The Catalina Foothills school district has a student body an eighth of the size of Tucson Unified School District’s, but year after year, its governing board race commands attention.

This year is no different, with dueling slates of candidates who want very different things for the district, its students and teachers.

Four candidates are seeking two four-year seats on the board, and two candidates are vying for a single two-year seat.

Five of the candidates have aligned under two tickets, asking district residents to vote them in as a slate. Current board president Eileen Jackson is joined on the Students First ticket by newcomers Jacquelyn Davoli and Tom Logue.

Running against them for the two four-year seats are optometrist Bart Pemberton and realtor Jennifer Repscher, who have aligned themselves with the Save CFSD campaign.

Save CFSD describes itself as a group of district parents and concerned citizens who support candidates that will restore truth, trust and transparency to the district. Its website promises to show “how Woke ideas threaten these 3 key values.”

Pemberton previously ran in 2022 on a Save CFSD platform and continues to categorize the district as being “at risk."

Jackson is being challenged for her two-year seat by newcomer Brooke Arispe, who was the only candidate that did not submit a statement to the Pima County Superintendent of Schools. 

Four-year candidates

Bart Pemberton

Pemberton describes the district as “in decline,” saying the current board hasn’t given concerned parents and guardians a chance to be heard.

“Instead of a laser-like focus on excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts, its members focus their energies on areas best left to the parents, thereby giving the impression that they know better than the parents what is best for their children,” he wrote in his statement.

If elected, Pemberton says he’ll direct the board to teach the district’s kids how to think, not what to think. He’ll also partner with parents to improve school safety and push to make CFSD teachers the highest paid in the state.

“If you want a board member who will listen to the concerns of parents or guardians and will not attempt to supplant their vital role in the raising of their children, and who will do what he can to ensure that the schools remain places that focus on excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts, then you should vote for me,” he wrote.

Jacquelyn Davoli

Davoli is the parent of a 2024 Catalina Foothills High School graduate. Her family joined the district through open enrollment.

“Children have a right to public education. Adults have an obligation to ensure students receive the best well-rounded education we can provide,” she wrote. “The robust and varied academic, arts, and sports programs CFSD employs to educate the whole child are why we sought out the district.”

Davoli said the educational decisions adults make on behalf of children have far-ranging impacts that go beyond the student’s time in K-12 education. If elected, her priorities will be building on existing career and technical education, promoting students’ social and emotional learning, and strengthening relationships across schools.

“CFSD fosters a learning environment that’s open, accepting, inclusive, respectful, and challenging at each individual student’s skill and knowledge level,” she writes. “Building on existing programs to make those connections more robust will only serve to strengthen the district.”

Jennifer Repscher

Repscher, a CFSD alum and parents, said she believes every child deserves access to a high-quality education in schools that are safe, transparent and provide a strong foundation in core subjects.

“If elected to the school board, I will work tirelessly to ensure that our schools prioritize student achievement to better equip them with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to succeed in life after high school,” she writes.

She’ll also advocate for policies that support diverse learning needs, encourage partnerships and welcome parental engagement in many aspects of their child’s education.

“I believe that open communication and community engagement are essential for building trust and ensuring that the needs of all stakeholders are heard and addressed,” she wrote.

Tom Logue

Logue moved to Tucson four years ago and quickly realized that CFSD was the only district that was right for his family.

“In the four years since our move, every interaction we’ve had with CFSD—the teachers, the staff, the district, and the families—has been an affirmation that we made the right choice,” he wrote.

 Logue will be a district parent until 2031 and said he’s personally vested in its long-term success.

He has experience volunteering with schools and was previously president of a family faculty organization. He said his priorities, if elected, will be encouraging a data-driven assessment of curriculum effectiveness, supporting research-backed approaches to ensuring a supportive learning environment, and ensuring the responsibility and efficiency of facilities and resources.

“We have a shared love for the district, a strong desire to serve, and a deep commitment to putting Students First,” Logue said of Davoli and Jackson, encouraging voters to help them continue the district’s tradition of excellence.

Two-year candidates

Brooke Arispe

Arispe did not submit a candidate statement, but has a Facebook page dedicated to her campaign. A teacher, Arispe has only posted twice on the page.

She writes in one that she comes to the table with solutions and “will not be a rubber stamp for the superintendent.”

“I will challenge my fellow board members to do the right thing by our students and educators,” she said. “Our board members must respect the wishes of the constituents in District 16 and operate with transparency when appropriate.”

Her second post said that she supports “protecting the civil rights of ALL students and ensuring equity in education!”

Eileen Jackson

Jackson is the parent of three CFSD graduates and is in her 12th year of service on the board.

She writes in her candidate statement that she’s spent countless hours volunteering in her kids’ schools, participating in family faculty organizations, and working with the Friends of CFSD committee to support bond and override measures.

“I learned first-hand that parental involvement is an essential part of creating a positive learning experience for students. I learned what resources are needed to support teachers and students,” she said. “I have worked on each finance measure since the early 2000’s because these sources of income are critical to student success.”

Jackson wrote that she’s built up a wealth of institutional knowledge over the years and if she’s reelected, she’ll continue to protect the district’s multi-faceted academic offerings, work to attract and retain the best teachers and maintain inclusive policies that promote students’ feelings of belonging and their ability to learn.

“CFSD students are always my first consideration in issues that come before the board,” she wrote. “I am wholly committed to student success.”

A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Brooke Arispe as part of the Bart Pemberton - Jennifer Repscher slate.

Caitlin Schmidt is Editor and Publisher of Tucson Spotlight. She previously worked for the Arizona Daily Star and has been reporting on Southern Arizona for a decade. Contact her at caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org.

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