By admin 
Rocklin Unified School District’s transition to trustee-area elections continues this year, with voters in Areas 2, 4 and 5 electing their representatives by trustee area for the first time.
Read more Planned Rocklin apartments face higher costs as developer seeks 2-year extension
The district began moving from at-large elections to a by-trustee-area system in 2024 to comply with the California Voting Rights Act. Under the new system, voters elect a trustee who lives in their geographic area rather than having all voters in the district elect every board member.
This is the district’s second election cycle using by-trustee-area elections. Areas 1 and 3 first used the new system in the November 2024 election, while Areas 2, 4 and 5 are on the ballot for the first time this year.
For voters in those three areas, the races feature six candidates with a mix of current trustees, candidates with school board experience and candidates from outside the district’s governing board.
Area 2
Trustee Area 2 covers Cobblestone Elementary, Valley View Elementary, Rocklin High School, Victory High School, Breen Elementary and Granite Oaks Middle School.
Both Michelle Sutherland and Tiffany Saathoff currently serve on the board under the existing district boundaries.
Sutherland is a board-certified behavior analyst who works in high school classrooms and has three children attending Rocklin Unified schools. She says her priorities include academic achievement, school safety, expanding opportunities for students and responsible budget oversight.
Saathoff is chief of staff to state Assemblymember Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, and is a foster parent. She says her priorities include college and career readiness, school safety, closing achievement gaps and parental involvement in education.
The candidates differ on parental notification when students ask to use a different name or pronouns at school. Saathoff supports requiring school employees to notify parents and voted in 2023 for the district’s parental-notification policy. Sutherland, who was the lone trustee to vote against the policy, opposes a blanket notification requirement, saying there may be circumstances in which disclosure could put a student at risk of harm or neglect.
Sutherland’s endorsements include the Rocklin Teachers Professional Association, Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica, former Rocklin City Council members and Placer County supervisors. Saathoff’s endorsements include Rocklin Unified trustees Julie Hupp, Rachelle Price and Dereck Counter; Rocklin City Council members Bill Halldin, Ken Broadway and Greg Janda; and Patterson.
Area 4
The Area 4 race for Rocklin’s board covers Ruhkala Elementary, Rock Creek Elementary, and Twin Oaks Elementary.
Read more County education office urges Sacramento City Unified to revise budget again
Rebecca Hoehne is a Realtor and former teacher who says she has more than 20 years of experience in full-time and substitute teaching. She also serves on the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan committee and says her priorities include academic achievement, transparency and accountability.
Steve Makis has served as a parks and recreation commissioner, Rocklin Area Chamber of Commerce chair and Placer Valley Tourism board member. He says he would prioritize student achievement, school safety, college and career preparation, skilled trades and directing taxpayer dollars toward classrooms.
Hoehne’s endorsements include Rocklin Unified trustees Julie Hupp, Rachelle Price, Dereck Counter and Tiffany Saathoff, as well as the Placer County Republican Party. Makis’ listed endorsements include the Rocklin Teachers Professional Association, Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica and Rocklin Unified trustee Michelle Sutherland.
Area 5
Area 5 on Rocklin’s board covers Whitney High School, Sunset Ranch Elementary and Quarry Trail Elementary.
Dereck Counter is the incumbent, while Jacob Boyce is the challenger. Boyce, however, has previous experience on a school board, having served for four years as a trustee for the Maria Montessori Charter Academy in Rocklin.
Counter, who has served as a Rocklin Unified trustee since 2018, says his priorities include fiscal policy, parental communication, local control and protecting what he calls “the integrity of girls sports.”
An economic analyst, Boyce says he has 15 years of experience in finance and economics. He says he would emphasize financial oversight and transparency and keep partisan agendas out of board decisions.
Boyce has previous experience on a school board, having served for four years as a trustee for the Maria Montessori Charter Academy in Rocklin. An economic analyst, Boyce says he has 15 years of experience in finance and economics. He says he would emphasize financial oversight and transparency and keep partisan agendas out of board decisions.
Counter’s endorsements include Rocklin Unified trustees Rachelle Price, Julie Hupp and Tiffany Saathoff, as well as Rocklin City Council members Bill Halldin, Ken Broadway and Greg Janda. Boyce’s endorsements include the Rocklin Teachers Professional Association and the Placer County Democratic Party.
Read more County education office urges Sacramento City Unified to revise budget again