Pima County schools chief candidate Margaret Burkholder has had her teaching certificate renewed, putting herΒ back in good standing in the election.
Burkholderβs new certificate was issued Thursday, making her eligible again to become Pima County School Superintendent should voters so choose on Nov. 8.
Burkholderβs license expired last week, something she was not aware of until contacted by the Arizona Daily Star on Monday.
The renewal process normally takes four weeks, according to the Arizona Department of Education. But Burkholder submitted her documentation through the Vail School District, where she serves as a governing board member but not as a teacher.
Asked why school district resources were used to help renew the certification of a non-employee, Vailβs Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Cervantez said the district routinely sends documentation to the department of education for staff members, applicants and for Vail community members.
Burkholder lives in the community and reached out toΒ Vail for information on the process. Cervantez offeredΒ to include Burkholderβs documentation in a batch of mail that was going out on Tuesday.
The normal turnaround for certifications sent to the department of educationΒ by the Vail School District is within five business days, Cervantez said.
βThere wasnβt any special treatment or extra resources expended, it was part of a courtesy,β Cervantez said. βWeβre not going to use taxpayer money to offer personal favors to individuals.β
Six years ago β long before she was running for Pima County School Superintendent, Burkholder said she took advantage of that service as well.
Cervantez said the district also recently assisted a Benson teacher who lives in the Vail School District with the process.
Had Burkholder been elected to office before her certification was renewed, a voter could have contested the election.
Burkholder is running against Democrat Dustin Williams.
