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The public communications landscape for school districts in the Tri-Valley is in the middle of a major shift.
In the face of serious budget difficulties, the Pleasanton, Livermore Valley and San Ramon Valley school districts are all cutting multiple positions in their comms departments, including two directors well-known in the community. The only one spared heading into the 2025-26 school year is Dublin, whose department was halved to just a single dedicated staff member last year.
The logic is sound with these reductions and restructurings: keep the cost-cutting out of the classroom as much as possible to limit the impact felt by students. But losing these critical resources represent a blow to public access, community outreach and news media relations.
The Tri-Valley superintendents or communications officials told me their districts will continue to prioritize being responsive to stakeholders, engaging their community and sharing out information – and they recognize how important those tasks are in their government roles.
It’s hard for me to see how that materializes though. The concern for life without these eliminated positions is more than just about me being worried about how my editorial staff and I will get timely answers for our news stories.
Some or all of the Tri-Valley districts have these positions responsible for social media, programs and events, marketing materials, PR strategy, surveys, stakeholder relations, developing partnerships with organizations, parent engagement, crisis communications, policy research, volunteering and even public records requests.
That demand is not going away, so we’re looking at a situation of more work for fewer people.
Rough terrain ahead. And I do think the decision-makers understood it and saw no choice when finalizing their budgets and layoff lists. The result is going to be tough for them, for us and for you.
Take Pleasanton Unified School District, which will be reducing from 3 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees to 1.5 FTE worth effective July 1.
Gone will be director of communication Patrick Gannon, a 15-year Tri-Valley resident who has worked for PUSD since 2016, replaced by a cheaper coordinator of communications/safety, which is a new position that hasn’t been hired yet.
“Pleasanton Unified is an incredible community, it’s been a privilege to serve in my role,” Gannon told me in response to a question that couldn’t be easy to answer. “I’m looking forward to trying something new in the field of communication. The people who make Pleasanton Unified the special place it is are second to none, and I wish them all the best moving forward.”
The comms moves were an effort to direct reductions at the superintendent’s office where possible. Supporting the new coordinator-level position will be half of the time of the executive assistant to the supe and Board of Trustees.
“This collaborative approach aims to ensure continued responsiveness and positive relationships with news media, business partners, community organizations and residents,” Interim Superintendent Maurice Ghysels said.
I can’t help but wonder what this will look like for the community onboarding of the new permanent superintendent, and then operationally under their administration.
One key aspect of the PUSD restructuring is that all California Public Records Act releases will now be handled by the superintendent’s executive assistant. Pleasanton had been the only Tri-Valley district to have its communications director serve as the receiver and respondent for CPRA requests.
“To enhance our responsiveness and efficiency in managing both media inquiries and CPRA requests, we are transitioning to a new online portal accessible through our website,” Ghysels said. “This move from email submissions will allow for better organization, potentially faster processing, improved tracking, and more effective resource allocation, especially with the changes in staffing. This centralized system will streamline the intake and management of requests, ultimately aiming to improve overall response times and ensure compliance.”
We’ll have to see how that shift plays out.
Meanwhile, changes have already arrived at the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.
With her position as director of communications, family and community engagement cut in the 2025-26 budget, Ilana Israel Samuels left SRVUSD after 3-1/2 years earlier this month for a job with Fairfield-Suisun Unified near where I grew up.
” When I think back on my time in SRVUSD, what really stands out is the power of connection — how much can be accomplished when schools, staff, families, and the community are working together,” Samuels said.
“I’m proud of the ways in which we have elevated student voice and engaged more deeply and intentionally with staff, and the strides we made in building trust through honest, timely communication with all audiences,” she added. “I also loved creating spaces for parent leaders and families to be heard and involved in meaningful ways. It’s been a rewarding experience that’s shaped how I approach this work.”
SRVUSD is retaining two coordinators of communication and public information for next year (a reduction of 1.5 FTE for comms), but in the meantime, the primary public information officer is Superintendent CJ Cammack himself for the rest of 2024-25. As if he doesn’t have so much else on his plate.
“The district remains fully committed to maintaining strong, transparent relationships with the media, community, and business organizations, families, and residents-at-large. As the Superintendent, I will directly oversee communications, ensuring continuity in key messaging and outreach,” Cammack vowed.
Facing a tough budget, SRVUSD enacted a series of significant reductions that included cutting 10 full-time administrative positions from the central office. With comms staff caught in the crosshairs, the district needs to reimagine its department with fewer resources.
“As we look ahead to the 2025-26 school year, we will be taking a thoughtful approach to shaping the future goals of the communications department,” Cammack told me. “The two remaining Coordinators will continue in their roles. The goal is to ensure we have a team structure that supports both effective districtwide communication and strong community engagement.”
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District is going down to one coordinator and one specialist in the communications department, losing one specialist and one dedicated executive assistant, according to Michelle Dawson, who is wrapping up her fourth year as coordinator of community engagement.
“Many of the communication strategies and tools first implemented during the pandemic have now become the standard for how our district engages with families, staff, and the broader community,” Dawson said of the current school communications landscape.
“Our families now expect timely digital updates, flexible options for participation in district meetings, and a continuous flow of clear and relevant information. Similarly, the media and broader public rely on prompt, accurate communication from our district,” she told me, adding:
“Even as we adjust to resource limitations, our district remains committed to making communication a priority. We recognize that strong relationships and community support are foundational to our long-term success.”
And Chip Dehnert remains a lone wolf as director of communication in Dublin Unified School District, where he has worked since early 2018. His prior colleague resigned at the end of 2023-24 as the district was restructuring from two comms employees down to one.Â
“In a high-growth district like Dublin, clear, timely, and responsive communication with our stakeholders is not just important — it’s essential,” Dehnert told me. “We understand that families, staff, and community partners rely on accurate and proactive updates to stay informed and engaged with the work of the district. At the same time, we recognize the fiscal challenges facing public education across the state.”
Dehnert has done an admirable job solo in my book, remaining accessible for me and my staff so far this year. But we’re just one piece of his responsibilities, and I can’t help but think about his workload and work-life balance in a district with a high demand from its constituents.
“The district remains committed to ensuring public responsiveness and accessibility, even amid financial constraints. We will continue to prioritize clear messaging, consistent updates, and meaningful engagement with our community,” he said, later summing it up:
“For Dublin Unified, the goal is simple: keep our community informed, supported, and connected — without compromising the learning that happens in our classrooms.”
I’ve been fortunate to develop pretty good professional relationships with all four of the PIOs; Patrick, Ilana, Chip and Michelle have been great to work with by and large, even though not every conversation or outcome is a pleasant one.
I hate to see two of them lose their jobs in the Tri-Valley – beyond my selfish source reasons, I mean it on a human level. Same sentiment for every other cutback victim across the districts.
And I’m trying to quiet the cynic voice inside me who can’t help but wonder whether it’s a happy coincidence for these districts that journalistic access will be just a bit harder now.
I’m the type to give the benefit of the doubt at the outset, without giving up an inch. We’ll be watching, and we’ll be ready.
Editor’s note: Jeremy Walsh is the editorial director for the Embarcadero Media Foundation’s East Bay Division. His “What a Week” column is a recurring feature in the Pleasanton Weekly, Livermore Vine and DanvilleSanRamon.com.
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