Races set for three seats on Menifee Union School Board

Nine candidates are running for Menifee Union School Board positions in three Trustee Areas. Not shown: William Hoag.

Story has been updated by including Jason Rider, an additional candidate who qualified in Area 3.

Five candidates are running for the Area 5 seat on the Menifee Union School District board in the most competitive race among the three MUSD seats up for election Nov. 6.

Incumbent Jerry Bowman will be challenged by local businessmen Kenyon Jenkins and Joe Long, longtime resident Debbie Manion and U.S. Marine William Hoag, according to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. Bowman has served on the MUSD board since 2008.

Bowman, a retired high school math teacher and educational consultant, also pulled papers to run for the Area 3 seat on the Mt. San Jacinto College board, vacated when Bill Zimmerman resigned to become mayor of Menifee. Bowman withdrew his application for the MSJC post, however, and will be the only incumbent running in the three MUSD areas that are up for election this fall.

Area 5 includes Chester Morrison, Evans Ranch and Herk Bouris elementary schools and Menifee Valley Middle School.

Board President Ron Ulibarri, the representative to Area 3, passed away Aug. 12 after a long illness. He had recently announced that he was not seeking re-election. There are two candidates running for that seat: Kyle Root, a firefighter who has been involved in many community activities, and Jason Rider, a construction project manager who qualified right at the Aug. 15 deadline.

Area 3 includes Bell Mountain Middle School, Callie Kirkpatrick Elementary School and parts of the Freedom Crest and Southshore elementary school boundaries.

There are two candidates running for the seat in Area 4. Jackie Johansen, a science teacher in another district, and Dennis Silva, who owns his own insurance brokerage, are running for that seat on the board. Both have children in Menifee schools.

Area 4 includes Oak Meadows Elementary School, Harvest Hill STEAM Academy and parts of the Southshore elementary school boundary.

Johansen previously taught at Menifee Valley and Bell Mountain middle schools and now teaches science online with Julian Charter Schools. Her husband Kevin is a special education teacher at Bell Mountain Middle School and the couple has five children, four attending Menifee schools. Johansen is endorsed by the Menifee Teachers Association.

“School policies need to be student centered,” Johnansen said. “Menifee has a tagline of ‘Menifee working for you’, and really I think we need to have students first and not just working as ‘one size fits all.’ I think the school sites need more autonomy to build programs that are good for their population and not have top-down communication from the district.”

Silva, Johansen’s opponent, cited his experience in finances, including contract negotiations, as a strength he would call upon on the school board. Silva, who has three sons attending MUSD schools, said greater attention should be paid to the potential financial impact of unification and to the stalled contract negotiations with MUSD teachers.

“This district needs core values, and I don’t see that here,” Silva said. “By running the district more like a business, we can make changes. Our product and our customers are the children.

“When you talk unification … Perris (Union High School District) will not willingly give up a high school to Menifee. Yes, we would pick up a percentage of their revenue, but we would also inherit maybe 150 teachers. We need to receive a letter of intent to unify from them, spelling out their intentions.”

Area 5 incumbent Bowman cites leadership experience in his campaign statement.

“I first learned about teamwork and leadership while in the U.S. Army, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division,” Bowman said. “Since that time, I have over 40 years of experience along with the commitment and understanding necessary to be a valuable member of the Menifee School Board. I know if we do not 'Put Students First', we will have missed the mark.

“I believe we need to continue work towards unification, provide the best teachers and staff possible, provide a safe environment for students, have open and transparent practices and community involvement.”

Jenkins, a 15-year resident of Menifee and husband of a teacher, has three children who have attended Menifee schools. He is endorsed by the Menifee Teachers Association. Jenkins believes there needs to be a change in management style and spending.

“Over the past five or six years, we’ve seen a drastic change in the district,” Jenkins said. “Teachers do not feel respected, their morale is at an all-time low, and we have seen our curriculum lacking. We have seen our school district go from something that was well respected to one that is not now very well respected within the community and outside the community as well.

“We have seen money spent that is not with students and families and communities first. We’ve seen a decline in public safety at our schools, discipline at our schools, and in proper appropriation of funds. It’s time for a change.”

Long stressed the need for a better working relationship between administrators, school board members and teachers.

“We all want our children to achieve their highest potential,” Long said. “For that singular purpose to be realized, we need to have parents, teachers, and administrators work together closely and collaboratively. Parents must be more involved, teachers must have sufficient resources, and administrators must have a clear plan.

“I am a strong believer in seeking more support from the city, Riverside County and the state of California; seeking more support from regional industries, such as healthcare or high tech; and seeking more support from other non-profit educational organizations.

Long also is a strong proponent of unification.

“In attaining a cohesive and seamless educational system as mandated by California Local Control provisions, all schools in the Menifee area must be unified,” he said. “Once unified, our district needs to be more responsible for the education of our children, fiscally and qualitatively.”

Manion is a 27-year resident of Menifee. Four of her children went through MUSD schools and five grandchildren now attend. She is a former president of the Menifee Woman's Club and is a member of the Rotary Club of Menifee. She has also served as chair of the annual Santa's Workshop, held at Quail Valley Elementary School. She has more than 15 years experience as a small business owner in Menifee.

"I will ask probing questions and examine the issues facing our schools from multiple perspectives, all the while doing what is in the best interest of our students and families," Manion said. "I am a proponent of
unification to add continuity to our schools, from kindergarten through 12th grade.

"I will work tirelessly with our teachers, parents, senior citizens and school staff to ensure we are doing
what is best for kids, while closely monitoring our precious tax dollars to ensure they are spent
wisely and always have a direct tie to the needs of our kids, our future and our community."

In Area 3, Root wants to make sure his constituents are familiar with his campaign and his commitment to the students and teachers. He is endorsed by the Menifee Teachers Association.

“I think this board has been stagnant for quite some time, with the same board members year after year,” Root said. “It’s time for a change in mentality, a change in direction that would bring board members closer together with the teachers, the parents, the administrators. That’s something I believe has been lost in the last few years.

“Qualities I would bring to this position are honesty and integrity – qualities I think have been lacking on the school board.”

Rider has two young children who will soon be entering Menifee schools.

"Student success is accomplished when the school board works together to set goals, implements student-first policies, and works together with the superintendent to create an environment where students can learn and thrive," Rider said. "I know I have the talents and the skills to effectively collaborate with the other board members to ensure our students achieve academic success, sustain a fiscally conservative budget, and effectively communicate with our community.

"Solid education coupled with a strong support system are critical components of creating successful environments for all students. I hope to share my knowledge and ideas as a Menifee School Board member to help our community and students succeed."

Editor’s note: Hoag could not be reached for comment. Menifee 24/7 will have separate profiles of all candidates in the coming weeks. A candidates' forum will also be scheduled. Details will be announced soon.