Kevin Johansen said he is running for the Perris Union High School District Board because he believes the district needs change, with a focus on rebuilding trust, increasing transparency and putting students at the center of board decisions.
“At the end of the day, it’s that I know we can do better,” Johansen said. “We deserve better than what we’re getting currently.”
Johansen, a special education teacher at Bell Mountain Middle School in Menifee, is beginning his 17th year as an educator. He and his family have lived in Menifee since 2000.
Johansen said one of his biggest concerns is what he described as distrust between the district and the communities it serves.
“I think they continue to do things over and over, doing things in a way that, at best, looks shady,” he said.
If elected, Johansen said he would work to rebuild that trust and make sure decisions made by the board can be connected back to students. He said rebuilding relationships would also require board members to be more visible in the community and at school sites, rather than only attending meetings and voting.
Johansen also raised concerns about the relationship between district leadership and employees, pointing to the departure of longtime administrators in recent years.
Superintendent Dr. Jose Araux, who recently announced that he will retire at the end of the year, was hired by the board in 2024. His tenure has coincided with the departure of at least 13 administrators, including four principals, according to previous Menifee 24/7 reporting.
Johansen also criticized the board’s recent decision to limit its search for Araux’s replacement to internal candidates. The board voted 3-2 on Aug. 12 to select an internal candidate for the position. Araux previously served on the PUHSD board and had worked as a principal before he was hired as superintendent.
Johansen questioned whether limiting the search will give the district the strongest pool of candidates, particularly following the recent turnover.
“What does that candidate pool even look like anymore?” Johansen said. “With a history of bad looks and favoritism in their hiring practices, that does not look good.”
Johansen also pointed to the district’s proposed $187 million bond measure as another issue contributing to his concerns about trust and transparency.
District officials have said the proposal would allow PUHSD to fund facility improvements without increasing the current tax rate of about $20 per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Johansen said he understands why districts rely on bonds to fund major projects but disagrees with how the proposal has been presented to residents and questioned whether Menifee would receive an equitable share of the funding.
Despite his criticism of district leadership, Johansen said there are things PUHSD is doing well that he would like to continue, including its career technical education programs.
He said he would also like to see stronger partnerships with Mt. San Jacinto College and the elementary school districts that feed into PUHSD, creating more continuity for students as they move through school.
When asked why voters should choose him over someone with experience serving on the board, Johansen said he believes that experience is not necessarily an advantage if residents are unhappy with the direction of the district.
“If you’re looking for a change,” he said, “I’m that person.”
