This week's primary election didn't settle the future for the San Diego Unified School Board... and there are differences of opinion about whether that's good or bad. Incumbents Katherine Nakamura and John DeBeck failed to win re-election to the board. And Nakamura may not even make the run-off in the fall.
It is a challenging time for one of San Diego county's largest employers. The school district is dealing with a third straight year of fiscal challenges. State budget cuts are contributing to a large budget deficit. And the district is trying to seat a new superintendent. Terry Grier who left San Diego for Houston's top school job last year.
The uncertainty about the board's future is welcomed by some. Camille Zombro is the president of the San Diego Education Association. She says the board needs change and she's ready for John DeBeck to be voted out. She says his hairbrain ideas lack merit.
"This is public education, we don't throw things against walls to see what sticks…because those things that we're throwing are children and educators. And we deserve and we need thoughtful leadership."
School principles feel otherwise. Jeannie Steeg is in charge of the Administrators Association of San Diego. She says her union was experienced members to stay because it takes a long time to learn the job.
