Meet The Dublin School Board Candidate: Seema Badar

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.

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Below, read the responses of Seema Badar, a nonprofit development professional.

What is your educational background?

BA Sociology North Carolina State University

What is your professional background?

Seema Badar is a nonprofit development professional with 6+ years of experience in fundraising, major gifts, grants, partnerships, and community engagement. Most recently, she served as Senior Development Manager with the American Cancer Society. She has also served on multiple nonprofit and community boards, bringing experience in governance, coalition-building, and civic leadership. She holds a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from Indiana University.

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

I was elected to the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee in 2024.

What are the top three issues facing DUSD right now?

1. Fiscal responsibility and protecting classrooms. DUSD has already made approximately $16 million in reductions because of declining enrollment and rising costs, with additional ongoing reductions anticipated. The challenge is balancing a sustainable budget without sacrificing programs, staffing, or student services.

2. Class sizes, staffing and student support. Class size has been a major issue in recent negotiations, and the district has agreed to reductions in elementary class sizes and special-education caseloads. We need to make sure growth, enrollment shifts, and staffing decisions are handled equitably across

3. Student well-being while maintaining academic excellence. DUSD is addressing concerns about academic pressure by limiting AP and honors courses. We need to support students' mental health, reduce unnecessary stress, and still ensure every student has access to rigorous academics and multiple pathways to success.

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

In my first year, I will prioritize strengthening student support and mental wellness across DUSD. I want to bring students, parents, teachers, counselors, and district staff together to identify gaps in support and develop a clear, measurable plan for addressing them. One specific action I will push for is a districtwide student wellness and support workshop, followed by concrete recommendations for improving access to counseling, early intervention, and resources for students who are struggling. Our students deserve to know that asking for help is a strength and that support is available when they need it.

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?

DUSD's financial decisions should begin with one question: How will this affect students? I would protect investments that directly support learning, safety, and well-being: including classroom instruction, teachers and support staff, special education, counselors, mental health, nurses, transportation, nutrition, and resources for students who need additional support. I would also protect arts, athletics, career education, and extracurriculars that help students stay engaged and connected.

If reductions are necessary, I would first look for efficiencies that minimize the impact on students. That means carefully reviewing administrative costs, outside contracts, duplicative programs, and nonessential expenditures before cutting classrooms or student services. Any reductions should be transparent, data-driven, and evaluated for their impact on different student groups, with meaningful input from students, families, educators, and staff.

I would also pursue responsible new revenue through grants, partnerships, and community-supported funding for priorities such as counseling, mental health, technology, and enrichment. If a local revenue measure is considered, taxpayers deserve clear accountability and public reporting.

Fiscal responsibility means protecting what students need most while making every taxpayer dollar count.

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

After the 2026 teachers' strike, rebuilding trust must be a priority. I would advocate for earlier, more transparent communication with DTA and all employee groups, regular labor-management meetings, and meaningful collaboration before major decisions reach the bargaining table. We can disagree on contracts while still treating educators and staff as partners.

As a community advocate, I understand that sustainable compensation requires sustainable district finances. I would support using clear financial data, multi-year projections, and enrollment trends to negotiate responsibly, protecting competitive compensation and staffing while ensuring commitments are affordable over the long term.

My commitment to collaboration is reflected in the support I've received from the Alameda County Labor Council, the Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Dublin Teachers Association. I would bring that same spirit of partnership to the DUSD board: listen early, communicate honestly, and work collaboratively toward solutions that respect employees while protecting the district's long-term financial health.

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 goal of ensuring that academic excellence does not come at the expense of student well-being. I believe in educating the whole child: academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Students should be challenged, but they should not feel that their worth or future depends on taking the maximum number of AP or honors courses.

The district should measure whether this policy is working through meaningful data, not simply by counting AP or honors enrollment. We should track student stress and well-being through student and family surveys, counseling referrals, attendance, course completion, and changes in academic performance. We should also examine whether students from different schools and backgrounds have equitable access to rigorous coursework.

Most importantly, we should listen directly to students, teachers, counselors, and families. If students are healthier and more engaged while maintaining strong academic outcomes, that is meaningful progress. If the data shows unintended consequences—such as students losing access to courses that align with their goals, the district should be willing to adjust the policy. Our goal should be rigorous academics alongside healthy, supported, well-rounded students.

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 investing in our schools is an investment in our students and community. As someone who has served on DUSD's Parcel Tax Oversight Committee, I have seen how local parcel tax dollars can directly support students.

Existing parcel tax funds have supported teacher-led intervention, freshman mentoring, elementary preparation time, visual and performing arts, libraries, music, science, technology, instructional resources, and tutoring centers that provide students with additional academic support.

For Measure I, I would want these resources focused on clearly identified student needs: protecting classroom instruction, supporting teachers, maintaining libraries and tutoring centers, and preserving programs that could otherwise face cuts during difficult budget years.

Taxpayers deserve accountability. I would support annual public reporting showing exactly how the approximately $3.8 million is spent, measurable outcomes for each funded area, and continued independent oversight through the Parcel Tax Oversight Committee. I would also expect the Board to evaluate whether funded programs are producing meaningful results and adjust priorities when needed.

Supporting Measure I does not mean writing the district a blank check. It means investing locally while demanding transparency, measurable results, and responsible stewardship of every taxpayer dollar.

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

What I bring to this race is a combination of lived experience as a DUSD parent, hands-on community leadership, and a track record of bringing people together. I understand the challenges families face because I am raising children in this community and have been actively involved in our schools.

I'm also a coalition builder. Through my community and nonprofit work, I've built partnerships with educators, labor organizations, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, families, and community organizations. I know how to listen to people with different perspectives, find common ground, and turn those relationships into action.

I would bring that collaborative approach to the DUSD Board. My goal is not to represent one group, it is to make sure students, families, educators, and staff all have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect our schools. I believe DUSD needs a trustee who will listen, ask tough questions, work collaboratively, and remain focused on students.