The candidates are Carol Barmeier, Steven Kahl, Rosemary Rossi and Michele van Zuiden and incumbent Dr. Lorrie Wernick. Board President Jackie Schmidt-Posner will not be running for re-election.

Barmeier is a community volunteer, parent and retired corporate-commercial attorney of 20 years, roles that she said involve analytical, problem-solving and negotiating skills. She has lived in Saratoga for eight years and has two children. After suggestions by friends, Barmeier said she decided to run for the board because she's interested in public education and enjoys a new challenge.

"My children have been well-served by the Saratoga schools. We are very happy in this community, and I would like to give something back," she said.

If elected, she hopes to continue academic excellence, while promoting learning, leadership and healthy lifestyles among students. She'd also like to maintain fiscal accountability and improve communication between the school board and the public. Barmeier has been a volunteer on the Foothill Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association, Saratoga Education Foundation, Saratoga High School PTSA and the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of Amigos de las Americas, a nonprofit service group for teens.

Kahl, an English teacher at Mountain View High School, has lived in Los Gatos for about eight years. Kahl said he's wanted to become a school board member ever since he started teaching English 20 years ago. Prior to teaching at Mountain View, he worked at Independence High School for 15 years.

"In both districts, I witnessed how district leadership can profoundly affect students' educational experiences, for better or worse, and I want to contribute to setting a positive course for the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District for the coming four years," Kahl said.

While he's qualified to be a school administrator, Kahl said he'd rather use his education to become an effective board member. If elected, he hopes to continue academic success, empower teachers to be leaders, strengthen technological education, and balance fiscal conservation with prudent investments. Kahl said he'd also like the community to have a greater awareness of how the district spends its money.

Rossi is a retired teacher, parent and volunteer. She has four children and has lived in Saratoga for 5 ¹/2 years.

"I love education. I love children, and I think that good education is the key to success, and good high schools are a key to a good community," she said.

Rossi has served as the past president of several PTAs and Saratoga High School's PTSA and was a school board member in a district on the East Coast, which had similar economic and community characteristics to those of Los Gatos and Saratoga.

"We have very high standards of achievement brought on by the rigorous courses both high schools offer," she said. "I'd like to now broaden that experience and make it more well-rounded."

Rossi said she'd like to see the pressure not diminish, but be more spread out so students don't feel obligated to take all advanced courses. If elected, she's hoping to find funds to provide enhanced programs for students and lower class sizes.

"I know how to work on a school board," Rossi said. "I have the kind of personality where I get things accomplished."

Van Zuiden, a healthcare executive and Los Gatos High parent, has lived in Monte Sereno for 20 years. Her children have also gone through Los Gatos schools and now both attend Los Gatos High. She has served as the chief executive officer of a company, worked on both corporate and nonprofit boards, is an active community leader and has also participated in three local education-related boards.

"I have been involved in multiple leadership roles in our local school districts over the past six years and have come to understand the tremendous successes as well as unique challenges facing our district students, families and teachers," she said. "I am a strong advocate of public school and have worked to raise more than $1.5 million over the years to support our local public schools."

Van Zuiden said she's hoping to strengthen her commitment to the high schools by serving in a governing role. She plans to maintain academic excellence, promote a balanced high school experience for students and retain the district's basic-aid status.

Wernick is a special-education coordinator for the Cupertino Union School District and an adjunct faculty member at National University. She's lived in Los Gatos since 1976, has three children and hopes to serve on the board another four years.

"I decided to run for the school board because education is my passion, and I believe I can make a difference because I am an experienced educator," Wernick said. "I have been a teacher, a vice principal, a principal, and now a coordinator of special education at the district level."

During Wernick's eight-year tenure on the board, the district passed a $79 million bond measure to construct new buildings and modernize facilities. Wernick said she'd like to serve on the board through the completion of this project. Wernick hopes to keep a balanced budget, continue educational excellence, retain competent teachers and increase collaboration between the two high schools.

Wernick has served as board president, vice president and clerk over the past eight years and has also served on numerous other boards throughout the community, in various leadership roles.