Livermore Approves New School Board Map, LVJUSD Board Members

LIVERMORE, CA — The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District Board of Education welcomed two new board members Tuesday.

Deena Kaplanis and Christiaan VandenHeuvel beat a crowded field to fill the seats formerly held held by Yanira Guzman and Kristie Wang, the latter of whom now represents District 4 on the Livermore City Council.

This is the first term on the board for both Kaplanis and VandenHeuvel. Kaplanis is a local chiropractor who has volunteered for the Junction Avenue TK-8 Parent Teacher Association, as well as youth soccer and Little League teams. The Kaplanis family and their businesses have donated time and money to help support schools, teachers, students, and the community.

“I hope to represent the community well by working hard to serve the families of Livermore and enhance their experiences in the district. My goal is to help the district reach financial stability and improve programs that prioritize student achievement and prepare students for their futures,” Kaplanis said in a statement.

VandenHeuvel is a longtime LVJUSD parent, and his wife works as a special education teacher. He has served as a parent volunteer, substitute teacher, and has led school site councils and the Parent Teacher Student Association.

“I am honored to serve on the Board and am eager to contribute to creating a learning environment where every student feels valued and has the resources they need to thrive. My focus will be on fostering equity, collaboration, and innovation within our schools as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. My professional background as a pastor and director has also taught me the importance of thoughtful leadership and compassionate problem-solving, which I hope to bring to the board,” he said in a statement.

Both Kaplanis and VandenHeuvel will likely be the last trustees elected to an at-large board. At the same meeting, the LVJUSD Board selected the Olive 2 area map for future trustee elections. The map features five areas of roughly equal population, which will be represented by one trustee. The same system has been adopted by in recent years by the Dublin and Pleasanton school districts.

The map must be approved by the Alameda County Committee on School District Organization before it is approved.