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Local businesswoman and community leader Shelley Clark has announced her candidacy for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education, campaigning on a platform to bring transparency and trust back to the district.
In addition to rebuilding trust between the board and community at-large, Clark said she will bring a fresh voice to a stagnant governing board while also prioritizing fiscal accountability.
Clark is seeking to represent her fellow residents in SRVUSD’s District 2, which primarily encompasses central and eastern Danville including the San Ramon Valley High School and Monte Vista neighborhoods.
“It is time for new leadership,” Clark said in a statement launching her campaign.
“We need a fresh voice that will repair the trust of the community and bring everyone together to achieve our common goals, especially in this time of crisis. That is not happening now. My priority is increased fiscal accountability and transparency within the district and from the board,” Clark added. “If I am elected, I will do that.”
A resident of Danville for more than 30 years, Clark said after weighing the decision to run, she was inspired to throw her hat into the ring due to concerns over the “way the current school board was making financial and educational decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“As a proud resident of Danville, I am troubled by some of the recent decisions made by this board and the lack of transparency,” she added. “I have a proven record of advocating for students, parents, and teachers. Community members and organizations trust me. If elected, I will continue to advocate for those voices.”
An active member of the SRVUSD community, Clark said over the past 12 years she has contributed to the district in a variety of ways including helping raise more than $400,000 a year, advocating for building more than 200 parking spaces at San Ramon Valley High, and advocating for the preservation the seventh (“A” or “Zero”) period for high schools.
She was also one of the founding members of the Challenge Success program at SRVHS, a program that supports student well-being and engagement with learning.
Serving the district in a variety of leadership levels, Clark has worked as a PTA and Booster Group president at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and has chaired a variety of committees in her children’s schools — she has had two children go through the SRVUSD — including school registration and Grad Night at SRVHS.
She also served as chairperson on the SRVUSD Parcel Tax Oversight Committee and vice chair of the Facilities Oversight Committee, which she says has given her great insight into the inner workings of district finances. In her professional career she has worked for several years as an human resources/finance manager, giving her further financial insight.
Previously vetted by the board, Clark was one of four finalists for the board seat left vacated by Denise Jennison in 2018 — an at-large seat that would eventually be won by sitting board member Susanna Ordway.
Nov. 3 will serve as SRVUSD’s first district-based election, since transitioning from the previous method of at-large voting for board members last year. Clark will be competing against incumbent Greg Marvel, who is seeking a sixth term on the board.
Learn more about Clark and her campaign online at www.shelleyforsrvusd.com.
I agree that the School Board needs fresh voices. I have been underwhelmed by the existing School Board’s hiring of the previous Superintendent and the current HR leadership. And at my local Elementary School the selection of the previous principals earns them a failing grade. Hopefully the latest one will break that trend.
Personally I would vote for almost anyone other that any of the current Board members. The good news is that Shelley Clark sounds like she may actually have something positive to provide.
The better news is that she does. Don’t let Shelley’s progressive hairstyle stop you from embracing her energy and passion about our schools. I served on the FOAC committee with her. She is a strong and effective advocate for our students and will bring a fresh perspective to the School Board.
I have worked under Shelley’s leadership and am so happy she is running. She is a pragmatic problem solver, transparent, and open to thinking outside the box. Our board, schools and community need her to ask the tough questions and look for solutions to all the challenges our district faces. She gets things done-for the better!