The two incumbents, Cindy Ruby and John Waite, will face competition on the ballot from hopefuls Shinku Sharma and Ken Schulz in the race for the two seats.

Ruby, a parent, community volunteer and former elementary school teacher, said she has a vested interest in elementary education and making a difference in her community. She has also participated in Friends of the Saratoga Libraries and the Saratoga Foothill Club.

"I feel my experience is still valuable to the district," she said, as to why she's running again.

If re-elected for her fourth term, Ruby, the current board president and a 28-year resident of Saratoga, expects to face fiscal challenges with the district's budget.

"With the state budget issues and the cuts to education, I know it will be important to figure out how to use the resources we have," she added.

Ruby is also looking forward to accomplishing some of the goals the board has set for 2004­05, such as offering more professional development time for teachers, emphasizing writing in the classroom, and communicating better with parents and the community through improved technology and the new district website.

"My niche is experience," Ruby said. "My kids are grown. My son is a senior in college, and my daughter is in the workforce, so I really do see the full spectrum."

Ruby's two children both went through Saratoga schools, and she was an active volunteer in their schools and in local community groups as they were growing up.

"I believe my 12 years of experience on the Saratoga Union School District board and understanding of California school financing are strengths I bring to the board on fiscal and policy issues," Ruby said.

Waite, a business owner and incumbent, said his family moved to Saratoga in 1960 when he was 11 years old. He attended Redwood Middle School, formerly called Fruitvale School, and graduated from Saratoga High School in 1967. His 11-year-old son now attends sixth grade at Redwood. Waite said he'd like to serve on the board at least one more term.

"I enjoy working with and for people in my community and feel that my experience and skill set are a good match for the district needs," he said.

He hopes to maintain academic excellence and continue to educate the "whole child" with less funding. While he said the district is already doing a good job at this, the board members need to stay the course and continue to improve. After debating whether to run for the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District's board, Waite said he decided to re-run for the Saratoga Union School District.

Waite has been involved in the community in many ways over the years, including as a Cub Scout pack leader, National Ski Patrol volunteer, chairman of the Industry Education Television Network and member of the board of directors of the Council for Continuous Improvement, as well as a technical training adviser for many colleges and community colleges in the area.

Sharma, a finance officer and community volunteer, has lived in Saratoga for eight years. She has helped out in the classroom with art and enrichment programs and served as Redwood's Parent-Teacher Association co-president. She implemented the Math Olympiad program at Saratoga Elementary School and served on the Saratoga Education Foundation's board for seven years, the last two years as president.

"Over the years in my many volunteer experiences and as a parent of three children at our schools, I have gained a great appreciation of our staff, students and families," Sharma said. "I would like to apply my knowledge toward the issues in front of the school board."

She's also a member of the district's budget committee, visual and performing arts committee and presidents' council, among others. She has plans to bring the Junior Achievement program to sixth-grade students at Redwood and eventually to the entire school. If elected, Sharma hopes to develop a stronger connection between the community at large and its local schools.

Schulz, a financial manager in the office of research administration at Stanford University, has lived in Saratoga for 12 years. He has two children who attend Foothill Elementary School.

"I want to create the highest standard of quality education possible for the students of the Saratoga district," Schulz said. "I will be more able to achieve the vision of academic excellence by being a voting member of the school board."

Schulz hopes to lower the teacher-to-student ratio in the classroom, place a higher emphasis on science and enhance the district's Gifted and Talented Education program. Schulz, who has more than 20 years of professional experience in academic finance and policy at Stanford, is involved in the Saratoga district as chairman of the Measure L school bond oversight committee and as a member of the budget committee. He hopes to serve on the board for four to eight years.

The community will have a chance to meet and hear from these candidates in a forum called "Which way to vote?" on Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Saratoga High School library. The event is sponsored by the Southwest Santa Clara Valley League of Women Voters, Saratoga High School PTSA, Saratoga Union School District's PTAs, Saratoga News and the American Association of University Women.