Encinitas-area voters will choose new school board members in three San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD) races and one Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) contest on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Mail ballots are in homes.

All three SDUHSD incumbents declined to seek re-election, meaning the board will seat three new trustees. The races span Area 1, covering Encinitas; Area 3, covering portions of Solana Beach, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe and Cardiff; and Area 5, covering Carmel Valley and Pacific Highlands Ranch.

Candidate profiles first reported Oct. 13 by the San Diego Union-Tribune detail each candidate's priorities.

SDUHSD Area 1

Amy Flicker, 56, a human resources executive, faces David Miyashiro, 55, superintendent of Cajon Valley Union School District, for the seat being vacated by Rimga Viskanta, who is running for Encinitas mayor.

Flicker, vice president of legislation for the Ninth District California State PTA, listed fiscal solvency, responsible AI integration and student-centered services as her top priorities. She noted SDUHSD has lost about 1,000 students across its 10 campuses since 2020.

Miyashiro, who holds a UCLA doctorate in educational leadership and previously served as an EUSD assistant superintendent, pointed to aging infrastructure, state and federal budget uncertainty and AI's effect on the job market. He earned more than $592,000 in total compensation from Cajon Valley in 2024, the Union-Tribune reported in August. Sean McMorris, a program manager at Common Cause California, told the Union-Tribune in August that some may view a sitting superintendent also serving on another district's board "cynically, given the amount of power and influence one person would have," while others may see it as an asset.

SDUHSD Area 3

Summer Boger, 47, a part-time special education instructional assistant who has worked across SDUHSD campuses for more than 25 years, is running against Helen Doyle, 42, a former mechanical engineer and stay-at-home parent.

Boger cited uneven math outcomes, long-term financial stability and stronger support for students with disabilities. Doyle prioritized AI implementation, reevaluating screen-time policies and expanding programs such as a Spanish immersion continuation at Carmel Valley Middle School.

SDUHSD Area 5

Ginny Merrifield, a surveillance-video business owner who co-founded Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, faces Justin Moodie for the Area 5 seat. Merrifield said SDUHSD's math proficiency drops from 76% in seventh grade to 50% by 11th grade and called for SAT testing at all four high schools. The district approved a $3.2 million operating budget deficit for 2026-27, according to Merrifield. No Q&A profile for Moodie was published in the Union-Tribune's Oct. 13 batch.

EUSD

Three candidates are seeking an EUSD trustee seat: Christina Hargrave, 74, a teacher and principal with five grandchildren in EUSD schools; Marika Dixon, 44, an instructional assistant and EUSD parent; and Jillian Cocayne, 45, a patent licensing executive.

Hargrave focused on new math curricula, age-appropriate technology policies and narrowing achievement gaps for English learners and students with disabilities. Dixon said she wants to restore traditional A-F grading. "Replacing traditional A–F grades with only three performance levels gives families less clarity," she said in the Union-Tribune Q&A.

Cocayne, who serves on the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee for Measure Z, said the $158.3 million bond has already seen delays and change orders. Cocayne said the district is less than two years into a 10-year timeline. She also flagged enrollment decline and staff retention as priorities.

Voters can return mail ballots or vote in person at their assigned polling location.