STAFF REPORT
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
Five candidates are running for two seats on the Natomas Unified School District board of trustees.
They are running to represent two different geographic areas within the school district’s northern boundaries and can be elected by only those registered voters who live in each specific geographic area.
Trustee Area 3
Incumbent Micah Grant and newcomers Jonathan Cook and Sally Trevino Gobea* are running to represent an area of the school district largely located north of Interstate 80 and east of Interstate 5 and Natomas Boulevard which includes Heredia-Arriaga School, Inderkum High School, STAR Academy, Natomas Charter School, Natomas Park Elementary, and Westlake Charter High School. (see map below)
Grant, VP of Communications and Public Relations at SAFE Credit Union, has lived in Natomas for 13 years and has lived in Trustee Area 3 for nine years. For eight of those years, he has served as a school board trustee. His daughter attends Heron School. Grant’s top three priorities if elected to serve a third term on the school board are: improving literacy and math scores, improving special education as well as school and community safety.
Grant would like to bring a Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center to the district to support student athletes, athletic programs and the community. He hopes to eventually expand the center to become one of the district’s Career Technical Education pathways
“I’m wholly committed to creating learning environments where students can thrive, explore, and find their passion,” wrote Grant in a candidate questionnaire. “I’m passionate about ensuring the underserved have a voice and helping parents, teachers, and students navigate a complex education system. As a man who attended school in a difficult urban environment, I want students to know that that just because your experiences may be somewhat different, it doesn’t make them any less valuable.”
Cook, the Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing Alliance, has lived in Trustee Area 3 for four years. His top three priorities if elected to the school board are: voting for additional funds for special education and speech therapy, expanding mental health resources for students and restoring music programs in elementary and middle schools.
Cook plans to support Natomas Unified’s growth as a district and to work to build its reputation as the best school district and workplace in Sacramento.
“As the next trustee for Area 3, I will be an advocate to represent our diverse community, ensuring that we prioritize a budget that delivers the resources our students and educators need to provide academic excellence, to recruit and retain excellent staff for the district, and to ensure that we have programs and resources that are responsive to the needs of our students, families and community,” wrote Cook. “A strong educational system in Natomas benefits our entire community.”
Trustee Area 5
Monique F. Langer and Sumiti Mehta are running to represent an area of the district north of San Juan Road and west of Interstate 5 which includes NP3 Elementary, Middle and High schools, Paso Verde School and Witter Ranch Elementary. Incumbent Susan Heredia is not seeking re-election.
Langer, Manager of Public Affairs and Outreach for the California Victim Compensation Board, has lived in Natomas since 2002 and Trustee Area 5 since 2006. Her children have attended Bannon Creek, Natomas High, Witter Ranch, Natomas Middle, Inderkum High and Paso Verde schools. Langer’s top three priorities if elected are: school safety and connecting schools to the community, academic achievement and building future leaders.
Langer said she would like to see schools return as the hub of the community.
“When I was growing up, I spent countless hours at school – involved in activities, taking advantage of tutoring when I needed it, walking to my parents’ polling place at election time, playing basketball when there was nothing else to do, and just feeling the sense of safety and comfort that school should bring,” Langer wrote. “Natomas does a great job with keeping kids engaged, but I would like to see schools becoming the gathering place, the extended network, and the ‘village’ our kids need to succeed. Considering the whole of Sacramento, our schools are relatively new. We must work to build community capacity. Strong communities create strong future leaders.”
Mehta, a senior consultant at a Sacramento-based Information Technology firm, has lived in Natomas for 15 years and has two sons who attended Natomas schools. Her top priorities if elected are: safety and inclusion for students, supporting teachers and staff and fiscal transparency.
If elected, Mehta said she intends to focus on programs and initiatives that support students.
“I am committed to closing the opportunity gap by advocating for inclusive policies, expanding resources for underperforming schools, and improving literacy rates to ensure all students, especially the most vulnerable, have the chance to succeed,” wrote Mehta, who previously ran for school board in 2020. “As an immigrant mom, I understand the hurdles parents face when they must become fierce advocates for their children. I hope to bring my knowledge and passion for access to quality education to the role of Trustee, ensuring all students and families get the education they deserve.”
*Sally Trevino Gobea did not respond to invitations to participate in The Natomas Buzz coverage of the 2024 election or the candidate forum held on Sept. 23, 2024.
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