Candidates for the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees will vie for two open board seats this November, as incumbents Kristie Wang and Yanira Guzman will not seek reelection.
With a background in national security and foreign policy, Wang will instead run for a Livermore City Council District 4 seat, hoping to fill the position vacated by Vice Mayor Bob Carling, who urged her to run.
“On the school board, I worked on a lot of issues that intersected with the city, and I’ve been part of the Intergovernmental Committee, which includes the city of Livermore, (Livermore Area Recreation and Park District) and the school district to work on issues that have a common interest,” Wang explained. “I had intended to run for another term on the school board, but after several months of talking with different people, I decided to go ahead and make the switch.”
Guzman, whose children are growing older and will soon leave the home, is planning to spend her time focusing on family while also running a small business. Despite the challenges associated with serving on a school board during a global pandemic, she said her four years as an LVJUSD trustee had been a great experience.
“I’m really happy that as a district and as a trustee, we were able to elevate and surface the needs for English learners and how we can better support them academically, so that they succeed both in career and life,” Guzman said. “Even though I will not be continuing for a second term, my hope is that we do not lose sight of that — that we continue to develop as professionals and as a community to make sure that we support all our students.”
‘Big issues’ facing future trustees
The filing period for candidates interested in running for the school board is between July 15 and Aug. 9 through the office of the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. As the official candidate filing period hasn’t started yet, Wang was hesitant to name those rumored to run — and those she would officially endorse — but she said she is committed to actively campaigning for strong candidates.
“We have big issues in front of the school district, and I want to make sure really smart people who have the right intentions are going to serve our students well,” she continued.
Wang cited three issues facing the school district — a leadership transition, the potential need for a facilities bond, and possible budget cuts. She further stressed the point that a school board trustee is supposed to be a non-partisan role.
“We’ve seen our local school boards being put at the forefront of national politics, and that’s being brought to our school districts in a way that hasn’t been helpful, and that’s been a big distraction.” LVJUSD Trustee Kristie Wang
“It’s really important that people focus on our kids and their needs and our teachers and our staff and not on whether you’re on the left or the right,” she said. “We’ve seen our local school boards being put at the forefront of national politics, and that’s being brought to our school districts in a way that hasn’t been helpful, and that’s been a big distraction.”
Carling said he urged Wang to run for his seat when he leaves the council this fall because she has a history of community involvement and a passion to fight for causes she believes in, such as advocating for a ban on vaping materials.
“I saw her in action, trying to motivate people to deal with important issues, and I think she’ll bring the same kind of enthusiasm and hard work and preparation to the City Council,” Carling said.