Central Unified School Board Seeks Applicants to Fill Vacancy

Trustee Natalie Chavez resigns, leaving Area 3 seat open on Fresno-area school board.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 10:31pm

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The Central Unified School District board in Fresno, California is seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the six-member board after trustee Natalie Chavez resigned due to moving out of state. The board will appoint a new trustee to represent Area 3 within the next two months, rather than hold a special election that would cost the district at least $50,000.

Why it matters

Central Unified is a rapidly growing school district serving nearly 16,000 students, and maintaining a full seven-member board is important for decision-making, especially in the rare case of a tie vote. The appointment process allows the board to quickly fill the vacancy, but also raises questions about public representation and engagement.

The details

Natalie Chavez, who was elected in November 2024 to represent Area 3, submitted her resignation on January 23 due to moving out of California. The board now has 60 days to appoint a new trustee to fill the vacancy through the November 2026 election. Eligible applicants must be registered voters aged 18 or older, living in Area 3, and not disqualified from holding civil office. The board will conduct interviews and select the new trustee in open session, with an initial interview on March 10 and a final deadline of March 24.

  • Natalie Chavez resigned on January 23, 2026.
  • The board has 60 days from January 23 to appoint a new trustee.
  • Initial interviews will be conducted at the board meeting on March 10, 2026.
  • The final deadline for applications is March 24, 2026.

The players

Natalie Chavez

A trustee who was elected in November 2024 to represent Area 3 on the Central Unified School District board, but has since resigned due to moving out of California.

Yesenia Carrillo

The president of the Central Unified School District board.

Nabil Kherfan

A trustee on the Central Unified School District board.

Central Unified School District

A rapidly growing school district located in the Fresno, California area, serving nearly 16,000 students.

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What they’re saying

“Being elected to represent the students and parents in Area 3 of Central Unified School District has been the biggest honor bestowed upon me in my 21 years living in Fresno.”

— Natalie Chavez, Former Trustee

“I will share a comment, while I believe this board generally is in agreement on our policies, our goals, or aspirations for the district, it would be beneficial for us to have a seventh member in case of the rare situation where there is a tie and we're stuck three to three.”

— Nabil Kherfan, Trustee

What’s next

The board is now accepting applications for the Area 3 trustee position until the end of February. An initial interview will be conducted at the board meeting on March 10, 2026, with a final deadline of March 24, 2026 for applications.

The takeaway

This vacancy highlights the importance of maintaining a full school board, especially in a rapidly growing district like Central Unified. The appointment process allows the board to quickly fill the seat, but also raises questions about public representation and engagement in the selection of the new trustee.