Meet The Dublin School Board Candidate: Shalini Bhandari

DUBLIN, CA — Patch reached out to all candidates running in contested races for the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees. Two candidates are running for Area 3, and two are running for Area 5.

We reprinted their answers verbatim.

Subscribe

Below, read the responses of Shalini Bhandari, an energy and sustainability professional.

What is your educational background?

Masters in Renewable and Clean Energy and Bachelors in Energy and Environmental Engineering

What is your professional background?

I am an Energy & Sustainability Manager with 12+ years of experience in environmental sustainability, energy management, and facilities programs. I have led complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on sustainability, financial stewardship, and long-term planning. My work has strengthened my skills in strategic thinking, collaboration, accountability, and translating complex information into practical solutions.

Have you ever held public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

What are the top three issues facing DUSD right now?

Long-term financial sustainability and transparency – DUSD needs to make thoughtful, sustainable budget decisions while clearly communicating how taxpayer and district resources are being used and protecting student programs.

Student well-being and equitable access – We need to support the whole child, including mental health, belonging, extracurriculars, arts and athletics, while ensuring students have equitable access to resources and opportunities. DUSD recognizes social-emotional well-being as an important part of student success.

Preparing students for the future – Education must keep pace with a rapidly changing world by strengthening technology literacy, financial literacy, career and technical education, and real-world skills while maintaining strong academic foundations.

What is one specific action you would prioritize during your first year in office?

During my first year, I would prioritize a comprehensive review of how DUSD's budget supports student mental health and well-being. I would work with the Board, district staff, educators, counselors, students and families to understand current resources, identify gaps, and evaluate how effectively existing funds are being used. As we make difficult budget decisions, I would advocate for protecting essential mental health and student-support services while looking for efficiencies elsewhere. I would also support establishing clear measures to track outcomes and regularly reporting them to the Board and community. My goal would be to make sure we are not only spending responsibly, but also understanding the impact of those dollars on students.

DUSD is facing serious financial challenges. What spending would you protect, where—if anywhere—would you support reductions, and would you consider new sources of revenue?

I would protect spending that has the most direct impact on students: classroom instruction, teachers and essential staff, special education, student mental health and safety, and programs that provide equitable access to academic and extracurricular opportunities. If reductions are necessary, I would first look for efficiencies, administrative and operational savings, and areas that can be consolidated or deferred without directly affecting students. Any reduction should be evaluated based on measurable impact, not simply across-the-board cuts. I would also want the Board to regularly review enrollment, staffing, reserves and multi-year projections so we are making decisions based on a sustainable financial plan. I would consider new sources of revenue, but they should be evaluated carefully and transparently. Local revenue can help protect student programs, but it should complement—not replace—responsible spending and long-term financial planning. Any proposal should clearly explain the need, expected benefit, cost to taxpayers, and how the funds would be used.

After the 2026 teachers strike, what would you do to improve labor relations while keeping employee compensation and district finances sustainable?

After the 2026 strike, I would prioritize rebuilding trust and creating a more collaborative relationship between the District and employee associations. That starts with regular, transparent communication—not just during contract negotiations—and creating opportunities for labor partners to understand the District's financial outlook and for the Board to hear directly about employee concerns.

I would support early, good-faith negotiations based on shared data, including enrollment, state funding, healthcare costs, compensation comparisons, and multi-year financial projections. Rather than waiting until negotiations reach a crisis point, I would encourage the District and labor partners to identify areas of common ground and potential solutions well in advance.

At the same time, compensation commitments must be sustainable. I would support competitive and fair compensation while ensuring that ongoing increases do not create structural deficits that ultimately lead to cuts in staffing or student programs. I would also support exploring creative solutions—such as phased increases, targeted investments, and identifying sustainable funding sources—when financially feasible. The goal should be a relationship where employees feel heard and valued, the District is transparent about what it can afford, and both sides remain focused on providing the best possible learning environment for students.

DUSD has limited the number of AP and honors courses students may take, citing academic pressure and student well-being. Do you support that policy, and how should the district measure whether it is working?

I support the intent of the policy to address academic pressure and protect student well-being. At the same time, I believe we should be careful that limits on AP and honors courses do not unintentionally restrict opportunities for students who are prepared for and want a more rigorous academic workload. The district should evaluate the policy using both academic and well-being measures, rather than assuming fewer advanced courses automatically means less stress. I would look at student and parent surveys, participation and enrollment in AP/honors courses, course completion and grades, attendance, student engagement, counseling and support utilization, and indicators of student stress and well-being. I would also examine whether access and participation differ across student groups. Most importantly, I would want to hear directly from students, teachers and counselors about how the policy is affecting them. If the data shows that students are experiencing less academic pressure while maintaining appropriate access to rigorous coursework, that would support continuing the approach. If unintended consequences emerge, the Board should be willing to adjust the policy. The goal should not simply be fewer AP or honors courses. It should be helping students find a healthy balance between academic challenge, well-being and preparation for their individual goals after high school.

Measure I would levy a parcel tax of $228 annually for eight years, with possible inflation adjustments of up to 2% per year, to support Dublin schools. Do you support or oppose Measure I, and what assurances would you give taxpayers about how the approximately $3.8 million in annual revenue would be spent?

I support Measure I because I believe maintaining strong schools is an investment in our students and our community. DUSD's current parcel tax is $96 and generates approximately $1.9 million annually; the district's budget also shows significant ongoing financial pressures, including rising employee benefit costs and projected operating deficits. If approved, I would want taxpayers to have clear assurances that the approximately $3.8 million in annual revenue is used as intended and tracked separately with transparent reporting. I would support regular public reporting showing how the funds are allocated and the student programs or services they support, along with annual financial audits and Board oversight. I also believe this revenue should not replace responsible budgeting. The Board should continue looking for efficiencies, reviewing long-term financial projections, and making sustainable spending decisions. As a taxpayer, I want to see both accountability for every dollar raised and transparency about the impact those dollars have on students. Ultimately, supporting Measure I comes with a responsibility to taxpayers: be clear about where the money goes, demonstrate its impact, and maintain strong financial oversight throughout the life of the measure.

Why do you feel you're a better candidate than your opponents?

I believe each candidate brings different experiences and perspectives to this election. What I bring is 12+ years of professional experience managing complex sustainability, energy, budgeting and facilities programs, where I regularly work with diverse stakeholders and balance competing priorities with long-term financial goals. As a DUSD parent and taxpayer, I also have a personal stake in the quality of our schools and responsible use of public resources. I believe my combination of professional experience, community perspective and collaborative approach would allow me to contribute a practical, thoughtful perspective to the Board. My focus is on listening, asking the right questions, understanding the data and working collaboratively to make decisions that put students first while keeping the district financially sustainable.