In this year’s school board election, the line is sharply drawn: incumbents and bond issue supporters on one side, newcomers striving to maintain neighborhood schools on the other.

And then there is Cindy Yulich, a 43-year-old bank executive and the only nonincumbent who is solidly pro-bond and pro-consolidation.

“I’ve been going to board meetings for a long time,” Yulich said in explaining her unique position. “I’ve been involved in the school district for 10 years. … I’ve been around and I’ve studied it.”

Yulich thinks a $59 million bond issue that proposes closing East Heights and Centennial schools is exactly what students — and the district’s budget — need.

“The limited financing provided by our state Legislature coupled with increasing mandates from state and federal government are forcing us to make very difficult decisions,” she said.

The bond, expected to save $1.4 million annually in operating costs, has been criticized by many for taking neighborhood schools out of low-income communities.

And while Yulich acknowledged this possibility, she said it could be overcome.

“I don’t think it will take care of itself — I think we have to make sure it’s taken care of,” she said. “By not losing sight of what those kids need, we’ll be able to serve them well.”

Yulich, who is senior vice president of Emprise Bank in Lawrence, also said her financial background would come in handy in understanding the district’s complex budget.

And she said the board’s relationship with the community would be another area she would work to improve.

“I think communication is probably the biggest thing for me,” Yulich said. “Everybody needs to feel that they’re at the table.”

¢ See a recent chat transcript and pre-primary multimedia profiles of Yulich¢ See more on the school board candidates

That said, she also hopes to make residents understand the severity of the district’s economic crisis.

She said she was willing to cut high school course offerings, junior high extracurricular activities and elementary music programs if necessary.

“Given this financial crisis, we have no alternatives but to look at all programs for possible cuts,” she said. “We must structure solutions in such a way that programs can be effectively reintroduced when appropriate funding is obtained.”

A resident of Lawrence since 1991, Yulich sits on site councils at East Heights and Quail Run schools. Her volunteerism in the district extends to 1995, primarily through the business-education partnership. She also has won the district’s outstanding citizen award.

With her husband, Mitch, Yulich has two sons, one at Southwest Junior High School and the other at Quail Run.

And she wants to make sure that those elected to work for the children of the district are chosen for more than their position on the bond issue.

Issues surrounding teacher compensation, budget options and implications of government mandates have been overshadowed by debate surrounding the bond and school closures, Yulich said.

“I hope that when we all go to the polls on April 1 we really look at the qualifications of the candidates and think really hard about who we want making lots of decisions over the next four years,” she said.