Photo Credit: Pleasanton Weekly / Candidates Dan Cherrier (Far Right), Seema Badar, Tanner Frye and Shalini Bhandari (Bottom Left)
(DUBLIN, Calif.) – Local Tri-Valley newspaper Pleasanton Weekly hosted a candidate forum for the Dublin Unified School District Board of Trustees on September 16 in Dublin. Four candidates from two districts participated in the forum. Shalini Bhandari and Tanner Frye, are running for Area 3 and incumbent Dan Cherrier and Seema Badar are both running for Area 5.
Topics discussed include working with teachers and with the Dublin Teachers Association after the early 2026 teachers strike, the district's budget and fiscal health, policies on artificial intelligence and the well-being of students.
“I believe the relationship between our district and our educators is fundamental to our student success,” said Badar. “The events earlier this year showed how damaging it can be when negotiations reach an impasse.”
All other candidates expressed similar concerns, Tanner Frye expressed the need for better communication to prevent more strikes in the future, while Shalini Bhandari Bhandari noted the stress the strike caused parents, teachers and students. Dan Cherrier pointed out that pressures of the budget played a major role in the negotiations.
On the district’s budget and fiscal health, all four candidates agreed that the district is facing difficult challenges after deficit spending and surplus spending. All emphasized the need for better transparency.
“When it comes to the budget, I agree that we do need to make sure that we’re planning accordingly and making sure that we’re focusing on what is in our control,” said Frye. “I think we need to make sure that we are laser focused on ensuring the budget has a long-term sustainability and that we have money in case enrollment drops or in case there is some other issue that happens in the future.”
“We had a $20 million surplus in 2020. It’s all gone. There is nothing left,” said Cherrier. “Every year we have to balance the budget, we do have a little one time money, but it’s hard to give raises and all their ongoing with onetime money. What we have to do is plan for further balancing of the budget.”
Artificial intelligence was a key topic in this forum. Bhandari explained that she was closely following California legislation related to AI. She acknowledged DUSD’s Administrative Regulation 0440.01, a regulation that gives guidance to faculty and students on how AI can be used.
“I’d also like to state that when it comes to AI, I would believe one of the questions as a parent would be how are we preparing our children for college and for their careers and with AI coming in, there is always that fear,” said Bhandari. “So, not only should we always be ready for AI because it’s not going anywhere.”
Photo Credit: Pleasanton Weekly / Shalini Bhandari on Artificial Intelligence
Badar expressed concern for AI while also acknowledging that it can be beneficial for students. “I definitely feel that the use of AI is a resource, it’s a tool for our students, but it’s also very scary to see how it will affect our students’ growth and their development.” I would want for all the DUSD students to have access, but to be able to use it in a way that will be beneficial to them and not detrimental to their learning.”
Voters in Areas 3 and 5 will decide who will represent their area in the November 3 general election.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at joel.m@lead4earth.org or leave a comment below with your thoughts.
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