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The Sequoia Union High School District will have two seats on the Nov. 3 ballot, representing Areas A and D on the school board. Area A includes Redwood Shores, Belmont, San Carlos and parts of Redwood City and Area D encompasses central Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks and Atherton.
Voter Guide 2026
Get to know the candidates and measures on your ballot with The Almanac’s 2026 Voter Guide, including in-depth profiles, issue comparison grids and campaign finance coverage.
View the Voter Guide ➔Incumbent Amy Koo, who represents Area A, is running against Belmont resident Alon Shiran while Menlo Park resident Michael Dekshenieks is asking Area D voters to redirect their votes to him, after incumbent Sathvik Nori dropped out of the race in August. Nori’s name will still be on the ballot, and he has endorsed Dekshenieks.
To help voters understand where they stand on top issues involving the school board, The Almanac sent a questionnaire to all the candidates, asking about district finances, the decision to close TIDE Academy in Menlo Park, lawsuits, honors courses and transparency.
Candidates were asked to answer yes or no questions. They also were offered the opportunity to briefly explain their responses, capped at 150 characters.
Koo was the only candidate to respond that the closure of TIDE Academy, a small STEM-based high school, was the right decision for the district. Shiran and Dekshenieks both abstained, citing a lack of information on the tradeoffs and outstanding questions about the board’s decision to close the school in February.
As the district faces multiple lawsuits alleging discrimination, sexual assault, wrongful termination and more, all candidates agreed that SUHSD is spending too much on legal fees and settlements.
Dekshenieks noted that the district’s “unusually high level of legal activity” could indicate other operational issues while Shiran said that avoiding settlement costs would free up funds that could be used in the classroom. Koo said the board continues to evaluate ways to reduce legal costs moving forward.
Transparency has been a key complaint among parents, especially around the board’s decision to close TIDE. Koo is the only candidate to say that the school board and district are making decisions transparently. Dekshenieks said that the community’s trust has to be regained, and Shiran responded that too many district decisions are made without the community’s input.
On the topic of student safety, Shiran is the only candidate who believed the school board was not effectively advocating for student safety. He alluded to the district’s lawsuits and emphasized the importance of listening to students, acting early and addressing concerns before they turn into legal matters.
Visit The Almanac’s 2026 Election Center to learn more about the local races on your ballot.
