Read Santa Cruz Local's Election Guide
Meet the candidates
Scroll right and click each photo to learn more about the candidates. Paul Garcia declined to participate.
Background on Live Oak School District Governing Board
The Live Oak School District Governing Board is elected by district voters to provide leadership and oversight of the district’s schools. The board has the power to:
- Set budgets for the district, including teacher pay.
- Hire and fire the superintendent.
- Develop goals for programs. Read more about the board’s responsibilities.
Qualifications include:
- An ability to manage complex school budgets and allocate resources equitably.
- A willingness to work with other board members to craft policies.
Compensation:
- Trustees may receive a monthly stipend of $240. Trustees are eligible to receive employee health insurance. The district covers part of the premium cost.
The Live Oak School District Governing Board has five members. Three seats were up for election on the Nov. 8 ballot. Two candidates filed: incumbents Paul Garcia and Felicita “Cita” Rasul. Garcia and Rasul will be seated automatically. This race will not appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The third seat is expected to be appointed at the board’s Nov. 1 meeting. Applications are open until 4 p.m. Oct. 19. The appointment is for a four-year term. Applicants must be 18 or older, a resident of the district and a registered voter.
What we heard from voters
Santa Cruz Local talked to five Live Oak School District voters and residents in interviews and an online survey. Questions for the candidates were based residents’ responses and Santa Cruz Local’s reporting. The candidates responded in writing. The candidate’s responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
The top themes raised by Live Oak School District voters and residents included:
- Teacher pay raises.
- Plans to keep school campuses safe from gun violence.
- Healthier options for school lunches.
- A need for information about resources such as food bank distributions.
—Kara Meyberg Guzman and Nicklas Balboa
Santa Cruz Local’s news is free. We believe that high-quality local news is crucial to democracy. We depend on locals like you to make a meaningful contribution so everyone can access our news. Learn about membership.