Four candidates are competing for three Coronado Unified School District (CUSD) board seats. In a final forum published in the Coronado Eagle & Journal on Oct. 28, each laid out what they would leave behind as their "shining achievement."

Voters head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Two incumbents, Malachy Sandie and Alexia Palacios-Peters, are running alongside challengers Peggy Duncan and Kaye Schneider. All four are running as nonpartisan candidates, according to election records.

Sandie, a board member since December 2022, pointed to the district's transition to Basic Aid funding. He said the move would secure an estimated $8 million to $10 million in additional annual revenue starting in the 2027–28 school year.

He also cited the board's participation in tort litigation against flavored vape manufacturers to fund in-school vape detectors. Sandie said the board joined litigation against the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant operator to protect local air and water quality.

On student safety, Sandie said he championed a smart-device policy requiring signal-blocking bags for all middle schoolers and supported open-campus lunch privileges for freshmen.

Palacios-Peters: reserves and HVAC

Palacios-Peters, a trustee since December 2022 who was elected board president twice unanimously, said her single shining achievement was helping build the "Bridge to Basic Aid." She described it as a plan to draw down reserves on a set schedule rather than cut programs and staff.

Looking ahead, she said she wants to rebuild reserves to cover six months of expenses. She also called for modern heating and air conditioning in every classroom, paired with solar installations. She wrote that deficit years had made what she called a $40 million HVAC project impossible, but that Basic Aid revenue changes the math.

Palacios-Peters said she helped develop the district's "Portrait of a Graduate" strategic plan, built from more than 66,000 community responses.

Duncan: AI policy and teacher retention

Duncan, a former specially appointed juvenile court judge, said she envisions CUSD becoming a leader in educational technology policy. Students would learn to use artificial intelligence responsibly while the district dramatically reduces unnecessary classroom screen time, she wrote.

She also focused on teacher retention, calling for more competitive compensation, emergency financial assistance and stronger mentoring. Duncan wrote that she hopes teacher satisfaction and retention would reach "record highs."

On Basic Aid, Duncan said the transition demands careful financial stewardship and that the district should resist spending simply because new funding is available.

Schneider: class sizes and family workshops

Schneider, who holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University, envisioned adjusting class sizes in lower grades to give teachers more individual time with younger students. She also called for expanded music and art opportunities for students in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade.

Schneider wrote that the board would sponsor Parent Teacher Collaborative workshops to help families and schools develop consistent expectations. She also described adapting the district's Discipline Action Guide to place greater emphasis on repairing relationships.

Common ground

The themes overlap. All four candidates referenced Basic Aid as a pivotal opportunity. Palacios-Peters and Duncan each named teacher compensation as a priority, while Sandie pointed to union negotiations for staffing and retention. Phone pouches and screen-time limits surfaced in multiple responses.

Coronado voters will choose three of the four candidates Tuesday.