Updated May 29 with details about candidate Kirt Naylor

Three seats on the Boise School District’s Board of Trustees will be open for contestants on Sept. 1. 

Seeking re-election are Krista Hasler and Alejandro Necochea, who are running for two six-year seats in Race No. 1. The top two vote-getters will be elected.

In Race No. 2, former trustee Andy Hawes and newcomer Kirt Naylor are competing for a four-year seat, which is being vacated by Nancy Gregory. She is running for Idaho Senate in District 15. Only one candidate will be elected.

Voters must be at least 18 and a resident taxpayer within district boundaries.  

Andy Hawes 

A former Boise board member, Hawes announced Monday that he will run again. 

He has decided to return to the board because the seat needs someone with experience and steady leadership due to the district facing enrollment, facilities and financial challenges, he said.

He previously served on the board from 2021-23 after being appointed to fill the vacancy left by former trustee Dennis Doan, who stepped down in 2021. In 2022, Boise voters reaffirmed Hawes’ appointment with more than 70% of the vote. 

He resigned from the school board in 2023 after he accepted an opportunity in Seattle with Weyerhaeuser, an American timberland company and real estate investment trust that owns and manages millions of acres of forests. 

Hawes’ business pedigree goes back years. He is an attorney with extensive experience in governance, strategic planning and asset management. He graduated from University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1992 and a law degree from University of Idaho College of Law in 1994. 

The Boise native helped establish the Boise Student Advisory Committee in his previous tenure. According to a news release, Hawes never missed a board meeting and visited every school in the district. 

In his campaign announcement, Hawes said his district needs long-term planning and steady governance more than ever. 

“Our district is entering a challenging period where enrollment is projected to decline from roughly 22,000 students today to under 19,000 over the next decade,” Hawes said. 

Hawes returned to Boise in March as director of land, water and asset recovery for J.R. Simplot Co. 

“I remain deeply committed to protecting strong educational opportunities for every student while making responsible decisions for taxpayers,” Hawes said. “I’ve always believed leadership starts with showing up, listening carefully and doing the work.” 

Kirt Naylor

Naylor announced Thursday that he run.  As a lifelong Boise resident, strong public schools are the epitome of a solid community to him.

“I want to help ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed in a safe, supportive and high-quality learning environment,” Taylor said in a news release.

His professional background spans nearly four decades. In 1986, he worked as an Ada County deputy prosecuting attorney. The Brigham Young University graduate eventually started his own practice, which lasted from 2000 to 2021.

Naylor has worked with Idaho school districts, colleges and public agencies, and his volunteer experience includes being a former PTA president and member of the Boise School District Long Range Facilities Task Force.

Gregory has endorsed his campaign.

“I’m running because I care deeply about Boise’s future,” Naylor said. “I believe steady, experienced leadership can help us meet both today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.”

Krista Hasler, Alejandro Necochea up for re-election

A school board colleague praised both trustees for their ability to participate in challenging discussions regarding school and community issues.

“They are both respectful, valuable and collaborative members of our board,” Boise School Board President Dave Wagers said.

Hasler was elected in 2024. Her main philosophies are transparency in communication, providing fiscal responsibility and advocating for the needs of students and teachers.

“As a leader I will continue to contribute to building up our educators and the rising generation,” Hasler said in a news release. “I serve as a trustee because I am invested in the success and future of Boise schools and our community.”

Necochea was appointed in 2025. His priority is to assist the district ensure all students have equal opportunity.

“We are fortunate to live in a district that values public education as a public good,” Necochea said. “I hope to have the opportunity to continue to serve.”