A wealth of candidates in the November election – including many newcomers – are competing to serve on school boards in Placer County.
The small Eureka Union School District in Granite Bay is no exception.
The 3,700- student district is in the midst of big changes. It's revamping curriculum and reconfiguring grade levels at schools. Next year, it will close two of nine campuses under the direction of its new superintendent.
The actions are a response to a continuous drop in school enrollment in the upscale community. About 34 teaching positions were cut over the past four years to help address a loss in funding, according to district officials.
Incumbent Eureka Union trustees Russ Nash and Dan Clift have chosen not to seek re-election after serving several terms.
For the first time, the Eureka Union Teachers Association is endorsing two of five candidates running for the school board: Eric Sanchez, a sales manager for Oracle Corp., and Robert Bruce Hoslett, a senior safety specialist for the Sacramento Regional Transit District.
Other candidates for the two open seats are: Ryan R. Jones, an attorney and captain in the Air Force Reserves; Kristie Greiss, former medical sonographer for Mercy San Juan Medical Center; and Eric J. Teed-Bose, director of a real estate development company.
They offer different skills.
"I've been at it 3 1/2 years, looking at the district's (financial) books, and I understand public sector finances," said Sanchez, who ran unsuccessfully for the board in November 2006.
He said he predicted two years ago that the district was headed for financial trouble, but no one took him seriously. He blames the current board for inaction, poor decisions and not being forthright.
If elected, Sanchez said, he plans to pursue a process to secure more average daily attendance funding from the state. He wants to increase the district's reserved funds, which he says are at risk of not meeting the state's required minimum. Improving trustees' relationship with teachers is another goal, said Sanchez, who is endorsed by the teachers union.
Hoslett said he answered a call from the Eureka Teachers Association for candidates who would represent teachers. "I would make sure the union's concerns are being addressed, but if I strongly disagree with the union, then I have to do what I think is right," he said.
Hoslett, whose wife is a teacher in the district, said he doesn't see a problem balancing his representation of the district and of teachers because nearly 90 percent of the district's budget already goes to teacher salaries. If elected, he said, he plans to support the current board's decisions, encourage progressive education strategies, seek new solutions for declining enrollment, secure additional funding for educational programs and restructure school finances.
Jones, a Roseville resident who hails from Fullerton, said he would draw upon his military background and degrees in economics and law to get the district in order. He said he's a fiscal conservative who wants to promote enhanced community partnerships. "We have great parental support, and I think we should have a school district that supports parents as well," Jones said.
Greiss recently resigned from her longtime job as a medical sonographer to care for her 8-year-old triplet daughters and her 6-year-old son. She is vice president of the Parent Teacher Council at Oakhills School, where she volunteers about 25 hours a week.
"I'm in the trenches, and I'm really an advocate for children," Greiss said, adding that for the past 10 years, she has volunteered each summer to teach English to children in developing countries.
If elected a trustee, Greiss wants to improve communication with parents and nurture relationships between Eureka Union schools and the area's high schools.
Teed-Bose said that during his 20 years in real estate development, he has worked to solve problems with local, state and federal agencies. He has secured funds for various projects, worked on school growth issues and built community consensus.
"I feel like my background and expertise can help the district move through the next several years," Teed-Bose said.
Roseville Joint Union High School District
• 9,500 students
Eight candidates are vying for four open seats on the board of trustees. Incumbent Scott E. Huber will face Anthony K. Kong, a physician, to complete a two-year term. Incumbents Paige K. Stauss, Garry Genzlinger and R. Jan Pinney will defend their seats against Wayne D. Roberson, a retail manager.
Roseville City School District
• 9,236 students
Two candidates are vying for one two-year seat, and three candidates are vying for two full-term seats on the school board. Incumbent Brett McFadden will face Scott Leavitt for the two-year term. Incumbents Susan Goto and Stanford Hirata and teacher Gary Miller seek full-term seats.
Rocklin Unified School District
• 10,365 students
Three candidates are seeking election to the board, which has two open seats. Incumbents Camille Maben and Greg Daley will defend their seats against Michael Agostini, a music school principal.
Placer Union High School District
• 4,582 students
Three candidates are running for two open trustee seats. Incumbent Kathleen Geary will face businessman Michael J. Stafford for the Area 5 seat. Lynn MacDonald is running unopposed for the Area 1 seat.
Dry Creek Joint Elementary District
• 7,300 students
Five candidates are vying for the school board's two open seats. Incumbent Barry Stillman will face Jeff Randall, a middle school teacher; Bob Kunnmann, an advertising sales manager; Scott B. Otsuka, a parent and business owner, and Monica Prather, a mother.
Call The Bee's Lakiesha McGhee at (916) 773-7630.
