CVRA

In early August last year, the Mountain View-Los Altos School District (MVLASD) received a notice of their violation of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). A law that was created to protect minority voter rights, it prohibits methods of election that impair their ability to “elect candidates of [their] choice” or “influence the outcome of an election.”

In practice, the law requires a shift from current “at-large” elections to “by-trustee” elections. Where “at-large” elections allow candidates to reside anywhere within the district and voters to vote for all open positions, “by-trustee” elections award one seat on the Board of Trustees to a certain district each and voters to vote on only one board member in their district. Given that the election outcome is based on candidates’ immediate communities, this would ideally open opportunities for minorities to hold office.

Since the first public hearing on Monday, September 23, the district has been working on creating a district boundary map, split into five areas, to accommodate Mountain View-Los Altos’ combined population of 117,723 people.

The drafting process involves combining the professional guidance of SchoolWorks, an educational consulting firm, with public input from the community. The latest public hearing on Monday, March 17 was the last of the four legally required ones. However, the board will continue to take recommendations at its next regular meeting on Monday, April 21.

Keeping three criteria — geographical contiguity, minimizing dividing populations that “[share] common social or economic interests,” and minimizing geographic division — in mind, maps A, B, and C have been drafted and presented to the board. Notably, identified communities of interest in MVLA largely line West El Camino Real and Central Expressway; modified maps A1, B1, and C1 were created in consideration.

The district is set to finalize the boundary map by the 2026 election cycle. Until then, the drafting process is a continuous back-and-forth between the district board, SchoolWorks, and public comments.

MVLA settles with the Deborah Project

The MVLA school board settled a lawsuit filed by The Deborah Project, a nonprofit legal organization advocating against antisemitism in educational settings. The dispute centered on MVLA’s compliance with a California Public Records Act request concerning the district’s ethnic studies program.

In January 2025, MVLA agreed to pay $32,500 to cover The Deborah Project’s legal fees, resolving the lawsuit. Both parties confirmed that the district had fulfilled its obligation to release the requested records.

The lawsuit surrounds a public records request sent by the Deborah Project to MVLA, seeking documents involving Acosta Educational Partners (AEP), a consulting group hired for teacher training. The organization aimed to determine whether the curriculum contained antisemitic content. 

After months without a response, The Deborah Project filed a lawsuit against MVLA in June 2023, alleging non-compliance with the public records request. In July 2024, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Helen E. Williams ordered the district to conduct a more comprehensive search and release any pertinent records. 

Upon reviewing the documents, The Deborah Project reported finding no evidence of antisemitism within the materials provided. However, the organization emphasized that this does not preclude the possibility of issues in materials not reviewed. They expressed willingness to pursue future legal action should new concerns arise regarding antisemitism at MVLA.

Board Member Retirements and Elections

The November 2024 board elections introduced new faces to the MVLA school board. Long-serving trustees Sanjay Dave and Phil Faillace retired, making way for newcomers Alex Levich and Vadim Katz. Levich secured approximately 36 percent of the vote, while Katz received around 33 percent, with runner up Li Zhang securing the rest of the votes. 

Phil Faillace

After serving on the MVLA school board since 1996, Phil Faillace retired in 2024, concluding a 28-year tenure. He was known for fostering collaborative discussions and guiding the district through significant changes. Faillace’s departure marked the end of an era of long-standing service and dedication to the district.

Sanjay Dave

Sanjay Dave stepped down from the MVLA board in 2024 after eight years of service. He played a pivotal role in the $295 million Measure E bond passed in 2017, which funded district facilities. However, Dave faced criticism in 2018 for comments about increasing diversity in Advanced Placement classes, drawing backlash from parents and staff. Dave was succeeded by the incumbent Esmerelda Ortiz as president. 

Alex Levich

Elected to the MVLA board in November 2024, Alex Levich brings experience from her previous role as a trustee at Bowman School. She advocates for expanding programs for underrepresented groups, and currently serves as clerk of the board.

Vadim Katz

Also elected in November 2024, Vadim Katz is a software engineer and parent of two children in the district. His priorities include ensuring physical safety for students, promoting individualized learning experiences, and supporting teachers.

Eric Volta

Following the retirement of former superintendent Nellie Meyer in March 2024, Eric Volta superceded her in May 2024. A Bay Area native, Volta has dedicated his career to education, having served as teacher, assistant superintendent, and until recently, as superintendent of the Liberty Union High School District in Contra Costa County. 

“The best way I can describe my time at MVLA so far is that my wife told me she has never seen me this happy,” Volta said.