The May 20 election is not that far away, and it’s never too early to hear from candidates running for seats on the Beaverton school board.

The school district is hosting a candidate forum from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the district administrative office, located at 1260 N.W. Waterhouse Ave. in Beaverton. The community can attend the forum in person or watch the livestream on the district’s YouTube channel.

While Beaverton school board members Karen Perez-Da Silva and Sunita Garg are running for second terms, several new faces will be competing on the ballot in the zoned races.

Perez-Da Silva is running against Eric McGuire for the Zone 2 seat.

McGuire, a social studies teacher at Centennial Middle School, has a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Oregon State University and a master’s in teaching from George Fox University. McGuire taught in the Beaverton School District for 30 years, according to his candidacy filing documents.

Perez-Da Silva holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and Spanish from Carroll College in Montana and earned a master’s degree in special education and elementary education from Portland State University. Perez-Da Silva has worked as an equity, instruction, and partnerships administrator for the Eugene School District and has worked in the Beaverton School District. She is seeking a second term.

Garg, who represents Zone 4, is running unopposed.

Garg is a certified public accountant and has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics from the University of Toronto. Garg has been a member of the Bond Accountability Committee as well as serving as a member of the Audit and Budget Committee. She is seeking a second term.

While board members represent the zones where they live, voters in the district elect candidates at-large. School board terms begin July 1.

Andrew W. De Mars, Karin Stark and Van Truong are facing off for Zone 1.

De Mars is a volunteer Art Literacy instructor and PTO President at McKay Elementary and Conestoga Middle School. in addition to coaching wrestling, lacrosse and soccer, his current job is with Enterprise Software Sales. De Mars holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from San Francisco State University.

Stark is a teacher with the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District and was a high social studies teacher in the Provo School District, according to her candidate filing documents. She serves on the community organizing committee of the Beaverton Education Association and holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and social studies from Brigham Young University.

Truong, who is currently an education consultant, is a member of the Oregon Vietnam Economic, Education and Culture Association and has received a doctorate of education from the University of Portland.

Zone 5, with another cast of newcomers, features candidates Erin Hatch and Syed Qasim.

Hatch is a community volunteer and works with nonprofits. Her public service responsibilities include being a member of the Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School Board and the Beaverton Neighborhood Association Committee Board. She has also served as an art literacy instructor and has a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in nonprofit management and local government from Brigham Young University.

Qasim is a technical architect at Salesforce and has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Portland State University. His public service activities include serving as co-chair of the Beaverton Climate Action Task Force and as a member of the Beaverton Inclusive Housing Cohort.

Pete Ferryman, news anchor at FOX 12, will moderate the forum. You can submit questions, via an online form, through April 18, located at beaverton.k12.or.us.