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Tucson Unified School District's board will see a big change after November's election: President Alex Rodriguez and 20-year veteran Joel Ireland aren't seeking new terms.

Voters in TUSD will have four choices for three spots.

Judy Burns, the third incumbent up for re-election in TUSD, Pima County's largest school district, will be joined on the ballot by three challengers:

● Michael Hicks, an information-technology manager for the city's Transportation Department.

● Mark Stegeman, a university professor and member of the district's outside audit committee.

● Miguel Cuevas, a senior at the University of Arizona studying public management and policy.

Ireland said 20 years is enough. "I decided that if I was going to leave the board, I would only do that if we had good leadership — I think we've made a great choice with our new superintendent," he said, referring to Elizabeth Celania-Fagen.

Ireland, an attorney and an Episcopalian priest, said he will spend time concentrating on his career, his health and his spiritual work.

He said he hopes voters will choose candidates who pledge to "watch the fiscal health of the district, and that means making hard choices."

Rodriguez said he decided to step down because of changing demands on his time, in part because he now has a 3-month-old daughter.

Rodriguez said he's going to miss board service. "Public education gave me a shot at success in life, and I feel immensely privileged to have served our students, our school district and our community during what was a highly challenging four-year period," he said.

His parting advice to future board members: "Stay focused on the big picture when stakeholders are yelling at you from the podium."

TUSD's remaining two board members, Adelita Grijalva and Bruce Burke, are up for re-election in 2010.