Micah Black, a Danville parent of three children and political newcomer, has launched a campaign to challenge for the Area 5 seat on the San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education.
"My desire is to bring SRVUSD back to its state of academic excellence and I believe that happens in facilitating unity built on trust and open communication," Black said on her campaign page.
In addition to seeking to restore trust and transparency in the district, Black's platform consists of addressing other issues that have seen the current board come under fire, such as balancing the budget and supporting vulnerable students with adequate staffing.
Black's campaign priorities also include a "drive back to academic excellence."
"School is not a place where the values at home are undermined and sensitive topics are taught to children without explicit permission from the parents," Black said on her campaign page. "The success of our children in school is a partnership established by open communication, transparency, understanding and trust."
Black describes herself as a stay-at-home mother for the past decade, with children ages 14, 5 and 4. She said that scheduling has allowed her to assist with her husband, Jonathan Black, at his Danville-based law firm Weston Law Group. She also said that it has given her the time to be an active volunteer at her children's schools.
Black said that illnesses faced by two of her children early on led her to focus on being an advocate for them, adding that this has in turn driven her to advocate for other children and families.
Sitting Board Member Rachel Hurd was the only other candidate to have filed papers for the Area 5 seat, as of the latest candidate list from the county Thursday.
The candidacy filing period for Contra Costa County elections opened on July 18. The final deadline is Aug. 12 at 5 p.m.
In addition to the Area 5 seat, voters will select trustees for the areas 1 and 4 in this year's general election.
Sitting Board Member Susanna Ordway has filed for election to the Area 4 seat, while Board President Ken Mintz has declined to seek the Area 1 seat. District-based elections were first rolled out in 2020, in which trustees Shelley Clark and Laura Bratt were elected for four-year terms to areas 2 and 3, respectively.
To learn more about Black's candidacy, visit her campaign website at www.micahforschoolboard.com.
Comments
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 1, 2022 at 6:47 am
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2022 at 6:47 am
The current School Board has made poor decision after poor decision so it is good to see a newcomer, Micah Black, who appears to support old values rather than the current agendas of Sacramento, the SRV School Board and recent Superintendents and Principals.
Ironically California has the potential to be a great State for education but we are at the bottom in our nation.
Registered user
Blackhawk
on Aug 1, 2022 at 10:07 am
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2022 at 10:07 am
Truly a breath of fresh air! Kudos to Black for standing up against the indoctrination of our students. Kudos for bringing back academics to our schools. Malloys agenda has destroyed this district. Go back to Canada and leave our kids alone.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 1, 2022 at 5:18 pm
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2022 at 5:18 pm
What exactly does this mean? "School is not a place where the values at home are undermined and sensitive topics are taught to children without explicit permission from the parents". I think I know, but she be more transparent and not use euphemisms.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 1, 2022 at 8:03 pm
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2022 at 8:03 pm
Janet - Current SRVUSD administrates and trustees are some of the least transparent I know. The fact that Ms. Black is giving direct statements to the media that haven't first been written/approved by union leaders and lawyers is amazingly refreshing! When was the last time Ms. Black's opponent gave an honest interview on the school closures to this (or any) publication? Never. Ms. Black will win simply because Ms. Black is more than a union puppet. The incumbent here's primary concern is the advancement of radical politics and validation on extreme twitter. Ms. Black primary concern here is the success of her children and by extension everyones. I and many other voters look forward to Ms. Black's victory in November.
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 1, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Thankfully, California laws and policies protect students (and our educational framework in California) from discriminative minds like hers. It you want to inject any of your "values" you have the choice to homeschool or send to private school. She also may want to brush up on her understanding of our districts excellent financial standing. If only her membership in Let Them Breathe didn't wasted our tax payer dollars by interrupting and pausing the work of our district during board meetings at an attempt to hold them hostage and create a Jerry Spring Show.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 1, 2022 at 10:10 pm
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2022 at 10:10 pm
She’s not a newcomer, she’s not a breath of fresh air, she’s the same ol’ trouble we’ve been having for years. Remember that pearl clutching anti mask group, “Let Them Breathe”? Micah Black, and her buddies, are the detritus, we haven’t been able to find a safe dumping place for yet.We really don’t want that hate, and ignorance, seeping into our ground water.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 1, 2022 at 10:38 pm
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2022 at 10:38 pm
Janet- Micah is notoriously part of the same online group that doesn’t believe in the ramifications of covid and is against critical race theory and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ students. Don’t let these meaningless sound bites fool you into thinking her candidacy is anything more than a platform for ignorance. She is a proud member of that group.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 7:36 am
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 7:36 am
JesseT - How can you claim "Excellent Financial Standing" when the County questioned the district's ability to pay for the union raises and the Chief Business Officer WAS FIRED in response to his refusal to sign off on the bad deal? Further, how bigoted of you to claim membership in a group that supported SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN as "discriminative." It was well known that autistic children and children with speech development issues were disproportionately harmed by having to wear a mask in school without exception. Fighting to have exceptions for these children so they could learn was completely admirable not just for her action, but, he willingness to publicly stand by her beliefs. When has her opponent here ever publicly stood by anyone other than the teacher union that pays her political bills? Never! What Ms. Black has shown is that she supports and focus on OUR CHILDREN while her opponent focus is solely on licked minded political benefactors.
Have some class and learn the issues before making such bigoted public statements that erode your credibility and embarrassing yourself.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 7:42 am
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 7:42 am
C Sherman - What I recall is that, despite your hateful and ignorant commentary, Ms. Black helped organize a movement that got our kids back in school BEFORE almost any other district in California. It was huge community pressure that forced our schools here open despite people in the district that would have kept schools closed indefinitely. Ms. Black is a winner that has effectively changed this district for the better due to her activism and passion for helping kids. What did Ms. Black's opponent do during that same time? NOTHING but sit there and waited for the Union to tell her what to do. I would take someone with a mind of her own that listens to the community ANYDAY over a union puppet that exclusively does the bidding of her union benefactors.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 10:20 am
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 10:20 am
SaraLyn - Do you have any evidence to back up your outrageous claims? The community has learned over these past two years not to listen to baseless fearmongering hyperbole. Please support your statements with facts in the future if you wish to be taken seriously. Ms. Black has helped get kids back in school faster than the rest of the state. Without her actions, kids at RVUSD wouldn't have been able to return like they did. That is a fact. I and many others in the community celebrate heroes like Ms. Black for actually standing up for the children rather than prioritizing the extreme political agendas of adults.
Ms. Black will be a great addition to SRVUSD. She is supported by parents, students, teachers, and educators of all varieties across the county!
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 2, 2022 at 10:43 am
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 10:43 am
We moved to Danville from the East Coast while the kids were remote. Being that my wife and I were very active volunteers in our old district and attended district meetings (even with having young kids which anyone knows isn’t always easy), not knowing many people we decided attending a school board meeting would be a good start. The first school board meeting I attended was the Aug. 24, 2021 meeting where I saw Micah Black speak. I remember texting my wife questioning where we moved to because the things said we’re so over the top and straight out of a conspiracy theory. Everyone should watch it for themselves. Go to SRVUSD.net, click on “About Us,” scroll to “Board of Edu,” click on board meetings and scroll down to find the date of 8/24/21, click the video and she speaks at public comment at the time stamp of 54:52. The good news is, since then, we’ve gotten to know lots of people in Danville who are like minded, made great friends and we are really glad we moved here. If you’re new and the video worries you, just remember that the majority of folks aren’t like Micah (and crew- she had some other Let Them Breath and Moms of Liberty pals with her) but it’s important to get out and vote so that these special interest groups with a political agenda who are fueled by anger and take pride in the opportunity to rally up divisiveness keep that stuff on their Facebook page and out of our schools.
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 2, 2022 at 10:53 am
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 10:53 am
If you want real transparency, listen to Micah Black speak for herself at the August 24, 2021 board of education meeting. SRVUSD.net at the 54:52 mark. Web Link And, H- good job making the case of why we should vote for Rachel Hurd. Keep talking.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 2, 2022 at 1:59 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 1:59 pm
oh, she's one of those whack-a-doodles. Hard pass.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 2, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Dearest H, you continue to come and comment on articles related to SRVUSD when it's clear you know close to zero about what is going on in the district. Here are a few of your misguided gems that need to be set straight:
1. The previous CBO was not fired. He left for another district. People in education move to new positions all the time.
2. The board of education was not a union puppet in regards to masking. Rather, they were following county guidelines. Do we want a school board member that picks and chooses what county and state guidance, standards, and laws they follow?
Finally, calling the Let Them Breathe group one that supported special needs children is laughable at best and pure deceit.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 3:07 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 3:07 pm
JesseT - At least former Trustee Greg Marvel actually talked to parents and students - just like Ms. Black. This is the opposite of her opponent Ms. Hurd who doesn't care at all about the kids in this district and has never met with anyone at school board meeting like Mr. Marvel did in the past. If you are someone that doesn't like to think for yourself and do whatever union politicians say without question, Ms. Hurd is the perfect candidate for you! Otherwise, if you like to be able to engage and discuss issues with someone who actually cares about the children in this district more than extreme politics, vote for Ms. Black. It's pretty simple.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 3:16 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 3:16 pm
Scott Hale - It's a shame you are so dismissive of Ms. Black's advocacy for special needs children. Personally, I believe that type of attitude calling of calling advocacy for what you don't know a s whackadoodle is bigotry plain and simple. But, we have learned these past two years that hating and mocking people with different opinions from yours is par for the course here with the vindictive union sycophants. Mitigating bigotry in SRVUSD is a core reason I support Ms. Black and her outreach to support special needs children despite it not being political popular. Ms. Black did what was morally right regardless of people like yourself that mocked her then and you today that mocked her for it today - that is leadership and courage that Ms. Black's challenger has never demonstrated in her 14 long years of overseeing declining standards.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Real Simple:
Hurd supports the union.
Black supports the voters.
Hurd is working with union members to get money and advertising. Ms. Black on the other hand has not one but several grassroots organizations in Danville, Alamo, and San Ramon supporting her. Ms. Black has already met several times with voters in area 5. Where is Rachel Hurd? Has she met with any voters in area 5 EVER? No, because Ms. Hurd doesn't care about the opinions of the voters. Rachel Hurd only cares about the union. Period.
If you are a union sycophant and want to divest all your stake in SRVUSD decisions to the union leader, you should 100% vote for Hurd. However, if you would like to be able to talk to your SRVUSD trustee and have your voice matter, vote for Micah Black! Personally, I think elected officials should listen to voters. Ms. Black is the person to do just that!
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 2, 2022 at 5:58 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 5:58 pm
>>>with different opinions from yours
Dear anonymous: Did you watch her speech? She is a clear outlier with regards to mask wearing. We don't need such opinions here as they are based on nothing but the need to yell loudly.
As to her call for 'special needs' kids she has no clear idea what she is talking about. I work ON A CAMPUS with transition adult program and every single kid wore a mask with no issues. Facts are facts, right?
(removed)
Registered user
Danville
on Aug 2, 2022 at 6:53 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 6:53 pm
He's former for a reason. He was voted out by the community. It was especially easy when he started aligning with folks like Black.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Scott Hale - How can you call it an outlier when she was clearly in the majority of the speakers? You're here badmouthing special needs children and then complaining about trolling is hypocritical at best. Frankly, I fully support a mother of special needs children in speech therapy wanting to have an exemption that Ms. Black fought for here. Further, I know many speech pathologist in the district agreed with Ms. Black then and fully support electing Ms. Black in November.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 7:23 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 7:23 pm
JesseT - Marvel lost because Pricilla Graft was a far better candidate. The only reason Shelley Clark won was vote splitting. Speaking to that point, both Marvel and Graft regularly spoke with people in the community during the election where Shelley Clark hid and had the union do the work for her.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 2, 2022 at 8:50 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 8:50 pm
DanvilleParent3 thank you for speaking as a newcomer. Your observations are validating. After living here awhile, you start to start to think you’re the crazy one.
And Scott Hale, you’re brave to use your name. “H” and his ilk, are not afraid to doxx, stalk, and harass. Unfortunately, their immaturity, entitlement, and maliciousnesses works for them, normal people don’t want the hassle. I’m still hoping we can be proactive, and prevent our school board from being tainted.
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 2, 2022 at 9:19 pm
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2022 at 9:19 pm
Scott Hale - Are you the same Scott Hale that was publicly praising Rich Schmitt's "leadership" when Schmitt was clearly the worst superintendent to come through this district in decades? I just want to ensure I'm getting the the people right. Giving praise to Schmitt who let two kids die on campus under his watch and call him loosing millions in lawsuits for discrimination "leadership?" That brown-nosing is exactly what I don't want. I want someone like Ms. Black that has a track record of standing up against poor leaders and demanding our district always do better.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 3, 2022 at 11:38 am
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2022 at 11:38 am
>>> Are you the same Scott Hale that was publicly praising Rich Schmitt's "leadership"
Nope, didn't even have a child under him yet. Plus I'd never praise any superintendent.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 3, 2022 at 11:42 am
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2022 at 11:42 am
>>You're here badmouthing special needs children
How you got there is a mystery. I merely pointed out facts that spectrum kids (or adults) has no giant problem with masks; those that did were the exceptions, not the rule as Ms Black likes to shout about.
And yes, you and her are on islands re: mask wearing. A bit of research would clear that up for the both of you.
do you even have kids in this district?
Registered user
San Ramon Valley High School
on Aug 4, 2022 at 11:00 am
Registered user
on Aug 4, 2022 at 11:00 am
Scott Hale - Why should anyone take anything you say seriously when you blatantly lie about things that are easily verifiable?
Web Link
You wrote about Rick Schmitt:
>> Lack of leadership? do tell us the details of that. [Rick Schmitt] has been on the job a year and has done a pretty good job. spends great deal of his time reaching out and visiting nearly all the schools with 'tea' time with parents/teachers etc. getting rid of him would cost a great deal of $$ and there is no cause.
And here you wrote:
>> I'd never praise any superintendent.
I would ask you to explain to me why you think anyone should anyone listen to the opinions of liars. But, that would be a waste of my time.
Really, regardless of you baseless rhetoric, Ms. Black is a fine candidate and will do a much better job supporting voters in her area than her predecessor.
Registered user
San Ramon
on Aug 4, 2022 at 12:39 pm
Registered user
on Aug 4, 2022 at 12:39 pm
H blithered 'You wrote about Rick Schmitt: "
We covered this already, that wasn't from me. Or did you not read that?
H why don't you just out yourself as Ms Black? You will feel much better about yourself, k?
Now ease up on the slander.