Three incumbents and one newcomer are running for three seats on the Sahuarita Unified School District Governing Board.
The incumbents seeking to keep their seats are board clerk Diana Kellermeyer, an administrator at the Southern Arizona VA Medical Center; J. Elaine Hall, a retired school district employee; and Kris Ham, a business owner.
Nubia Bertsch, a supervisor for Arizona Child Support Enforcement, is challenging the incumbents.
The three candidates who receive the most votes in the Nov. 6 election will be seated on the board.
The Sahuarita district has a $28.3 million budget, 5,490 students at nine schools and 735 employees.
Kellermeyer said keeping up with the district's growth is necessary to meet the needs of students. She said in eight years the district has built three state-of-the-art schools - Anza Trail, Walden Grove High School and Copper View Elementary. It also has constructed an Early Childhood Center, athletic and aquatic facilities, and gymnasiums for Sahuarita Middle School and Sopori Elementary.
Hall also said that meeting the district's growth, even during the state's economic downturn, is a challenge. She said she will work to find the resources the district needs to ensure expansion for students.
Ham said the district's growth is stabilizing, and she will focus on increasing budget spending in the classroom. The district needs to provide current textbooks and must hire and retain highly qualified teachers, Ham said.
Bertsch said stretching the district's budget for its students and employees will always be a challenge. "However, we can all work collectively to accomplish what our school district needs," said Bertsch.
Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@azstarnet.com or 573-4104.
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