Hello Community

I hope everyone’s back-to-school transition has been smooth. It has been a busy last few weeks.

In this update, I would like to focus on the following key points:

• Current Status of the MHUSD Board
• Candidates for the November Election and What’s at Stake

In the next update, I will cover the following topics:

• Brief Update on BAC and Related Financial Concerns
• Helpful Parent Resources. These resources focus on the challenges of parenting in our ever-changing digital and tech world, and the impact on children’s health and learning. They are particularly relevant and beneficial for helping our children thrive.

Current Status if the MHUSD Board:

On August 27th, the MHUSD board appointed Sarah Northrup Gadus, an active parent at P.A. Walsh STEAM Academy, as Trustee for Area 3. I am confident in Sarah’s ability to continue Trustee Knudsen’s efforts in advocating for our students, parents, and teachers, while also ensuring fiscal stability and improving academic outcomes. Having a dedicated and currently involved parent on the board is a significant win for our community. It’s time for parents to become more involved, advocate for the success of our students, and demand more accountability from MHUSD district leadership.

With the addition of Trustee Sarah Northrup Gadus, the current composition of the MHUSD board is as follows:

• Trustee Area 1, Nancy Altman
• Trustee Area 2, John Horner
• Trustee Area 3, Sarah Northrup Gadus
• Trustee Area 4, Pamela Gardiner
• Trustee Area 5, Iván Rosales Montes – Not Seeking Reelection. Seat is up for election in Nov 2024.
  • Candidate 1: Tyler Smith – Endorsed by many parents in the Area 5. 
  • Candidate 2: Jennifer Marquez
• Trustee Area 6, Mary Patterson – Seeking Reelection. Seat is up for election in Nov 2024.
  • Candidate 1: Rebecca Munson – Endorsed by teachers and parents
• Trustee Area 7, Adam Escoto – Not Seeking Reelection. Seat is up for election in Nov 2024.
  • Candidate 1: Tom Pocus – Endorsed by many parents and community leaders. I have personally met Tom many times and admire his dedication. 
  • Candidate 2: Veronica Andrade – Endorsed by John Horner and Adam Escoto

This leads us to the next topic: the Candidates for the November Election and What’s at Stake.

The MHUSD board consists of seven seats, with decisions requiring at least four majority votes. Before Trustee Knudsen’s resignation due to health concerns, the board often split its votes 3 to 4. The voting patterns were as follows:

• Trustees Altman, Gardiner, and Knudsen typically aligned (3 minority votes)
• Trustees Horner, Montes, Patterson, and Escoto typically aligned (4 majority votes)

With three of the four seats of the current majority up for election in November 2024, there is a significant opportunity for positive change in our district. For too long, this board has blindly supported the district leadership’s financial decisions, leading to a dire financial situation, including continuous deficit spending of $15+ million annually and anticipated cuts exceeding $25 million in the next 3-4 years, which will undeniably impact our students and educators.

The current board has struggled to steer our district towards better academic outcomes and financial stability. Electing a new board that aligns with the current majority would likely worsen our financial and academic challenges. It’s crucial to consider the implications of voting for incumbents or candidates supported by the current majority trustees.

As parents, we have a powerful voice through our vote this election. Let’s remind this board that our top priority is our students and their future.

Vote thoughtfully and intentionally to ensure a brighter future for our district.

Thank you 

Anahita