By Sara Beth Williams–
A San Juan Unified School Board member from Trustee Area 1 resigned in August, leaving another vacancy just before the upcoming elections, the San Juan Unified School District confirmed.
Trustee Abid Stanekzai of Area 1, who was elected in 2024, submitted his resignation on Aug. 21, San Juan Unified School District Director of Communication Raj Rai said in an email Monday.
The district is currently accepting applications from eligible residents of Trustee Area 1. Applications are due by Oct. 2.
At the Sept. 8 San Juan Unified School Board meeting, the Board of Education chose to fill the vacancy representing Trustee Area 1 through a provisional appointment.
Because Stanekzai’s resignation was given so close to the midterm election date this November, state election statutes dictate that a special election can only be held at specific intervals and the next available date a special election can be held is March 2, 2027. Following a special election, the results will need to be certified, which would take at least until April 1, 2027, according to the district.
The special election would have cost the district $191,000.
During the board meeting, board members acknowledged the differences in circumstances surrounding the last vacancy that occurred in 2023 following the abrupt passing of newly elected board member Steve Miller (Trustee Area 7). At that time, the board chose to hold a special election to fill Miller’s seat.
Board President Tanya Kravchuk said what occurred in Citrus Heights in 2023 “was a very different time,” following the establishment of a brand new sixth and seventh seat to the previously 5-seat board, as well as the recent switch to voting by district.
“I think this time is different,” Kravchuk said.
Board member Pam Costa said she supported an appointment due to the high cost of holding a special election, and so that a new board member can be seated quickly. Board members Zima Creason and Clerk Nick Bloise agreed, saying that the appointment process allows for the community to be involved, and allows the candidates to be interviewed.
Board member Ben Avey acknowledged that in 2023 the community of Citrus Heights expressed interest in holding a special election following Miller’s passing, but added he hasn’t heard any community members in the Arden Arcade area desiring a special election so far.
Vice President Manuel Perez expressed support for holding a special election so that the voice of the people in Trustee Area 1 could be heard.
On Oct. 5, a board subcommittee will verify applicants’ eligibility, the district said. Eligible applicants will be notified of the interview process, and their names will be publicly posted by Oct. 7.
The board is scheduled to interview eligible applicants and make the provisional appointment during its Oct. 13 board meeting, the district noted, adding that the timeline is subject to change. All board meetings are open to the public.
If an individual is successfully appointed during the meeting, they would be immediately sworn into office and continue on the dais at the meeting with their fellow board members.
The new appointed member would serve the remainder of the term which extends through November 2028 until the next election.
According to the district, registered voters may choose to file a petition with the Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools, calling for a special election to be held. A petition must be filed within 30 days of the appointment, at which point a special election would then take place in March.
Area 1 encompasses six schools, including Dyer-Kelly, Howe Avenue, Cottage, Greer, Thomas Edison Language Institute and Encina high school. The boundaries of Trustee Area 1 follow Ethan Way in the west from the Business 80/ Marconi curve in the north and along the American River to Fair Oaks Boulevard in the south.
The southern edge Fair Oaks Boulevard along the American River in the west to Watt Avenue in the east. The eastern edge follows Watt Avenue. from Fair Oaks Boulevard in the south, traveling north until reaching El Camino Avenue, where it then moves west to Fulton Avenue. before continuing north again until reaching Business 80.
The northern edge follows El Camino Avenue. from Watt Avenue. in the east, traveling west, continuing from Fulton Avenue. and Business 80 to the Marconi curve of Business 80/Ethan Way in the west.
A map of the district’s trustee areas can be found at https://www.sanjuan.edu/our-district/school-board/trustee-areas.
For questions and more information, the process and future updates are posted at the district’s website.
