Live election updates: See early election returns for Central Unified’s school board races

Natalie Chavez and Jaspreet Sidhu are leading the races for Central Unified School Board's seats, early Election Night returns show.

Voters in the Central Unified School District will decide two seats on the seven-member school board. The seat for Area 6 has been secured by Fresno City College instructor Karla Kirk, who ran unopposed. Kirk succeeds outgoing Trustee Jeremy A. Mehling, who decided not to run for reelection.

In Area 3, Chavez gained 55% of the vote to Incumbent Phillip Cervantes's 44.9% as of 8 p.m. Tuesday with about 30% of votes counted. Chavez , 47, started an education consulting firm earlier this year after working at Fresno City College for 17 years. Cervantes, 65, a medical sales consultant, was first elected to the school board in 2016.

In Area 5, 27-year-old challenger Sidhu , a registered nurse and Central Unified alum, is ahead of Incumbent Richard A. Solis, 66, a retired social worker seeking his third term. Early returns show Sidhu ahead with 69.61% of the vote.

Chavez and Sidhu are political newcomers and haven't held any public office. As of the election night, Chavez had raised $11,691 and Sidhu had $24,805, according to the Fresno County Clerk. Both incumbents in the races filed forms to the county promising they would raise and spend their campaign funds under the $2,000 limit.

Central Unified is the third-largest school district in Fresno County with more than 16,000 students. The district has grown noticeably in recent years, opening a new high school in northwest Fresno in 2021. A new elementary school is under construction. The district redrew its attendance boundary maps in the spring to re-balance enrollment at its three high schools, which will go into effect in the 2025-26 school year.

In earlier interviews with The Fresno Bee, current board members and candidates said they plan to focus on improving student achievement, increasing vocational training programs and adding social services and mental health support.

Typically – but not always – returns compiled at the end of Election Night reflect percentages similar to the final confirmed result when all of the counting is completed and the election certified. That could take up to four weeks after Election Day.