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The campaign season in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District is starting to play out in the way I predicted.
Following my column last week rounding up local elections with the candidacy nomination period upon us, I got confirmation on four of the major factors that will make LVJUSD the race to watch in the Tri-Valley.
Trustees Emily Prusso and Steven Drouin each told me they’ve decided not to seek reelection on the Nov. 3 ballot, which will be LVJUSD’s first by-trustee-area election. Because of that shift, longtime Trustee Craig Bueno (whose at-large term is up this year) cannot run to retain his current seat because his home district is not scheduled for election until 2028.
To top it all off, the other two sitting trustees – Deena Kaplanis and Christiaan VandenHeuvel, who were both elected for the first time in November 2024, at-large – are running against each other from safe seats this year, competing for the full four-year term representing District 5.
If you’re keeping track at home, that means the LVJUSD Board of Education could have three new members and the longest-tenured trustees will be VandenHeuvel and Kaplanis at just two years in office apiece. That begs some really important leadership experience questions for a district with more budget difficulties expected in 2026-27 and a first-time superintendent at the reins.
Drouin and Prusso had the opportunity to run again because their home zones (Area 2 and Area 5, respectively) are on the ballot this year. Instead, each decided this was the right time to step away after their service experience.
“It has been an honor serving Livermore families for the past four years on the LVJUSD school board. Thank you for trusting in me as I have grown into the roles of board trustee, clerk, and now president,” Drouin said, sharing his statement to the community.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport and the demands it places upon those who serve are significant, even at the local level,” he said. “It has been special knowing that there are people on the sidelines rooting for the same causes I care for and at times, even directly for me. Thank you.”
Prusso told me she feels “incredibly blessed” to have served LVJUSD for eight years.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to advocate for our students and families and to work alongside the dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators who make this district such a special place,” she said.
“Over the years, I have witnessed tremendous compassion, exceptional teaching and learning, and meaningful progress in student achievement across all demographics,” Prusso added. “Seeing the hard work of so many people translate into real opportunities and improved outcomes for students has been one of the most rewarding parts of this service.”
She also said she is confident that her Area 5 constituents “are in good hands” going forward. As for the future of the district as a whole: “Each iteration of the board brought different perspectives, experiences, and commitments, and I appreciate the collective dedication to doing what is best for our students and community.”
Area 5 in Livermore Valley’s southeast side has two familiar candidates already in Kaplanis and VandenHeuvel, plus other competitors could still come forward.
“The central question facing LVJUSD is this: Why are we cutting services for children when we are receiving more money?” Kaplanis asked in her campaign launch press release.
“I have stood up for our students by demanding full accountability, transparency, and decisions that truly prioritize kids over special interests,” she said. “As Trustee for Area 5, I will continue advocating to ensure every dollar serves our students and strengthens our schools.”
VandenHeuvel positions himself as “a reasonable, practical voice” for district stakeholders in his ballot statement.
“My work on the board is grounded in good data, steady and pragmatic judgment, and a collaborative culture that keeps the focus on students,” he said. “My priorities are strengthening education quality and results, supporting innovative teaching, and making sure every student, regardless of background, has what they need to succeed.”
Although early still, it’s a bit concerning that no prospective candidates have pulled papers yet to run in Area 2 (central Livermore) and Area 3 (north side), according to the online list from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters’ Office.
We’ve seen problems before in the Tri-Valley where the switch to district-based elections constricts the candidate pool so much that no interested resident comes forward by the deadline, leaving the agency with a hole that would need to be filled by appointment or special election.
The Livermore school board would face the same question if either VandenHeuvel or Kaplanis wins the Area 5 election – because their existing at-large seat would be vacated with two years left. The trustees would decide between paying for a district-wide special election or pursuing an application process for direct appointment to complete the unexpired term.
I asked Bueno if that scenario played out would he pursue the potentially open at-large seat, but I haven’t heard back yet.
There’s also the possibility that a name from the past reemerges for areas 2, 3 or 5 to provide some semblance of experience. That seems unlikely from where I sit, but I won’t rule it out.
What does seem likely is LVJUSD could well be headed for a board with two new members, one vacancy and four years of combined experience on its dais right around the time Superintendent Tony Limoges is scheduled for a six-month evaluation with big bucks at stake.
But there is a worse case: If no one files for Area 2 or Area 3, and Kaplanis or VandenHeuvel wins Area 5, the school board would find itself with just two members and no quorum in December after the general election is certified. I wouldn’t want to be left trying to predict what happens next if that calamity comes to pass.
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the associate publisher and editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What A Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
