Pajaro Middle School has a new interim principal: Ricky Maldonado. Maldonado previously served as a social emotional counselor and assistant principal at Central Coast Middle School.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board: Incumbent Daniel Dodge Jr. faces recent high school graduate Eriberto Estrada in Area IV race
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area IV race pits 18-year-old recent graduate Eriberto Estrada against eight-year incumbent Daniel Dodge Jr. Estrada is campaigning on the perspective of a recent student and calls for more creative spending, while Dodge points to his record of infrastructure improvements.
Posted inEducation
San Luis Obispo school district hires PVUSD Superintendent Heather Contreras
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Superintendent Heather Contreras was hired to lead San Luis Coastal Unified School District on Tuesday night; Contreras will remain with PVUSD through the end of this school year.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board Area I race: Meet Andrew Goldenkranz, Robin Sukow and Meilin Obinata
Andrew Goldenkranz, Robin Sukow and Meilin Obinata are running for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Trustee Area I seat after incumbent Joy Flynn decided not to seek reelection. All newcomers, the candidates are diverse, with two coming from education backgrounds and one having business experience.
Posted inEducation
Incumbent Misty Navarro faces Mads Realmuto in PVUSD Trustee Area VII race
Incumbent Misty Navarro and district parent Mads Realmuto are competing for the Trustee Area VII seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board. Navarro was appointed to the seat in October 2024, after Jennifer Holm resigned from the board.
Posted inEducation
PVUSD school board candidate Curt Wilcox charged with felonies related to candidacy filing
Pajaro Valley Unified school board candidate Curt Wilcox was arrested Sept. 18 and faces felony charges related to his candidacy filing, including allegations involving his residency and voter registration.
Posted inEducation
Pajaro Valley school board Area V race: Alicia Jimenez, Curt Wilcox vie for open seat
Retired administrator Alicia Jimenez and Watsonville craftsman Curt Wilcox are competing for the open Trustee Area V seat on the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board. A third candidate, Jennifer Schacher, remains on the ballot despite saying she will not actively campaign.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County’s heat wave, one job at a time
As a heat wave gripped the region, Lookout journalists spoke with workers from Santa Cruz to Capitola to Watsonville about how they were getting through it, shift by shift.
Posted inEducation
A Pajaro Valley school board race is raising bigger questions about who should be eligible for public office in California
Whether a criminal record should matter to voters is playing out in the race for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District governing board, where candidate Curt Wilcox has a felony assault conviction and a history of run-ins with law enforcement. California law doesn’t stand in his way — but many think it should factor into their decision.
Posted inEducation
After Pajaro Middle teachers demanded principal’s removal, district appoints her to new admin role
Pajaro Middle School teachers say they’re relieved that Principal Nicole Killian is moving to a district office role. In May, they gave the district superintendent a vote of no confidence and demanded her removal.
