Meet Ramnath Shanbhogue, Candidate For Dublin School Board

DUBLIN, CA — Patch reached out to all candidates for the DUSD Board of Trustees Area 1 seat with identical questions about their background and their vision for Dublin schools. Here are the responses from Ramnath Shanbhogue, a parent, assistant coach, and community volunteer.

Responses have not been altered.

1. What is your personal, educational, and professional background?

I am a father, a husband, and a dedicated technologist. Over the past 27+ years, I have lived, studied, and worked in various cities across Northern California, with the last 10 years spent in Dublin. I hold a master’s degree in computer science and have over 25 years of experience in the technology sector. Throughout my career, I have worked at small, medium, and large companies, gaining a diverse range of experiences, and have had the privilege of building and collaborating with teams worldwide. My extensive leadership experience has equipped me with the skills to devise creative solutions to complex challenges, foster consensus, and rally people to execute effectively. These skills will be invaluable in my role as a Trustee, helping to drive positive outcomes for our School District.

2. How long have you lived in Dublin?

We moved to Dublin in September 2014, so it’s been almost 10 years now.

3. What brought you here?

After living in various Bay Area cities, we chose Dublin for its diverse culture, excellent schools, and beautiful greenery when searching for a single-family home.

4. How have you been involved in the community?

I have actively contributed to the community in various capacities. I served as an assistant coach for my daughter’s DUSL girls’ soccer team, chaperoned school trips, and participated in the HOA (past community). Additionally, I have actively engaged in board meetings and articulated concerns on issues of significant importance to both students and the community.

5. What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges facing DUSD?

Every school district faces challenges, and DUSD is no exception. Despite being one of the fastest-growing districts with a 97% graduation rate, DUSD has several key issues:

1. Safety: Recent incidents have highlighted the need for improved security measures and accountability to ensure a safe environment for all our students, teachers and staff.
2. Fiscal Responsibility: Repeated years of deficit spending has spent down the robust surplus and now the board is forced to make program cuts that hurt the students.
3. Student Advocacy: Over the years, numerous initiatives purportedly aimed at promoting equity have unfortunately failed to support the students who most need academic assistance. While district statistics and graduation rates may appear impressive, the actual standards have been lowered, leaving students inadequately prepared for life after high school.
4. Communication & Collaboration: The board has often neglected community voices, making decisions without proper stakeholder engagement. Parents, students, teachers, and the community deserve to be heard and involved.

6. What are your plans for addressing them?

1. Safety: Collaborate with the board and superintendent to prioritize reviewing and updating safety procedures, defining acceptable behavior, and outlining consequences ensuring accountability and a safe environment for students.
2. Fiscal Responsibility: Commit to making budget-conscious decisions to restore financial stability while safe guarding educational quality.
3. Student Advocacy: Every student deserves a safe, supportive, and enriching educational environment. This includes doing away with policies that lower academic standards and seeking alternative methods to support struggling students.
4. Communication & Collaboration: Ensure open communication with the parents, the teachers and the broader community, actively listen to their concerns, and transparently represent their views in board meetings.

7. What makes you the best candidate?

I am committed to serving our students and community without any political agendas. I have chosen not to seek endorsements from organizations with direct interests in the district, ensuring my focus remains solely on the well-being of our students. My goal is to make decisions that are driven by reason, inclusive of community voices, and dedicated to doing what is best for our students.

8. Outside of politics, what do you enjoy doing?

I am a huge sports fan, with a particular interest in the NBA, NFL, Cricket and soccer. I fondly remember watching the Warriors at The Arena in Oakland in 1998 and witnessing their incredible journey. I also enjoy trips to the theater, but only for movies that are truly theater-worthy. Music is another passion of mine; having grown up in the 80s, the greatest decade of music, I appreciate a wide range of genres, with a special love for hip-hop and R&B. Most importantly, I cherish the time I spend with my daughters, whether it’s helping with soccer or with taekwondo or simply being there for them, always with a good dad joke ready.

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