Voters in the Alum Rock Union School District in East San José will pick school board members by trustee area for the first time on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Three of the five seats are up this year, and two are contested.

Why the map changed

The district's board voted on March 26, 2026, to begin moving from at-large to by-trustee-area elections in single-member areas, the district says. After public hearings in April and May, the Santa Clara County Committee on School District Organization held a hearing on the change on May 28. Under the new system, candidates must live in the area they want to represent. The district says the change does not affect school attendance boundaries.

Trustee Area 3

Incumbent Andrés Quintero faces Delia Oseguera, a community volunteer, according to Ballotpedia and KQED. In KQED's guide, Oseguera listed her priorities as “Accountability, Honesty & Transparency.” She said she supports banning cell phones in classrooms and opposes school resource officers, school closures or consolidations, and new charter schools. Quintero did not answer KQED's questionnaire.

Trustee Area 5

Incumbent Linda Chavez (listed by KQED as Línda Lo Chávez, small business owner) faces education consultant Manisha Kand and retired teacher Jenny Ludwig. Kand told KQED her focus is collaboration, STEM academics and limited classroom technology. She supports school resource officers and would consider closures or consolidations, but opposes a classroom cell phone ban and new charters. Ludwig said she wants to bring all stakeholders together. She supports a cell phone ban and school resource officers, and opposes closures and new charters. Chavez did not answer KQED's questionnaire.

Area 1

Darcie Green won the Area 1 seat without appearing on the ballot because no one else filed, Ballotpedia reports.

Also on Alum Rock ballots: the Measure O parcel tax and Measure P school bond.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.