Santa Maria Candidates Attended School Board Forum
Six candidates discussed local education issues at the Betteravia Government Center in Santa Maria.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Six candidates vying for positions on two local school boards participated in a public forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of North Santa Barbara County. The event allowed participants to address policy concerns ranging from campus electronics to school overcrowding.
Why it matters
The forum served as a platform for candidates to clarify their positions to voters ahead of upcoming elections for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District and the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. These boards oversee essential local educational infrastructure and budgetary decisions affecting the Santa Maria Valley.
The forum featured six candidates competing for three total school board seats across two districts. Additionally, discussions referenced a 2024 bond measure that received 53% of the vote but failed to pass, and current overcrowding levels such as 800 students in a single ninth-grade class.
The players
League of Women Voters of North Santa Barbara County
This nonpartisan organization focuses on promoting informed and active participation in government through community outreach and events.
Diana Perez
She is a former member of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board who served for a decade.
Magdalena Serrano
She is the current incumbent running for Trustee Area 4.
Luz Maria Cabral
She is a school board member who began her tenure in 2022.
The details
Candidates at the Betteravia Government Center addressed pressing district challenges, including the management of campus electronics and the ongoing issue of school overcrowding. The forum provided an opportunity for the public to hear directly from those seeking to influence district policy.
Timeline
Diana Perez served on the high school board from 2014 to 2024.
Perez resigned from the high school district board in July 2024.
The candidate forum occurred on October 7, 2026.
The winners of the races will take office in December 2026.
Culture Shift
This candidate forum reflects a broader trend of increased local civic engagement regarding school facility funding and bond measures. The focus remains on addressing infrastructure gaps in the Santa Maria Valley following the failure of the 2024 bond measure.
Residents can prepare for the upcoming election by viewing the recorded forum on the League of Women Voters YouTube channel. These board elections will directly influence future policies on classroom sizes and school facility development in Santa Maria.
The takeaway
Voters should review candidate platforms to understand how each individual plans to manage district overcrowding and school budgets. These leadership roles are critical for shaping the learning environment for thousands of local students in the coming years.
Further reading
For more information on the local school districts, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Noozhawk.
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