With an estimated $6.8 million to cut from the 2012-2013 school year in the Central Kitsap School District, having a school board that will effectively listen to the community and make decisions is essential.

In the Central Kitsap School District race for Director, District 4, preliminary results show Christy Cathcart leads 52 to 47 percent of the votes tallied as of 8 p.m. tonight. Challenger Jeanie Schulze received 4,573 votes to Cathcart’s 5,097.

With an estimated 25,000 ballots left to count, the unofficial results will be updated on Nov. 9. The election will be certified on Nov. 29.

Incumbent Cathcart has been serving on the school board for 12 years.

Chris Stokke and Mark A. Gaines are running in uncontested races for the school board in District 3 and 2 respectively. Both are currently on the school board.