David Bell Attended His Own Office Hours, Then Left Without Taking Questions

Field Notes: David Bell Office Hours, April 6, 2026

This morning I attended Board President David Bell’s scheduled office hours at 8:30 AM. I was the only community member present.

Five minutes into the meeting [I suggested I should wait to ask questions until others had arrived], Mr. Bell stepped outside to take a phone call. Twenty minutes passed. When I went to check on him, I found him outside scrolling through his phone.

I informed David Bell I had three questions for him, he stated he was not interested in answering them, citing what he described as a lack of respect.

I responded that he was confusing lack of respect with being asked hard questions. Mr. Bell then characterized his role as volunteer work. I noted that trustees seek elected office and are offered district healthcare coverage as compensation [if they so choose], and that taxpayers have every right to ask questions of elected officials.

Mr. Bell left the meeting.

This is part of a documented pattern. Community members who have attempted to contact Mr. Bell without receiving a response are encouraged to reach out to SSA at:

contact@sonomaschoolsalliance.org.

sonomaschoolsalliance.org

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