6 RUNNING FOR S.D. UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD

Two seats are open in the June 7 primary election; declining enrollment, ethnic studies among the top issues

Improving communication with stakeholders, changing how schools teach ethnic studies and dealing with declining enrollment are some of the top priorities for candidates running for San Diego Unified School Board this year.

Six people are running for two open spots. Both board members whose terms are up this year — 12year trustee Kevin Beiser and eightyear trustee Michael Mcquary — said they are not running for re-election.

Each member of the five-trustee school board represents a geographic area of the district. All San Diego Unified board elections are by subdistrict only, which means only voters living in each subdistrict can vote for the representative of that area.

A primary election will be held on June 7. The top two vote-getters for each open board position will move on to the general election Nov. 8.

The school board oversees California’s second-largest school district with about 95,000 students and a $1.7 billion budget. The board hires the superintendent, decides the district’s budget, approves contracts, sets district policies and more.

Sub-district B

Sub-district B covers the northeastern section of the San Diego Unified School District. It contains the elementary and middle schools that feed into Patrick Henry (San Carlos), Canyon Hills (Tierrasanta) and Scripps Ranch high schools.

Three people are running for this board seat: Shana Hazan, Godwin Higa and Jose Velazquez.

SHANA HAZAN Neighborhood: Kensington

Political party: Democratic

Priorities: Close opportunity and achievement gaps, improve communication with stakeholders

Endorsements: San Diego Education Association teachers union; Administrators Association of San Diego union; San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council; several Democratic elected officials including Rep. Sara Jacobs, Rep. Scott Peters, state Senate President

Pro Tem Toni Atkins, county Supervisor Nathan Fletcher; several Democratic clubs

Shana Hazan, 41, was born and raised in San Diego and graduated from Scripps Ranch High. She is a parent, with a daughter attending Franklin Elementary within the district. She is a founding director of Franklin’s school foundation and has sat on multiple district committees, including the superintendent search panel.

Hazan taught elementary school in Chicago Public Schools, then transitioned to working in the nonprofit sector, including serving 12 years at Jewish Family Service. Now she is a nonprofit consultant.

Hazan said as a school board member, she would put to use her