Save Our Schools. Secure Our Future.
As a father of two young kids at Hearst Elementary and a weekly classroom volunteer, I am deeply invested in the future of our district. After stepping up to lead the grassroots campaign to protect our neighborhood schools at savehearst.com, I am running for School Board to defend our classrooms, stand up for our families, and protect our kids from administrative overreach.
GENERAL ELECTION • NOVEMBER 3, 2026
Thomas Choi for Trustee, Area 5
Parent, Attorney & Engineer
Core Plan: Improve, Restore & Grow
STEP 1: Improve Communication & Transparency
Our community deserves transparent leadership, not backroom decisions. At Alisal Elementary, PUSD spent over a year developing plans and let construction management fees escalate from $69,675 to over $1.8 million before holding public community meetings in June 2026. The district repeated this pattern at Hearst Elementary, quietly advancing a proposal to carve an industrial bus and maintenance yard into student playfields without consulting families or teachers.
Grassroots community coalition protecting Hearst Elementary playfields from industrial MOT bus relocation.
Speaker: Thomas Choi • Defending Campus Green Spaces & Demanding Open Governance • youtu.be/8W5dkGEdiSs
STEP 2: Restore Fiscal Health
PUSD is one of only five California school districts—and the only one in Alameda County—operating under a state Negative Budget Certification. While committing over $30 million to acquire and renovate a central headquarters and budgeting $26.4 million for operating services and outside contracts, the Board was forced to take an emergency $15 million loan from the County Treasury just to keep our doors open. Even after restoring 12.5 specialist and counseling positions, the district has eliminated over 90 net positions across the last two years—hitting reading interventionists, counselors, and library staff. We must halt central administrative bloat, restore AB 1200 fiscal compliance, and protect our frontline educators and classified staff.
Speaker: Thomas Choi • PUSD Board Meeting • May 7, 2026
Speaker: Thomas Choi • PUSD Board Meeting • Feb 19, 2026
Speaker: Thomas Choi • PUSD Board Meeting • Feb 26, 2026
STEP 3: Grow Through Innovation & Partnerships
We cannot cut our way to educational excellence. Securing our children's future requires investing directly into classroom innovation. By establishing hands-on STEM pathways, expanding visual and performing arts, and partnering with Tri-Valley tech leaders, local businesses, and Las Positas College, we can attract transferring families, reverse enrollment loss, and stabilize state ADA revenue for our classrooms.
Endorsed by the California School Employees Association (CSEA) Chapter 155 & Supported by 100s of Area 5 Parents
Standing together to save our schools, protect frontline educators, and secure a brighter future for PUSD kids.
Dedicated voice purely for students, parents and frontline school staff—free from sponsorship influence.
CSEA Chapter 155
Endorsed by the California School Employees Association Chapter 155—representing the classified staff who keep PUSD classrooms and campuses running every day.
Support from 100s of Parents
Supported by 100s of parents in Area 5 protecting our schools from PUSD executive mismanagement—exemplified by the community effort at savehearst.com to safeguard Hearst Elementary and Pleasanton Middle School.
"I am deeply honored to be endorsed by the California School Employees Association (CSEA) for PUSD Trustee Area 5."
Thomas Choi
Candidate for PUSD Board of Trustees • Area 5
Professional Qualifications
Combining legal precision, engineering problem-solving, and parent advocacy for PUSD.
PUSD Parent & Community Advocate
Parent of two PUSD students • Championing frontline teachers & aides
Licensed California Attorney
Statutory governance, contract auditing & Brown Act compliance
Electrical Engineer & Analytical Leader
Data-driven problem solving to exit county emergency budget oversight
HOA Board Trustee & Fiduciary
Fiduciary capital stewardship & long-term reserve fund management
"As a PUSD parent with two kids in our schools, every decision is personal."
Thomas Choi and his family chose Pleasanton for its community warmth and outstanding public schools. As a parent of two children attending local classrooms, Thomas sees firsthand the indispensable work of teachers, instructional aides, paraprofessionals, and classified support staff who make our district thrive.
Thomas brings a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to school board leadership. Rather than top-down mandates, he believes in partnering directly with educators, support staff, site administrators, and parents to solve tough budgetary challenges together—protecting manageable class sizes, vital special education (SPED) resources, student mental wellness support, and safe neighborhood walking corridors.
"My commitment is simple: bring independent oversight to save our neighborhood schools, protect frontline educators, and restore the fiscal discipline needed to secure our children’s future." — Thomas Choi, Candidate for PUSD School Board, Area 5
Thomas Choi
Candidate for PUSD Board of Trustees • Area 5
Key PUSD Documents & Public Records Archive
Thomas believes in complete operational transparency. Review primary district documentation regarding PUSD's fiscal status, teaching staff reduction resolutions and facilities project presentations.
Connect Directly with Thomas
Have a question regarding district policies, school facilities, or candidate priorities? Thomas welcomes thoughts and questions from all district residents.
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Thank you for reaching out, . Your message regarding has been received. Thomas Choi looks forward to reviewing your comments.
