Three Modesto school board incumbents seek reelection. Here are our endorsements | Opinion

CORRECTION: Measure X will generate $85 million to repair and improve elementary and junior high schools. This article initially gave an incorrect number.

Two major issues involving Modesto schools face voters on the November ballot.

Modesto City Schools is asking voters to approve a fourth bond in six years. Additionally, three of its board members are seeking reelection to four-year terms.

The district oversees 34 schools from kindergarten through high school, and is one of Stanislaus County’s biggest employers, with a staff of more than 3,200. Enrollment is approximately 30,000.

Measure X, which will generate $85 million to repair and improve elementary and junior high schools, will need 55% approval to pass.

Incumbents John Ervin III (District 2), Abel Maestas (District 4) and Homero Mejía (District 6) are seeking another four-year term. Each is facing at least one challenger.

Compensation for trustees is $750 a month.

The Editorial Board met with the incumbents and the two challengers to Ervin. Incumbents Maestas (District 4) and Mejía (District 6) accepted an invitation to meet with the board. It is the Editorial Board’s policy not to endorse a candidate it does not interview.

District 4

Maestas, an instructional coach at Ceres Unified, said he wants to make sure students are proected in the classroom by having single points of entry.

“We worked hard on getting all those fencing up for all of our high schools and other schools,” said Maestas, who also wants to foster a culture of non-bullying. “We really need to cut down on bullying from early grades all the way up.” Maestas said previous bond measures have allowed the district to make necessary improvements at K-8 and high schools at a time district enrollment is growing.

A solid education will result in a better Modesto, he said.

“If we want to build our community from the ground up, we want a destination place. Modesto is a wonderful, wonderful city,” said Maestas. “If we want to make it better, we have to do that through education. Studies show that when students are well educated, your community does well, too, because those kids stay in the community and they impact our economy.”

Maestas has been endorsed by the Modesto Teachers Association and North Valley Labor Federation.

Challenger Emma Alonzo did not respond to an invitation. She was born in New York City, and owns and operates a travel agency in Modesto.

Maestas has shown an ability to lead the school district in his four years on the board. He deserves another term to continue his work.

District 6

Mejía, one of 11 children, was born in Aguililla, Michoacán, México. He is executive director of Congregations Building Communities. Mejía graduated from Modesto High School in 1998.

His challengers are Rueth Velez-Langrock and Sebastian Jones.

Mejía’s previous experience with the Parent Institute for Quality Education has given him insight into how to get parents involved in the educational process of their children. He believes in making sure that students are protected from threats, and said the district has good communication with local law enforcement agencies.

The pandemic, he said, sank any progress on student achievement. “We have more work to do,” said Mejía. “We’re looking at numbers, what programs are working that show improvement. We’re really focusing on that.”

Velez-Langrock works as a facilitator for teen moms at Modesto High School, Downey High School and Elliott Alternative Education Center.

Jones ran and lost in the 2024 primary election to replace Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen.

Mejia’s breadth of experience is valuable. He deserves another term.

District 2

Ervin is being challenged by Roman Messick and Emma Sperling. He has served on the board since 2018, and is the current board president.

His career has been in education. In 2004, he founded the Project Uplift Mentoring Program to inspire at-risk youth. Ervin, a military veteran, was an administrator with the district when he built its community affairs department to address the needs of marginalized students. The department helped reduce suspensions, expulsions and dropouts.

The district’s after-school program grew from serving 100 students to more than 1,500 under his leadership.

“My slogan is John 4 All Kids, and it’s not just a slogan,” said Ervin, who moved to Modesto 25 years ago from Los Angeles. “I want to make sure all kids at all schools have the funding, the resources they need to be successful. I want to support the teachers.

“That’s the light of aspiration in our community when it comes to education. We have the best and brightest teachers that our community has to offer.”

Ervin said he is proud of contacting Rep. Josh Harder to help the district’s 130-piece band participate in the 2023 National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. He also helped launch the JROTC program at Beyer High.

Messick was born in Modesto and attended Modesto City Schools, graduated from Long Beach State in 2012 and moved back to Modesto in 2014. He is a workers comp adjuster.

He wants to involve parents in the educational process of their children, advocate for dual technical training, and emphasizes the importance of improving student achievement scores.

Sperling is a substitute teacher for the district and backs the school bond measure.

Ervin has the passion, the experience and the vision to continue on the school board. The Editorial Board endorses his candidacy.

This story was originally published October 6, 2024 at 7:00 AM.