, in Trustee Area 4, with all 30 precincts reporting.

Diana Rodriguez claimed a commanding victory in Trustee Area 5, claiming 67 percent of votes, with all 46 precincts reporting.

A fourth trustee, Patrick Kennedy from Area 7, was unopposed and his name did not appear on the ballot.

It has been 12 years since Serna decided to jump into school board politics to turn around an underperforming district – a watershed moment for Sacramento City Unified.

Incumbents Jennings, Young and Hernandez, along with former board member Jay Schenirer, were credited with re-energizing the district and changing its direction.

Serna's mantra that great cities must have great schools became the model for Kevin Johnson's mayoral campaign.

The change to electing trustees by geographic districts rather than districtwide at large was set in motion in 2006, when voters sliced Sacramento City Unified into seven areas.

Roy Grimes, Ellyne Bell and Jerry Houseman, three experienced trustees, will remain on the board, as they are not up for re-election until 2010.

The new board will need to address declining enrollment, dismal test scores, where to cut the budget and how to deliver services with fewer education dollars.

The district is also becoming increasingly urban and ever more diverse.

The number of English-language learner students with first-generation immigrant parents continues to grow.

The new board will also be charged with hiring a superintendent to replace interim Superintendent Susan Miller.

In the days running up to the election, candidates for the board sounded similar themes on a number of district issues.

Many grew up in the neighborhoods they wished to represent.

Candidates also questioned the allocation of resources and how well the board has represented the needs of the district's diverse populations and neighborhoods.

Rodriguez, who grew up within the boundaries of Area 5 in south Sacramento, said the area's neighborhoods have been long overlooked by the board. Area 5 is nestled between Highway 99 and Interstate 5 and includes the Executive Airport, Meadowview and south Sacramento neighborhoods.

"We need to look at the resources that have been provided there," she said."(And) I want to make sure we have parental involvement."

Rodriguez also stressed the need for programs that prepare students for colleges or careers as a means to curb the district's drop-out rate.

"I want to make sure that my area does not receive the short end of the stick," said Arroyo, of Area 4. "I don't want dire decisions the board makes to disproportionately impact this side of town."

Terry, who is in a dead heat with Simpson for Area 3, said, "If I am lucky enough to win ... the first thing we need to do on the board is pick a new leader for our district."

Candidates also championed better engagement of parents to keep kids in school and to close the achievement gap.

"We need to empower parents to participate and to understand the system," said Saechao.

Call The Bee's Melissa Nix, (916) 321-1090.