Alejandra Duarte joins Somerton School District board, fills vacancy
Alejandra Duarte took a vacant seat on the Somerton School District board as leaders weigh a proposed $20 million bond and other district pressures.
Alejandra Duarte was appointed and sworn into the Somerton School District Governing Board on Monday, then joined her first meeting Tuesday as the district confronts a vacancy tied to a bond fight and a likely ballot contest later this year.
The Yuma County Superintendent’s Office lists Duarte as an appointed Somerton Elementary #11 board member with a term ending in 2026. Her appointment fills the seat left open after Luisa Arreola resigned in late May, saying she wanted to pursue a seat on the San Luis City Council and that she opposed the district’s planned bond measure and the tax increase connected to it.
District leaders publicly welcomed Duarte and said they looked forward to the knowledge, perspective and dedication she would bring to students, staff, families and the community. The board now includes President Juan Castillo, Vice President Lorena Zendejas-Delgadillo and board member Cristina Clark, alongside Duarte.
The opening for Duarte comes as Somerton School District No. 11 is pressing ahead with a proposed bond package of about $20 million. Superintendent Omar Durón has said the money would go toward new construction, maintenance, technology upgrades and school safety. The district’s website also lists board goals that center on raising academic achievement, improving school climate and retaining certified staff, all issues likely to shape the questions Duarte faces in her first months on the board.
Somerton’s school-building needs have been a long-running issue in Yuma County. In 2021, Yuma Union High School District secured more than $33 million in state funding for Somerton High School after years of planning. The project was meant to address the long-standing need for Somerton students to attend high school elsewhere for athletics and other programs before the new campus opened.
Somerton School District board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. and are open to the public in person and virtually, giving residents a regular chance to track how Duarte votes on the district’s next budget, facilities and staffing decisions.
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