2026 Board Elections

Interested in serving the Cambrian School District as a Board Member?

The Cambrian community will elect three (3) members to the Governing Board of Trustees at the election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Governing Board of Trustees

The Cambrian School District's Governing Board is composed of five elected members who serve four-year terms, with elections held in even-numbered years and terms staggered so that only two or three seats are up for election each cycle.

The Cambrian Board of Trustees works with the Superintendent to:

Provide direction for the District
Establish District policies and procedures
Ensures accountability
Provide community leadership on behalf of the district and public education

The Governing Board prioritizes learning for all students by setting clear goals and defining expectations for positive outcomes. It establishes the structure for effective governance, provides community oversight, and safeguards the public’s interest in maintaining a free and equitable public education system. These responsibilities are essential to ensuring the school system remains accountable to the community.

Authority resides with the Board as a whole rather than with individual members. As such, Board Members carry out their responsibilities collaboratively, working as a unified governance team alongside the Superintendent to make decisions that best serve all students.

In California, there are approximately 1,083 school districts and county offices of education, and they are governed by more than 5,000 school board members. The state’s public education system is the largest in the United States, serving over 6 million students.

Who Can Apply?

Any person, regardless of sex, who is 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the state,, a resident of the Cambrian School District, a registered voter, and who is not disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding a civil office, is eligible to be elected or appointed a member of a governing board of a school district without further qualifications. (California Education Code Section 35107)

Compensation

Statement of Qualifications

To encourage voter participation and candidacy for the Governing Board, the District shall pay a portion of the costs associated with candidate statements, including printing, handling, translation, mailing, and/or electronic distribution, in accordance with Elections Code 13307. Cambrian Board Bylaw 9220

All candidates shall pay a minimum of $500 towards the cost. The $500 payment is due at the time of filing. Candidates' minimum payment of costs will be determined by the number of candidates running per election.
- In an election year in which three (3) Governing Board seats are up for election, the Cambrian School District shall contribute up to $15,000 to the Registrar of Voters to offset the costs associated with candidate statements, including printing, handling, translation, mailing, and/or electronic distribution. This amount shall be divided equally among all candidates. Estimated example costs are provided below.
- Candidate statements shall be limited to no more than 200 words. (Elections Code 13307)
- When the elections official allows for the electronic distribution of candidate statements, a candidate for the Board may, in addition to or instead of submitting a candidate statement for inclusion in the mailed voter's pamphlet, prepare and submit a candidate statement for electronic distribution.

*Estimated Costs – Actual costs will be determined after the election*
Number of Candidates Running	3	4	5	6	7
Deposit at the time of filing per candidate	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500
Estimated cost of the election per candidate	$3,450	$3,450	$3,450	$3,450	$3,450
Total cost per number of candidates running	$10,350	$13,800	$17,250	$20,700	$24,150
District’s contribution to the total cost	$15,000	$15,000	$15,000	$15,000	$15,000
District’s contribution per candidate	$5,000	$3,750	$3,000	$2,500	$2,143
Candidate's total cost out of pocket	$0	$300	$450	$950	$1,307
Invoice from ROV After Election	Refund of $500	Refund of $200	Refund of $50	Additional payment due $450	Additional payment due $807

Interested in Running?

The Santa Clara County School Boards Association will host a Candidate Workshop on Saturday, June 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, located at 1555 Berger Drive.

This free workshop is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in running for a school board position in the November 2026 General Election. Attendees will hear directly from the Registrar of Voters regarding candidacy requirements, timelines, and filing procedures. The session will also include a panel of experienced board members who will share insights on running an effective campaign.

The workshop is open to all prospective candidates, including both incumbents and those considering running for the first time. No RSVP is required. Additional details have been shared via calendar invitation.

Candidate nomination documents can be obtained at the Office of the Registrar of Voters beginning July 13th. Office of Registrar Voters Website

Monday, July 13th - First-day candidates may pick up nomination documents from the Office of Registrar Voters (Opens 8 am)
Friday, August 7th - Deadline to file all required nomination documents (Closes 5 pm)

Contact the Office of Registrar Voters
1555 Berger Drive Building 2
San Jose, CA 95112
Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Toll-Free Phone Number: (408) 299-8639

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