The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on its Board of Education following the resignation of Area 3 Trustee José Juan Ibarra.

He served on the board since 2020, starting his most recent four-year term in 2024.

His resignation occurred because he moved from the trustee area.

“I really appreciate the trust that you put in me to be here, to be a voice for students, which is core for me and that will never end,” Ibarra said during a June board meeting.

According to the district, board members are responsible for making policy decisions, overseeing the budget and supporting the educational success of local students. The board opted to fill the vacancy through a provisional appointment rather than hold a special election.

Applicants must live in Trustee Area 3, which includes parts of Buellton north of Highway 246, including the Thumbelina neighborhood and the areas around Jonata and Oak Valley schools. It also covers land west of Los Olivos to the edge of Los Alamos and rural areas north of Highway 154, extending toward Zaca Lake.

Applicants also must be at least 18 years old, registered voters, California residents and legally qualified to hold public office.

Completed applications are due by 3 p.m. Aug. 11, and can be submitted in person at the district office or by email to Terry Westfall, administrative assistant to the superintendent, at twestfall@syvuhsd.org.

Finalists will be interviewed in public during the board’s Aug. 19 meeting.

The full provisional application packet is available here. For questions about eligibility or trustee area boundaries, call the district office at 805.688.6487.

A map of the trustee areas, including an interactive version, can be found here.