San Ramon Valley Board Takes Labor Talks, Principal Hire Behind Closed Doors

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District Governing Board spent its brief public session on Oct. 13, 2026, setting up two consequential conversations it will hold in private: who becomes an assistant principal at Dougherty Valley High School and what direction the district gives its negotiator in talks with its employee groups. The board took a voice vote on a motion to accept the closed session agenda and then adjourned to closed session. No result or tally was announced.

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• Labor negotiations with SRVEA, CSEA, SEIU and unrepresented employees move behind closed doors
• Assistant principal appointment at Dougherty Valley High School goes to closed session
• Voice vote on the closed session agenda: "aye" heard, no result announced

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Bargaining and Hiring Head Behind Closed Doors

The basics: California's open-meeting law lets school boards discuss certain personnel matters and labor negotiations privately. The board cited Government Code Section 54957 for the appointment and Section 54957.6, Subdivision A, for the labor talks.

Why it matters: The labor item covers multiple employee groups, so any direction the board gives its negotiator could shape pay and working conditions across the district's workforce. The appointment fills a leadership post at one of the district's high schools.

Where things stand: Board Member Susanna Ordway (Area 4), who presided, read the two closed session items:

• Item 4.1: a public employee appointment for an assistant principal at Dougherty Valley High School.
• Item 4.2: a conference with labor negotiators. The district's agency representative is Melanie Jones. The employee organizations named were SRVEA, CSEA, SEIU and unrepresented employees.

"Can I have a motion to approve the closed session agenda?" asked Ordway.

Board Member Jesse vanZee (Area 1) moved to accept the closed session agenda, and another participant seconded the motion.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The board took a voice vote. At least one "aye" was heard, and the presiding member then called for opposition, but no result or tally was announced. The board adjourned to closed session immediately afterward.

There was no open-session discussion of either item, and no outcome on the appointment or the negotiations was announced during the public portion. For employees represented by SRVEA, CSEA and SEIU, and for unrepresented staff, the board's direction to Jones stays out of public view for now. Dougherty Valley High School families and staff will need to wait for a public announcement to learn who fills the assistant principal role.

What's next: No date was given for reporting closed session actions or for bringing any labor agreement forward. Residents and employees tracking these items should watch upcoming board agendas for:

• A public report of any action taken on the assistant principal appointment.
• Any tentative agreement or contract item with SRVEA, CSEA or SEIU listed for an open-session vote.
• Formal minutes confirming the outcome and tally of the voice vote on the closed session agenda.

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Minor Items

• Five board members introduced themselves: Shelley Clark (Area 2), Laura Bratt (Area 3), Rachel Hurd (Area 5), Jesse vanZee (Area 1) and Susanna Ordway (Area 4).

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Looking Ahead

The public portion of the meeting ended once the board went into closed session, so the key decisions are still pending. These are the assistant principal hire and the board's bargaining stance with its employee groups. Watch upcoming board agendas and minutes for any action on either item, along with a confirmed result of the vote that sent the board behind closed doors.