LYNWOOD — Incumbents of the Lynwood Unified School District’s Board of Education, Rachel Chavez and Alfonso Morales, face four challengers: Nancy Montes, Anastasia Ventura, Dorothy Plummer-Jones and Gloria Garcia, in voting Tuesday.

Chavez, who was recently honored by City Councilman Jim Morton for serving nearly 20 years on the school board, finds herself fighting for the seat she has held for five terms. A Lynwood resident for 46 years, whose three children attended and graduated from Lynwood schools, Chavez has seen the district go from 9,000 students to 17,000 students.

Chavez said the thought of retiring crossed her mind last year, but after much thought, she said she realized she still had one more term in her especially knowing there is still so much more to do in this district.

Very much aware of her critics, Chavez said her record is clear, and adds that she will always hold people accountable for their actions. “I am a fair and open-minded individual, who votes with facts and a conscience. My vote is based solely on the best interest of our children.”

If anything, her “experience and her votes” are needed on the school board, she said, especially with the looming selection of a new district superintendent ahead, and the district’s financial woes. “The changes that needed to happen, are already happening,” she said.

“Our district is in turmoil, both financially and academically. This board has, at least, made some needed changes in the district leadership. … They’ve begun to strengthen curriculum and instructional programs,” Chavez said. “I wish to continue to be part of this on-going effort to improve the district.”

Morales, who is seeking his second term in office, was raised in Lynwood and is a Lynwood High School graduate. The basis for his second bid for office is based on wanting to continue to “inspire” this generation of Lynwood students to become the best they can be.

“I know that any student can succeed, I did,” Morales said. “I graduated from our schools. … Like my parents, I believe in hard work and I believe in our schools. Our community has always valued our children. I was one of those students that benefited from that support. My job now is to help today’s children the way I was helped 20 years ago.”

Currently serving as the board’s vice president, Morales said he believes that the district has made some “great strides” in his first term, but that “there is still work to be done.” Also, “I strongly believe that our school district needs solidarity and continuity in order to improve. … We can do better, we must do better, we will do better,” Morales said.

“I want to help install the future administration to help guide the school district to both financial and academic success,” Morales added. “Other than that, I just want to work hard for the school district and use the experience that I gained in the last four years for any decisions I will have to make in the future.”

Montes, a lifelong resident of Lynwood, is fairly new to the political arena but said she sees very well where the changes need to be made.

“I believe that our school district is in need of improved leadership and accountability,” Montes said. “As a lifelong resident of Lynwood, I am vested in seeking the improvement of our schools. I will bring strong leadership and accountability to our current board.”

Montes is also a graduate of Lynwood High School. She said she is a big believer in higher education, saying it is an opportunity that she highly values. Higher education should be accessible to every Lynwood student. “Opportunities are what our students are in most need of, and I am committed to bringing those to our community.

“I believe in increasing the high school graduation rates, increasing safety at district schools, improving teacher morale and fixing the district’s financial problems are all priorities the board of education should focus on. … Opportunities are what our students are in most need of,” Montes said.

Plummer-Jones is a 35-year resident of Lynwood. The mother of former City Councilman Alfreddie Johnson, Plummer-Jones has been an educator for 37 years and believes her experience has given her extensive knowledge and insight into the proper workings of effective school districts.

“I believe in an educational vision that ensures and enforces equity as it relates to providing the best quality of instruction for all students.”

This will be Plummer-Jones’ second bid for office. The longtime educator said she promises to be responsive to the needs of Lynwood students, professional staff, parents and to the community as “we strive toward providing a quality education for all students.”

There are a lot of changes that need to happen in the district, Plummer-Jones said, but for starters, she said, she wants to help straighten out some of the problems the district is currently faced with.

Plummer-Jones said she knows that no one school board member can ever do anything alone, but that together, change can happen.

“I want to bring back integrity, honesty and accountability, because right now, the board is not trusted,” Plummer-Jones said.

Ventura also said she is a product of Lynwood schools. A resident for 30 years, Ventura has raised her children in Lynwood.

In her ballot statement, Ventura said, “For years, we have watched our school district worsen while our children suffer. We need change and our time for change has come,” she wrote. “We need change we can believe in.”

Ventura believes that the current school board lacks leadership.

“We all recognize the challenges — lack of leadership, a diminishing graduation rate, financial demise, possibility of state takeover, mismanagement of funds. What’s stopped us from meeting these challenges is a lack of leadership,” she said. “Enough is enough!”

Ventura said she will work toward making sure all children receive a quality education … and hopes to open communication and increase involvement with parents, students, teachers and administrators.

“Safety and security are close to my heart,” Ventura said, adding that they are high on her priority list. “However, I don’t think we should be so blind as a governing board … to not know that financially, we are not going to be ready for the next school year. … The budget crisis needs to immediately be addressed … we will have to solve the problems together … because in the end it’s our kids who suffer.”

In a statement to The Wave on Tuesday, Garcia said that she has never officially dropped out of the race. Even though her name remains on the ballot, after pulling papers, Garcia said that she was put on bed rest by her physician and was no longer able to campaign.

Plus, she said, “The economy is bad, running a campaign costs a lot of money, money that just goes to waste,” she said of people investing so much money into campaign literature. “People just look at it and toss it in the trash. … Some people have told me that they’re still going to vote for me, and I would have loved to follow through, I just couldn’t this time.”

Born and raised in Lynwood, Garcia said that hopefully, she will make a third attempt in the next election, but for now, she said, she will remain on bed rest.