Jacqueline Inda Karlsen Will Seek School Board Seat
The trustee area one candidate is campaigning as voters prepare for the November 3, 2026, election.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
Should your local school board prioritize facility upgrades to address budget deficits?
Jacqueline Inda Karlsen is campaigning for a seat on the Santa Barbara Unified School Board. She is running for the trustee area one position, an election that takes place on November 3, 2026.
Why it matters
The new trustee will help address the Santa Barbara Unified School District's $5.4 million budget deficit and manage declining enrollment figures. Inda Karlsen is running on a platform focused on community collaboration and facility upgrades.
The district currently faces a $5.4 million budget deficit alongside declining enrollment figures. Candidate Jacqueline Inda Karlsen proposes a potential bond measure to fund needed classroom facility improvements.
The players
Jacqueline Inda Karlsen
A school board candidate for trustee area one and leader of the Restorative Justice Center who previously ran for office in 2008.
Mark Philibosian
The candidate running against Jacqueline Inda Karlsen for the trustee area one seat.
The details
Inda Karlsen, who leads the Restorative Justice Center, is seeking the trustee area one seat in a contest against Mark Philibosian. Her platform emphasizes collaboration, though her candidacy follows past controversies involving La Casa de la Raza, which filed for bankruptcy in 2026 and issued a cease-and-desist letter regarding her representation of the organization. She has agreed to stop representing herself as La Casa de la Raza.
Timeline
2008: Jacqueline Inda Karlsen previously ran for the school board and lost.
2020: The Restorative Justice Center moved into the La Casa building.
2026: La Casa de la Raza filed for bankruptcy.
November 3, 2026: The upcoming election date for the school board trustee seat.
The Home Front
The candidate's proposal for a bond measure follows the standard path set by California Education Code facilities bond regulations to fund infrastructure. These ballot measures are frequently used by local districts to address capital improvement needs during periods of fiscal shortfall.
Residents in trustee area one should review the ballot materials for the November 3 election to understand the candidates' positions on the $5.4 million deficit. If a bond measure is placed on a future ballot to address facility upgrades, property owners should research how such funding affects local tax assessments.
The takeaway
Voters should weigh the candidate's proposed strategies for balancing the budget against the district's ongoing fiscal challenges. Consider reviewing official voter guides to understand the specific implications of the proposed facility bond before heading to the polls on November 3, 2026.
What happens next
The school board election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local educational leadership in the Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Barbara News-Press.
Live Poll
Should your local school board prioritize facility upgrades to address budget deficits?
