Candidates for Coachella Valley Unified School District’s board of education discussed safety, budget constraints and teacher retention, among other issues, during a well-attended forum on Friday evening at the Coachella Library.
Six of the contenders vying for a school board seat participated: incumbent Trinidad Arredondo and Agustín Arreola for Trustee Area 1, representing Coachella; incumbent Jesus Gonzalez and Altrena Santillanes for Trustee Area 2, serving Thermal; and incumbent Jocelyn Vargas and Adrian Rodriguez for Trustee Area 4, covering Mecca. The teachers’ union — Coachella Valley Teachers Association — has endorsed Arredondo, Santillanes and Rodriguez.
Thomas Tortez Jr. did not participate, as he is running unopposed for Trustee Area 3, which includes Oasis and the Salton Sea. Adonis Galarza-Toledo, who previously represented the area, resigned in June …