CONNECT & ACT
Showing Up is the Most Powerful Thing We Can Do
Every board meeting, every office hours session, every email to a trustee — it all adds up. School board members pay attention to who is in the room and how many voices they are hearing. The more community members who show up, speak up, and reach out, the harder it becomes to ignore the public interest. Here is everything you need to engage directly with your school district
Meeting Calendar
All SVUSD board meetings and trustee office hours are open to the public. No registration required. Information sourced from the SVUSD website.
Board of Trustees Meetings
All meetings are held at Sononoma City Hall Chambers, 177 First St w, Sonoma at 6PM.
Zoom link posted on the SVUSD website prior to each meeting.
April 9th, 2026 - Regular
April 28th, 2026 - Study Session
May 4th, 2026 - Regular
June 11th, 2026 - Regular
June 25th, 2026 - Regular
August 13th, 2026 - Regular
September 10th, 2026 - Regular
October 8th, 2026 - Regular
November 12th, 2026 - Regular
December 10th, 20226 - Regular
Trustee Office Hours
Office hours are one -on- one meeting with your trustee. All are open to the public. No registration required.
Trustee Bell at Sassarini Elementary: First Monday of the month from 8:30-9:30 am, Sassarini Elementary School - 652 5th Street West, In room 3.1 (707-935-6040)
Trustee Ching at Sonoma Valley High School: First Wednesday of the month from 6-7 pm, Sonoma Valley High School - 20000 Broadway Street, in the Library (707-935-4010)
Trustee Guzman at Flowery Elementary School: May 15 from 9-10 am (no office hours in April), Flowery Elementary School - 17600 Sonoma Highway, in the library (707-935-6060)
Trustee Landry at Altimira Middle School: The last Wednesday of the Month from 9-10 am, Altimira Middle School - 17805 Arnold Drive, in the Library (707-935-6020)
Trustee Lehman at El Verano Elementary School: Trustee Lehman has not attended Office Hours since last March of 2025, El Verano Elementary School - 18606 Riverside Drive, in room 3.3 (707-935-6050)
HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment is your direct line to the board. Every board meeting includes a public comment period where any community member may speak. Here is how to use it effectively:
At the meeting:
Arrive early and sign up on the speaker sheet at the door & pick up a speaker ticket at the door — there are two types of tickets: one for topics NOT on the agenda and one for items that ARE on the agenda.
“At the beginning” of the open agenda, there will be a public comment session for the public to make comments pertaining to items on the agenda.
An opportunity for public comment regarding any school-related matter “not on this agenda” will be given at the end of the regular agenda.
You will typically have 2-3 minutes to speak. If really crowded be prepared for a 1 minute remark. Be prepared for both possibilities
Address the board directly and state your name for the record
Stay focused — one clear point made well is more powerful than several points made quickly
You do not need to be a district parent or resident to speak — all community members are welcome
In writing:
Written public comments can be submitted to the board via email before or during a meeting
Written comments become part of the official public record
Tips from Sonoma Schools Alliance:
Come prepared with specific facts and specific questions
Be respectful in tone — you are more likely to be heard
Coordinate with other community members so multiple voices reinforce the same message
If you are not comfortable speaking alone, bring a friend and speak together or have someone else deliver your remarks
CONTACT YOUR TRUSTEES
Your trustees were elected to represent you. Contact them directly — every email and every conversation matters.
🔵 David Bell — Board President 📧 dbell.trustee@sonomaschools.org
🔵 Ann Ching 📧 aching.trustee@sonomaschools.org
🔵 Gerardo Guzman 📧 guzman.trustee@sonomaschools.org
🔵 Catarina Landry 📧 clandry.trustee@sonomaschools.org
🔵 Jason Lehman 📧 jlehman.trustee@sonomaschools.org
🔵 Superintendent Jason Sutter 📧 jsutter@sonomaschools.org
💡 Tip: Email each trustee separately rather than CC'ing all of them on one message. Individual emails carry more weight than group messages.