One incumbent and three challengers are competing for two seats on Coachella Valley Unified's school board in the Nov. 3 election.
The seats are both in Trustee Area 1, which encompasses the city of Coachella, but the district does not limit voting to residents of that area, meaning all registered voters living within CVUSD's boundaries can vote.
The seven-member board has three four-year terms up for election. The Trustee Area 2 race will not appear on the ballot because Alena Callimanis, appointed to the board in August 2025, is running unopposed for her first full term.
Read on to see who's running and how the candidates responded to questions from The Desert Sun about issues facing the K-12 school district, which serves around 15,800 students.
Their responses may have been edited for brevity and clarity.
CVUSD school board candidates
Who's running in Trustee Area 1?
Four candidates are running for two seats in Trustee Area 1: Valerie García, Norma Flores Rivera, Rafael Medina and Loretta Perez. García, the only incumbent in the race, is seeking a second term. Longtime trustee Joey Acuña Jr., who has served about two decades over two periods, is not seeking reelection.
Flores Rivera and Medina did not respond to repeated attempts by The Desert Sun over three weeks to reach them and did not participate in a recent candidate forum organized by Alianza Coachella Valley, a local nonprofit. Organizers said Flores Rivera was unable to attend because of a death in her family, while Medina had not responded to their invitation.
García works as a field services specialist for the California Teachers Association, a state labor union, and was first elected to the board in 2022. Her priorities, she said, include keeping the district financially stable, protecting programs students need, improving school safety and strengthening transparency and board accountability.
"I believe we have an obligation to keep our finances stable without losing important programming that our students need to thrive," García said.
Flores Rivera, who identifies herself on the ballot only as a "parent", is also making her first bid for the board. She has worked with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department since 2003. She did not submit a candidate statement in Riverside County's voter information guide.
Medina, a real estate agent and father of a young son who does not yet attend CVUSD schools, said in his candidate statement published in the county's voter information guide that his priorities include responsible spending, student safety and improving school facilities.
He has appeared in campaign videos alongside Coachella mayoral candidate Jesus Ahkin "Kino" Gonzalez, the son of CVUSD trustee and former Coachella Mayor Jesus Gonzalez, and city council candidate Vicente Zamora. The two are cousins who co-host a podcast focused on local politics and led an effort to recall two Coachella councilmembers.
Medina was also listed among the proponents of the recall effort in published notices.
"As a parent, I understand the troubles we have in our school system," he said in the joint campaign video. "I want to be in a position where I can let your voice be known."
Perez, a parent and disability advocate, is president of the United for Autism & Abilities Foundation. She raised concerns in late 2025 about mold and water damage at her son's school, John Kelley Elementary in Thermal, and held a press conference and protest in January 2026 as she prepared to sue the school district. In August, she filed a lawsuit against CVUSD on behalf of her son, who has autism, alleging the district exposed him to toxic mold that caused him respiratory problems and other health issues.
"The community deserves someone trustworthy who puts children first," Perez said. "I am not corruptible."
If elected, her priorities, she said, include greater oversight of spending and contracts, including the district's longstanding and often controversial use of Desert Concepts, a local construction company, as well as safer school facilities and making CVUSD more accessible to families.
The issues
The Desert Sun asked each candidate to answer questions, in their own words, about issues that would face them if they win the election. Medina and Flores Rivera did not respond. Here's what the others had to say.
On student enrollment and budget priorities
CVUSD has made repeated layoffs and other spending reductions as it works to stabilize its finances. At the same time, declining enrollment affects both district funding and staffing, while legal and insurance costs and major needs at aging schools create additional financial pressures.
What should the school board prioritize financially over the next four years, and how should it address those competing needs?
Trustee Area 1 school board candidates
García: I recognize our tenuous financial state, but I believe there is a path forward. At present, we have a structural deficit, meaning we have the funds to balance the budget. We simply need to reorganize our spending to ensure that. External contracts, (including) legal and consultants, are areas I think we can pull back on and are in our control to (do so).
Declining enrollment is a hallmark (issue) occurring across the state. Programs like Saturday school can assist us in recovering the lost (attendance-based funding) and help students attain and grow their skills in math and reading. High-quality programming and engagement within our communities is what can help us turn things around. Proactive maintenance of our schools that can curb the bigger spending of reactive repairs will also help.
Perez: We are in a budget crisis. Money for children is wasted on overpriced, no-bid contracts with no oversight. I have read the proposals (and) the charges don't add up. I will demand transparency, itemized contracts, true competitive bidding, independent oversight, a real facilities audit and reports parents can understand. Every dollar saved is a dollar for aides, counselors and classrooms.
It is too hard for parents, students and the community to navigate the system. I will ensure every employee is reachable and responsive.
Our children have been in facilities with mold, asbestos, and lead for (too) long. They deserve schools where they feel safe. I will fight for facility changes (that protects their) health and well-being at every site.
On academic achievement and chronic absenteeism
Student achievement and attendance offer two important measures of students' academic progress and how consistently they are in class. During the 2024-25 school year, about 30% of CVUSD students met or exceeded state standards in English language arts and about 20% did so in math. About one-third of CVUSD students included in the state's chronic absenteeism indicator were chronically absent, meaning they missed at least 10% of the school days they were expected to attend.
What should the school board prioritize to improve student achievement and attendance, and how would you determine whether those efforts are working?
Trustee Area 1 school board candidates
García: Chronic absenteeism will undercut classroom programming every time. Consistency is key to attaining and building on essential skills for our students. I think community engagement, along with high-quality Saturday school programming, is how we address both. Families need to know how important it is for their students to attend school every day. If services are needed to address barriers to attendance, we can address them with meaningful engagement.
Equally important is families having confidence in the programming of Saturday school and how it can get their students back on track. Celebrating the achievements of schools that meet attendance goals along the way and monitoring Lexile and mathematics scores can guide us on progress.
Perez: The top priority should be access to after-school tutoring that isn't just an option, but part of a program that we can bring in from various nonprofits that will not affect our budget.
If we actually contact parents who are keeping kids home because the student keeps being sent home due to behavioral issues that can be resolved with 504 plans and IEPs (individualized education programs), then we keep students in school with support! Keeping the lines of communication open (also helps) parents know who to contact if there are issues that evolve that keep our students from attending school, (including) home and hospital (instruction), where ... if they are struggling due to an illness, can receive their education at home with certified teachers.
Teaching parents about their rights is what I do currently, and something I will continue to do after the election.
Jennifer Cortez covers education and breaking news in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Meet the 4 candidates running for CVUSD school board
