As election season sweeps through the city, the school board will also see changes in its leadership.
“As a result of my husband retiring from public safety sooner than we had originally planned and no longer residing within the district, I’m forced to step down from the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District Board,” Maria Husted said. Her husband is Sedona Police Chief Charles Husted, who is retiring this fall.
Maria Husted served on the board since 2020 when she and Barbara Trautwein were chosen an uncontested election to fill two open positions during that election cycle. Both had previous experience in leadership and for the last two years helped make decisions with three other board members.
“Maria was an outstanding board member and I’m saddened as the district leader to have her leave because I’ve always felt that the success of a board is very correlated to a good district. They go hand in hand,” SOCSD Superintendent and Sedona Red Rock High School Principal Denny Dearden said. “She was an integral part of the board’s success. The thing that I always admired about Maria was that she certainly has the service-oriented emphasis in her heart, as her husband did as the police chief. But I always knew no matter what happened, she always had the best interest of kids at heart and I admired that.”
Earlier this month, Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter announced that there would be no replacement for the open position until the November election. According to the district, it made more sense for the position to go up for election rather than Carter appoint a new candidate.
Since then, only one applicant has gone after the position, Sedona native April Payne.
“I love our district and I want to do whatever I can to help support the public school system. I don’t have any background in education. I’m just a mom, but I really care and I really love our school system,” Payne said. “But I grew up in Sedona, and I went to [Sedona] Red Rock High and I had just the greatest experience. I had the best teachers and it was the most amazing community and wonderful friends. I love our school system and I’m really excited to serve.”
Payne’s two young children attend school in the district.
Two other board members Lauren Robinson and Karen McClelland, who will run for re-election in November as well, filling the three vacancies on the board. But despite the uncontested election, the vote will determine how long the candidate gets to serve on the board.
“What will happen for Maria’s term is that the two board members with the highest votes will do the four-year terms,” Dearden said. “And then the person with the third-most votes will replace the two years from Maria’s term.”
Elections will take place in November. Husted’s resignation became effective as of July 4 after she and her family moved out of the district to the Prescott area.
“Serving on the board has been a great honor,” Husted said. “I am thankful to have been part of a community focused on supporting a district dedicated to the success and achievement of our students. The true stars of the school district are the educators, staff and administration. We are fortunate to have such talented and committed personnel who are dedicated to our local youth.”
