Melissa Valenzuela-Settle
AZ · J.O. Combs Unified School District Governing Board Member
Melissa Valenzuela-Settle serves on the J.O. Combs school board and has spent 30 years in education as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. She wants careful spending, strong support for teachers and staff, and high academic standards.
Where Melissa Valenzuela-Settle stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Public Education Quality (4 records), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (3 records)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
Seconded the motion to adopt the district's 2026-27 budget, with $30,172,612 for day-to-day operations. The board passed it 4-0.
July 8, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Made the motion to give teachers, administrators, and salaried support staff a 1% raise for 2026-27. The teacher raise alone cost $240,000. The board passed it 4-0.
May 13, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Seconded the resolution that called an $80 million school bond election for November 4, 2025. The board passed it 5-0.
May 14, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Made the motion to renew a deal with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office for a school resource officer at Combs High School. The board passed it 4-0.
July 8, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 4 support
Made the motion to give teachers, administrators, and salaried support staff a 1% raise for 2026-27. The teacher raise alone cost $240,000. The board passed it 4-0.
May 13, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Seconded the motion to adopt HMH as the reading and writing curriculum for grades K-5. The board passed it 5-0.
March 4, 2026Supports Public Education Quality
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted yes to adopt a new English curriculum for grades 6-12. The plan limited student access to some optional reading materials. The board passed it 5-0.
May 14, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Made the motion to approve an agreement with the Chicanos Por La Causa preschool program. It set up special education services for young children with disabilities. The board passed it 5-0.
February 12, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Seconded the resolution that called an $80 million school bond election for November 4, 2025. The board passed it 5-0.
May 14, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Track record — General
General · 5 records
Won the board clerk post on a 3-2 vote.
January 14, 2026
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Seconded the motion to approve a 2026-2029 job contract with Toby Haugen as the new superintendent. The board passed it 4-0.
December 10, 2025
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Voted yes to hire an outside law firm and let it sue, if needed, over the district's deal with the East Valley career and technical school district (EVIT). The board passed it 5-0.
September 10, 2025
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Nominated herself for board clerk, but the board voted it down 1-3. She then voted no when the board chose Lisa Horne as clerk.
January 22, 2025
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Took the oath of office as a new member of the J.O. Combs school board.
December 11, 2024
Source: jocombs.community.diligentoneplatform.com
Past race Melissa Valenzuela-Settle ran in:
- J. O. Combs Unified School District No. 44 Governing Board - 4 Year Term · November 3, 2026 · J. O. Combs Unified School District, Arizona · incumbent