Santa Barbara School Board Candidates Held Forum
Trustee candidates discussed district policies at a public forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
In your area, do you believe school boards benefit more from fresh perspectives or experienced incumbents?
Candidates for the Santa Barbara Unified School District board gathered at the Jo Ann Caines Theater to address community and student questions. The debate featured hopefuls seeking election to trustee areas one and four.
Why it matters
The event offered residents an opportunity to evaluate candidate positions on fiscal challenges facing the local school district. It served as a platform for transparency ahead of the upcoming election.
The Santa Barbara Unified school district operates with a total budget of $250 million. The district currently reports a $10 million deficit.
The players
Rose Munoz
Rose Munoz is a two-term incumbent candidate for district one who has served on the board for eight years.
Valerie Amparan
Valerie Amparan is a candidate running for the trustee area one position.
Jacqueline Inda Karlsen
Jacqueline Inda Karlsen is a candidate for the trustee area four seat.
Mark Philibosian
Mark Philibosian is a candidate seeking election to the trustee area four position.
League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that hosted the election forum.
The details
Co-moderated by Victoria Martinez Peñaranda and Daniella Espinoza Aguilar, the forum required candidates to respond to direct policy inquiries from students and the public. Participants included incumbents and challengers seeking representation for trustee areas one and four.
Timeline
The election forum occurred on October 5, 2026.
Culture Shift
This election forum reflects a broader shift toward increased civic scrutiny of local educational administration. It highlights the growing expectation for candidates to address fiscal volatility directly with the community.
Residents can use the information shared by candidates to form their voting strategy for the upcoming election. These board decisions will directly influence the district's approach to managing the $10 million budget deficit.
The takeaway
Voters should review candidate plans for reconciling the district's $10 million deficit before casting their ballots. Evaluating these fiscal strategies is essential for understanding the future trajectory of local school funding.
Further reading
For additional context on local governance, visit the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Barbara News-Press.
Live Poll
In your area, do you believe school boards benefit more from fresh perspectives or experienced incumbents?
