Incumbent Anthony Corrales, a board member of the Lyon County School Board since January 2006, is running against new-comer Joe Slabbinck, who moved to Fernley a year ago, for Seat 2 on the board.
"It's been kind of tough," said Corrales, 34, of the seven months he's served on the board. "Of course, you're always learning. I'm trying to get it all down."
The Lyon County School Board appointed Corrales after predecessor Lee Anne Chaffin, due to complete her term this December, stepped down.
Corrales has lived in Fernley for the past seven years. He is married to Jennifer, and is raising four children. His 7-year-old Rylie will attend the new East Valley Elementary School, opening this fall.
"I'd like to see us work on the retention of school teachers and administrators," he said. "We have some really good administrators in the district and we need to make sure they get what they need. I'd like to see the district back them up anyway they can."
He is the hospital administration outreach coordinator for Tahoe-Pacific Hospital in Reno and has been in respiratory therapy work since 1994. He lived previously in Mesa, Ariz.
Slabbinck, 60, is a retiree of DaimlerChrysler, who previously lived in Detroit, but moved West with his wife, Brenda, after his grown children found careers in California.
He served on a Macomb County, Mich., school board for two years and on several parent organizations for Detroit Public Schools.
"I'm concerned about kids being able to do more than rote-memorization type things," he said. "Our kids have to be able to come out and think intelligibly and make good sound decisions."
He hoped to become more involved in the Fernley community, but family circumstances prevented him. While in Michigan, he served on the Clinton Township Goodfellows and belonged to Macomb County Interfaith Center for Racial Justice and the Clinton Township Zoning Board of Appeals. He served in the U.S. Army.
"One of the big concerns that I do have is No Child Left Behind and its impact on test-taking," he said. "My concern is that as we get closer to 2013-14 (when 100 percent proficiency is required) will our children be affected by (the focus on English and math)? Will we shortchange our students in science and art or other programs or be able to maintain our focus and teach them the things they need?"
The candidates' names will appear on the general election ballot. Seat 2 is a four-year term.
Lyon County School District races
To appear on primary ballot:
• Lynda Nickerson, Charles Shirley and Cliff Yeater, all contesting Seat 4
• Jerry Peterson, sole candidate for Seat 6
To appear on general election ballot:
• Anthony Corrales and Joe Slabbinck, seat two
• The top two vote getters from the Seat 4 race. All races are for four-year terms.