Candidates for East Valley school board face variety of challenges

A search for a new leader, a spring levy campaign, dwindling enrollment numbers and lack of funding are among the challenges facing the East Valley School District. On Nov. 8, East Valley patrons will select two school board candidates to deal with those issues.

District 3 Incumbent June Sine has served more than 14 years on the board.

Sine, 53, said she would like to continue her work on the board, serving the patrons and students of the district.

One of her top priorities is asking voters to pass the district’s spring maintenance and operations levy.

“We’ve run a flat levy for six years, and I think we need to bring the community together to look at what we’ve been doing with our past levy dollars,” Sine said.

Challenger Guy Gifford, 38, has never run for political office, but as the father of four children would like to see increased parent involvement in the schools.

“I’ve talked to quite a few parents who feel that their opinions are no longer valued,” Gifford said.

He said he would work to ensure that teachers, students, parents, and the community have input into what goes on in the schools.

Sine agreed.

“That’s one of the challenges that we’ve always faced; reaching out and getting the input from our parents about what they see that needs to be done,” Sine said.

Gifford, a forester with the Department of Natural Resources, also agreed that finding a new superintendent should be the first order of business

The current board decided that it would launch a national search this fall, but recently postponed that decision based on input from staff and the community.

District 5 Incumbent Wayne Stewart, 56, also said selecting a new superintendent should be the board’s first priority.

Stewart, who was appointed to the board in May 2000 and elected in 2001, received an endorsement from the East Valley Education Association. He agreed that a successful levy campaign is a top priority.

“That’s a critical piece for a smaller district like ours,” Stewart said. “A lot of the unfunded mandates and programs have to come out of that money.”

Stewart’s challenger Roger Trainor did not return a reporter’s request for information.

Candidates for several other school board seats are unopposed in the Nov. 8 election.

Kerri Lunstroth is running uncontested for East Valley director for district 4, after longtime board member Sue Wentz decided not to seek reelection.

Central Valley board members Anne Long and Tom Dingus will resume their seats on the CV board. In West Valley, Pam McLeod, Jim Williams and Bob Dompier will serve additional four-year terms. In Freeman, Chad Goldsmith will serve in the seat previously held by Joe Dahmen, and Diane Woodman will replace Dave Koch.