A West Valley high school district is changing how it elects board members to improve representation and rebuild community trust.
The Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District board of trustees unanimously approved transitioning from at-large elections to by-trustee area elections earlier this month. The change will evenly split the district into five trustee areas. Residents will only vote for candidates running in their area, rather than voting for all trustees. The switch will affect three open seats in 2026. The redrawing of the boundaries will cost between $20,000 to $30,000.
The district, which serves more than 3,000 students at Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools, largely made the change to avoid potential lawsuits for violating the California Voting Rights Act. The 2001 law states at-large elections in school districts could deny marginalized residents equal representation.
District leaders also made the decision after parents felt unrepresented by the school board because of how it handled former Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson. The board includes President Steve Chen, Vice President Katherine Tseng, Trustee Misty Davies and Clerk Theresa Bond. There is one vacant position.
Alicia de Fuentes is one parent of a Saratoga High School student who felt unheard. She and hundreds of community members wanted the board to take action against Sanderson after he changed longstanding district programs and traditions. Instead, after months of unrest, Sanderson vacated the position on his own last October with paid leave and a resignation tendered for June. Heath Rocha, who was previously the assistant superintendent of student services, has temporarily taken over as acting superintendent since then. The board directed staff on Jan. 28 to draft a contract for Rocha to permanently take over as superintendent.
De Fuentes said she wants stronger leaders who will respond to community concerns, but is unsure if the change will lead to better representation.
“We need leaders who ask tough questions,” she told San José Spotlight. “Our school’s traditions and programs were threatened because of poor leadership, so drawing up maps or not (drawing them up) will not fix human flaws.”
Chen said the new election process aims to ensure all voters feel heard and represented. He said it’s part of the district’s effort to rebuild community trust following the blowback from the situation with Sanderson.
The district is hosting four community meetings where residents can voice their opinions on potential trustee area boundaries before the board selects a map in April. The selected map will be finalized at a Santa Clara County committee public hearing. The next community meeting is slated for Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the district boardroom at 17421 Farley Road West, Los Gatos.
“This process allows us to better reflect the diverse needs and priorities of our community, strengthening the connection between our board members and the constituents they serve,” Chen told San José Spotlight. “We encourage everyone to attend the public meetings, share their perspectives and help shape a future where every voice is heard and every community is represented.”
Other high school districts have switched from at-large to by-trustee area elections. Fremont Union High School District, which serves Cupertino and Sunnyvale, finalized its election transition last April amid community uproar.
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District spokesperson Tanya De La Cruz said the switch enhances the work the district has been doing to foster a stronger community.
“Trust is built through consistent communication, meaningful engagement and a commitment to fairness — all principles that will guide this transition and all actions as a district,” she told San José Spotlight.
Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X.
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