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As a parent of two Menlo-Atherton High School graduates, Sequoia Union High School District Area D candidate Michael “Deks” Dekshenieks said he is running for a school board seat to improve community engagement, student safety, data-driven policymaking and financial leadership.
Area D includes central Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks and Atherton.
Dekshenieks is currently volunteering as an assistant coach for the M-A girl’s lacrosse team and has been an advocate for restoring ninth grade honors courses and preserving academic excellence across all of SUHSD campuses. He is also a Navy veteran and currently works as a tech executive at ETAM Systems.
For his campaign, Dekshenieks is working on redirecting voters to check his name on the ballot, after his opponent, incumbent Sathvik Nori, dropped out of the race in August. Nori, whose name will still be on the ballot, said he encourages Area D voters to support Dekshenieks for the school board seat.
As a decades-long resident of Menlo Park and active member of the community, Dekshenieks said other parents in the district encouraged him to run, while sharing concerns that the board lacked a parent who was up-to-date on current issues.
“I feel like I’m in a unique position because I’ve had kids that go through the district, I’m current on the issues, and I feel like I can help given my experience in the professional world,” he said.
Dekshenieks said he has been involved with the district and community over the last six to seven years. He’s attended board meetings, listened to public comments and is also involved in the parent group Students First, which is advocating for the restoration of honors and advanced courses for ninth graders.
If elected, Dekshenieks foresees future challenges in the board’s discussions on AI policies, and continued conversations around cell phone restrictions. He hopes to be able to make the board’s policy-making decisions clearer for the community by educating the public on the process.
Dekshenieks wants to assure students and parents that they are being heard by the board. He said he is aware of the community’s recent concerns about the district’s structural deficit and the board’s decision to close TIDE Academy earlier this year.
Dekshenieks said he has met with each campus’ leadership team, connected with local parents and spoken with current board members. He said his goals align strongly with those of trustees Rich Ginn and Nori.
Dekshenieks said his name will soon be appearing on yard signs, social media posts and email campaigns. To voters in Area D who may not have children at the district, he said he wants to remind them that “schools are in many ways a representation of the quality of your community.”
He has been endorsed by state Sen. Josh Becker, San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller and East Palo Alto Councilmember Mark Dinan. Dekshenieks is also supported by SUHSD trustees Ginn and Nori.
His website is michaeldeksforsuhsd.com.
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