Noozhawk invited candidates for Santa Barbara Unified School District board races on the ballot to answer questions about important local issues.

Two seats are on the ballot this year with five candidates running.

The Trustee Area 4 candidates are incumbent Rose Muñoz, nonprofit board member Valerie Amparan and Kevin Guay.

The candidates for Trustee Area 1 are financial analyst Mark Philibosian and activist Jacqueline Inda Karlsen. Read that Q&A and other election coverage.

Only voters in specific trustee areas will choose the winners of the races. A map showing the trustee areas can be found by clicking here.

Read the answers submitted by Amparan and Muñoz below. Guay has not attended any candidate forums nor responded to Noozhawk’s request to participate in the Q&A.

Valerie Amparan

Question: What experience and expertise would you bring to the school board?

Amparan: I approach this work from lived experience, not theory. I volunteer in my children’s classrooms twice a week, where I see the work educators do, the needs students bring and the realities facing families.

Public service runs in my family. My grandfather was a mayor, and my mother has served on her school board for over 30 years. I learned that public leadership requires preparation, listening, accountability and putting the community first.

As president of the Junior League of Santa Barbara, I led more than 350 members through
strategic planning, budgeting, advocacy and programming during significant change, including COVID. That taught me how effective boards operate: Set clear priorities, understand the finances, align resources with the mission and evaluate results.

I also led a Transition House library renovation, raising over $11,000 to support children experiencing family homelessness. As a co-founder of 4 Kids 2 Kids, I’ve guided an anti-trafficking and youth advocacy organization through start-up, growth, fundraising and restructuring.

Professionally, I bring 15-plus years of software-as-a-service leadership, including managing revenue-generating teams, budgets, hiring and process improvement.

In every role, I’ve done what an effective trustee must: Understand complex information, ask hard questions, listen to stakeholders, make responsible financial decisions and keep the mission central.

Question: What do you think are the three most pressing issues the Santa Barbara Unified School District faces over the next four years? How would you address
these issues?

Amparan: Santa Barbara Unified faces serious multi-year financial challenges. The district has cut its projected structural deficit from $20.6 million to $9.7 million, which is progress but not a balanced budget. Reserves have fallen from about $6 million to roughly $289,000, and relying on the $16.3 million Fund 17 backstop is no substitute for healthy operating reserves. Persistent deficits eventually reach classrooms through staffing cuts, fewer courses, and reduced arts and electives.

Priority 1: Fiscal discipline and transparency. Fiscal discipline protects classrooms. I will push for a public, multi-year plan to eliminate deficit spending, rebuild reserves and tie major budget decisions to measurable student outcomes. Administrative, contractual and general spending should be scrutinized before classrooms absorb further cuts.

Priority 2: Reading and math outcomes. Investments in literacy curriculum, screening and teacher training must be implemented consistently and produce measurable results. Early identification and intervention are essential, especially for multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Transparent data should help the board invest in what works and change course when it doesn’t.

Priority 3: Rebuilding trust. A strategic plan with S.M.A.R.T. goals and transparent reporting creates accountability and directs resources to where they’re needed most. Stakeholders stay informed and become part of the problem-solving.

These priorities connect: Stable finances protect classrooms, strong academics require early action, and students thrive when they and their parents feel informed, supported and engaged.

Question: The district has faced criticism in the past for how it’s treated teachers during negotiations and budget deliberations. How would you approach staff
negotiations during tight budget years?

Amparan: I would approach negotiations as partnerships, not adversarial contests. Teachers and staff are central to student success, and the way a district treats them shows up in morale, retention and, ultimately, classroom quality.

In tight budget years, trust starts with transparency. Educators should not be surprised by the numbers. I would support sharing clear, accurate financial information early and often, including what is driving the deficit, what options are on the table and how decisions will affect classrooms. When people understand the full picture, they can help solve problems rather than react to them.

I would also insist on a consistent, public sequence for budget decisions. Scrutinize
administrative, contractual and general spending first, before asking classrooms and direct student services to absorb reductions. Employees deserve to see that the burden is being shared fairly.

At the table, I would listen carefully, respect the bargaining process and focus on shared goals: a financially stable district, supported educators, full student schedules and measurable progress for students. Sustainable agreements matter more than short-term fixes that create larger problems later.

Fiscal discipline and respect for staff are not in conflict. A stable budget protects jobs and classrooms, and a respected workforce protects student success.

Question: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Amparan: I am running for school board because I believe SBUSD can be stronger, more transparent and more focused on what students need to succeed.

As a current SBUSD parent, classroom volunteer, nonprofit leader and operational professional, I have built my career on bringing people together, managing resources, navigating change and holding organizations accountable for results. Those are the skills I will bring to the board.

SBUSD faces real challenges: financial pressure, the need to rebuild reserves and public trust, as well as important work ahead in literacy, math, student engagement and creating partnerships. I also see tremendous opportunity. We can strengthen fiscal discipline without losing sight of students. We can demand better data without reducing children to numbers. We can support educators while expecting measurable progress and we can make difficult decisions transparently, with a clear understanding of how they affect classrooms.

For me, this work is personal. My children attend these schools, I volunteer in their classrooms and I live in this community. I care deeply about the future we are building for every child who walks through an SBUSD door.

I am ready to bring my experience, energy and commitment to a district that is financially responsible, academically strong, equitable and worthy of our community’s trust. I would be honored to earn your vote.

Rose Muñoz

Question: What experience and expertise would you bring to the school board?

Muñoz: I have been on the school board for two terms and am running for re-election. 

Being on the board has given me much experience with the issues faced by the school district. 

My educational background is an asset. I have a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. My continued community involvement is a factor. I have been asked by community members and teachers to run for re-election. Students and parents frequently ask me for assistance with school-related matters. 

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara. I am a bilingual Latina.  

Question: What do you think are the three most pressing issues the Santa Barbara Unified School District faces over the next four years? How would you address
these issues?

Muñoz: One of the most pressing issues faced by SBUSD is increasing the literacy and math scores of our students. Although there have been steady gains in the scores, there is room for improvement. Our students need to be prepared for the future. There are efforts in place such as Power Hour to provide extra help in areas where students are struggling. The training of teachers in the science of reading implemented by the superintendent will continue to be a factor in the improvement of the scores. 

Another issue is the budget. I am confident that the district will be able to build reserves with creative solutions. The board, working alongside the superintendent and the cabinet, has focused on this issue during recent study sessions. 

A third issue for the school district is supporting school staff. The cost of local housing is an issue. The development of workforce housing with the sale of the Tatum property and the use of the Parma location will result in 130 units. Workforce housing is a solution that can contribute to the retention of staff. 

Question: The district has faced criticism in the past for how it’s treated teachers during negotiations and budget deliberations. How would you approach staff
negotiations during tight budget years?

Muñoz: The key to approach staff negotiations is to begin early in the year. Trust needs to be built with the unions, and transparency is important. The frequent updates about the budget in board meetings are helpful in addition to the work being done in the finance committee. I am hopeful that negotiations with SBTA and CSEA will be better this time.

Question: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Muñoz: Our school culture needs to be inclusive. Students need to feel safe in order to learn. Wellness centers and staff that focus on the mental health of our students are a priority. Academics and mental health are of equal importance in this day and age.

These answers have been lightly edited for style and formatting.

Additional candidate Q&As will be published on Noozhawk in the coming days.

Read more about local candidates and issues in Noozhawk’s Elections section.