Napa County School Races

Napa County Board of Education Trustee Area 1

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Don J Huffman, Incumbent

  • No response received.

Napa County Board of Education Trustee Area 2

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Janna Waldinger, Incumbent

  • No response received.

Napa County Board of Education Trustee Area 4

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Nadine Wade, Appointed Incumbent

  • No response received.

Napa Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 1

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Robin Jankiewicz, Incumbent

  • “Ensure student success through strong programs, supported educators, and fiscal responsibility.”

Matthew McMann, Small Business Owner

  • No response received.

Positions on Key Issues

Shrinking budgets, evolving technology, and safety issues are top of mind for school boards across the state.

Cell phones in classrooms

Do you support banning cell phones in classrooms?

School districts have weighed concerns about distraction and cyberbullying with some parents’ desire to maintain communication with their children throughout the day.

  • JankiewiczSupport
  • McMannNo response

Law enforcement officers

Do you support having law enforcement officers (often known as a school resource officers) on school campuses?

Supporters say the officers provide security and comfort to students and their families, while opponents argue they are too costly and over-police students.

  • JankiewiczSupport
  • McMannNo response

School closures or consolidations

Would you support school closures or consolidations to account for under-enrollment or to solve a budget shortfall?

Enrollment in Bay Area schools dropped 10% between 2015 and 2025, and is projected to decline another 10% in the next decade, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. 

  • JankiewiczSupport
  • McMannNo response

Charter schools

Would you support new charter schools in the district?

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from many of the rules governing other schools in the district. 

  • JankiewiczOppose
  • McMannNo response

Teacher misconduct

Do you support California launching a database for hiring schools to see when teachers have been reported to the state for allegations of misconduct?

An effort in the state legislature to create a searchable database failed earlier this year. School administrators argue a database would provide timely information for hiring decisions, but teacher unions say only educators with substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct should end up in a database.

  • JankiewiczSupport
  • McMannNo response

Napa Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 3

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Katherine Hyde Shelton, Commercial Credit Lender

  • No response received.

Napa Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 6

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Elba Gonzalez-Mares, Executive Director

  • No response received.

Tyrone Navarro, Retired Public Manager

  • “Literacy and career skills”

Positions on Key Issues

Shrinking budgets, evolving technology, and safety issues are top of mind for school boards across the state.

Cell phones in classrooms

Do you support banning cell phones in classrooms?

School districts have weighed concerns about distraction and cyberbullying with some parents’ desire to maintain communication with their children throughout the day.

  • Gonzalez-MaresNo response
  • NavarroOppose

Law enforcement officers

Do you support having law enforcement officers (often known as a school resource officers) on school campuses?

Supporters say the officers provide security and comfort to students and their families, while opponents argue they are too costly and over-police students.

  • Gonzalez-MaresNo response
  • NavarroOppose

School closures or consolidations

Would you support school closures or consolidations to account for under-enrollment or to solve a budget shortfall?

Enrollment in Bay Area schools dropped 10% between 2015 and 2025, and is projected to decline another 10% in the next decade, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. 

  • Gonzalez-MaresNo response
  • NavarroSupport

Charter schools

Would you support new charter schools in the district?

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from many of the rules governing other schools in the district. 

  • Gonzalez-MaresNo response
  • NavarroSupport

Teacher misconduct

Do you support California launching a database for hiring schools to see when teachers have been reported to the state for allegations of misconduct?

An effort in the state legislature to create a searchable database failed earlier this year. School administrators argue a database would provide timely information for hiring decisions, but teacher unions say only educators with substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct should end up in a database.

  • Gonzalez-MaresNo response
  • NavarroSupport

Napa Valley Unified School District Trustee Area 7

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

David Hildebrandt, Higher Education Professor

  • No response received.

Jason M. Dooley, Attorney

  • “My top priority is to ensure equity, providing services to students based on their unique needs”

John Houser, Recreation Specialist

  • No response received.

Gabriel Champagne Affonso, Community Volunteer

  • No response received.

Positions on Key Issues

Shrinking budgets, evolving technology, and safety issues are top of mind for school boards across the state.

Cell phones in classrooms

Do you support banning cell phones in classrooms?

School districts have weighed concerns about distraction and cyberbullying with some parents’ desire to maintain communication with their children throughout the day.

  • HildebrandtNo response
  • DooleyOppose
  • HouserNo response
  • AffonsoNo response

Law enforcement officers

Do you support having law enforcement officers (often known as a school resource officers) on school campuses?

Supporters say the officers provide security and comfort to students and their families, while opponents argue they are too costly and over-police students.

  • HildebrandtNo response
  • DooleySupport
  • HouserNo response
  • AffonsoNo response

School closures or consolidations

Would you support school closures or consolidations to account for under-enrollment or to solve a budget shortfall?

Enrollment in Bay Area schools dropped 10% between 2015 and 2025, and is projected to decline another 10% in the next decade, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. 

  • HildebrandtNo response
  • DooleySupport
  • HouserNo response
  • AffonsoNo response

Charter schools

Would you support new charter schools in the district?

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from many of the rules governing other schools in the district. 

  • HildebrandtNo response
  • DooleySupport
  • HouserNo response
  • AffonsoNo response

Teacher misconduct

Do you support California launching a database for hiring schools to see when teachers have been reported to the state for allegations of misconduct?

An effort in the state legislature to create a searchable database failed earlier this year. School administrators argue a database would provide timely information for hiring decisions, but teacher unions say only educators with substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct should end up in a database.

  • HildebrandtNo response
  • DooleyOppose
  • HouserNo response
  • AffonsoNo response

St Helena Unified School District Governing Board Member

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Laura Symon, Incumbent

  • No response received.

Shawn Moura, Incumbent

  • No response received.

Jeanmarie Wolf, Incumbent

  • No response received.

Calistoga Joint Unified School District Governing Board Member

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Laurel Rios, Incumbent

  • “Fiscal Stability, Student Voice, leading with empathy”

Cecilia Ramirez, Hairdresser/Parent

  • No response received.

Irene Pena, School Psychologist

  • No response received.

Rebecca Sager, Teacher

  • No response received.

Positions on Key Issues

Shrinking budgets, evolving technology, and safety issues are top of mind for school boards across the state.

Cell phones in classrooms

Do you support banning cell phones in classrooms?

School districts have weighed concerns about distraction and cyberbullying with some parents’ desire to maintain communication with their children throughout the day.

  • RiosSupport
  • RamirezNo response
  • PenaNo response
  • SagerNo response

Law enforcement officers

Do you support having law enforcement officers (often known as a school resource officers) on school campuses?

Supporters say the officers provide security and comfort to students and their families, while opponents argue they are too costly and over-police students.

  • RiosSupport
  • RamirezNo response
  • PenaNo response
  • SagerNo response

School closures or consolidations

Would you support school closures or consolidations to account for under-enrollment or to solve a budget shortfall?

Enrollment in Bay Area schools dropped 10% between 2015 and 2025, and is projected to decline another 10% in the next decade, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. 

  • RiosOppose
  • RamirezNo response
  • PenaNo response
  • SagerNo response

Charter schools

Would you support new charter schools in the district?

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from many of the rules governing other schools in the district. 

  • RiosOppose
  • RamirezNo response
  • PenaNo response
  • SagerNo response

Teacher misconduct

Do you support California launching a database for hiring schools to see when teachers have been reported to the state for allegations of misconduct?

An effort in the state legislature to create a searchable database failed earlier this year. School administrators argue a database would provide timely information for hiring decisions, but teacher unions say only educators with substantiated complaints of egregious misconduct should end up in a database.

  • RiosOppose
  • RamirezNo response
  • PenaNo response
  • SagerNo response

Pope Valley Union School District Governing Board Member

What does a school board member do?

A school board member votes on the school district’s budget, oversees the district superintendent and decides on curriculum, within the bounds of state law. The board also manages school facilities and votes on contracts, such as those with employee unions.

Candidates wishing to be included in this guide can email [email protected].

Candidates and Priorities

Shasta Torrey, Incumbent

  • No response received.

Brian Varner, Governing Board Member

  • No response received.
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