Ballots are in the hands of Newport Mesa Unified School District Area 5 voters for a special election to fill an empty seat on the school board.
A businesswoman and an occupational therapist are facing off in the special election that culminates on June 10 to fill the remaining term of former board trustee Michelle Barto, who was elected to the Newport Beach City Council in November.
Andrea McElroy, 55, and Kristin Walsh, 53, both of Newport Beach, have varied experiences in the district school.
McElroy, whose daughter is now a college senior, said she frequently volunteered during her time in the district as room mom, with theater programs and the tennis team.
Walsh has a sophomore and a senior at Newport Mesa High School and is the school’s PTA president.
Vote-by-mail ballots for the special election were sent out on May 12 to voters in the district’s Area 5; the last day to request a ballot to be mailed is June 3. The in-person voting center opens May 31 in Room 119 at Coastline College, 1515 Monrovia Ave.
A petition prompted the special election. Walsh had been appointed to the trustee seat over McElroy and other applicants by a divided school board in late January. The petition collected enough signatures to reverse the appointment and require a public vote instead.
Both candidates are in the final stretch of campaigning and say they have had fun and challenging moments.
For McElroy, a businesswoman, she said her highlight has been meeting so many people who care about the local schools.
“The most challenging has been walking and knocking on doors while recovering from a ruptured achilles,” she said. “But every mile is worth the effort to help NMUSD families.”
For Walsh, an occupational therapist, the experience of meeting and working with so many people has been amazing, she said.
“My personal growth in a world that is unfamiliar to me, with regard to politics, has been wonderful,” she said, but added that dealing with “inaccurate comments about her beliefs, values, and views” has been challenging.
Both candidates tout their experience in the district and say their background with Newport-Mesa Unified will help them make important decisions and give them a pulse on what the district most needs.
Walsh said she brings “both professional expertise in child development and lived experience as an NMUSD parent,” and her time as a volunteer at schools “taught me the importance of building bridges between families, educators, and administrators.”
McElroy said her involvement in the district community “has shown me the importance of caring for our families, jumping right in, and getting things done. I’m ready for this role, committed to our students and families, and no one will out work me.”
The Orange County Register asked the candidates a series of questions for a voter guide, here is what they said about issues facing the district.
Question: What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them?
McElroy: First and foremost, we must address student achievement. We need to know why our test scores are not where they should be, and come up with proven solutions that will directly impact academic outcomes. Is it curriculum? Teaching strategies? Is money being spent wisely to benefit the classroom? Do new literacy programs need to be introduced or teacher training improved? We have to change the academic achievement slide and we have to do it now.
Second, we need to look at spending. Do we plan responsibly to address aging campuses, school safety, and teacher training? Do we overspend on programs without proven outcomes? Do we have the right number district administrators or are we top heavy? The ROI on our spending needs to be looked at closely to see where improvements can be made that will directly address academic achievement and school safety.
Walsh: First, preparing students for life after NMUSD in both maintaining academic excellence while addressing learning recovery post-pandemic and empowering students to explore vocational, community college, and career readiness pathways. We must continue supporting our teachers with professional development and resources while ensuring rigorous curriculum standards. I’ll advocate for targeted interventions for students who need additional support and expanded enrichment opportunities.
Second, responsible and transparent spending amid declining enrollment and rising costs. It’s no secret that our district is in need of infrastructure investments, and we need strategic budget planning that prioritizes classroom instruction while building for the future of our community.
For the candidates’ answers on other topics, including the use of smartphones, artificial intelligence technology, parental notification policies and leadership, check out the Orange County Register’s Voter Guide at ocregister.com/education.
Ballots must be posted marked by June 10 and there are also two secure drop boxes available 24/7. The vote center will remain open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get more information on voting deadlines, locations of the drop boxes and the vote center hours at ocvote.gov/voting.