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I believe these issues are fundamental to the success of our local schools. When students have a safe place to learn from teachers who are empowered to give their best, student outcomes will improve. District leadership needs to be held accountable for their actions, which begins with transparent, honest engagement with the community.

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Student outcomesSchool safety Empowered teachersTransparency and AccountabilityI believe these issues are fundamental to the success of our local schools. When students have a safe place to learn from teachers who are empowered to give their best, student outcomes will improve. District leadership needs to be held accountable for their actions, which begins with transparent, honest engagement with the community.

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<h2>Our kids deserve more than "good enough."</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/2e44ec9c-ba92-4dea-aa99-258d2895d7cb/44fc2b6b-dc89-4df4-9284-94b3e8e1d6dc/44fc2b6b-dc89-4df4-9284-94b3e8e1d6dc.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C400%2C400&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">I believe every child deserves a champion — someone who will ask the hard questions, fight the bureaucracy, and push to deliver high quality educational experiences.My wife and I watched both of our kids struggle during the pandemic. We were lucky that both of us were home to help. Many parents had to go to work, and their kids had to navigate distance learning alone. A child's education shouldn't depend on luck. Closing that gap is one of the biggest reasons I am running.Our schools need real leaders who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work. I’ve been in the meetings and I have done the work, and I know I can make a difference. At Apple, where I've worked for 20 years as a Senior Data Scientist, my job is to be the voice of the customer. I've saved the company millions of dollars while making the products better for our customers. That kind of win-win, taking care of people and being a careful steward of resources, is what our district needs.I am not looking for a career in politics. I believe that the School Board shouldn't be a stepping stone to higher office. And it isn't an entry level position either.I have a long track record of serving the public, the community, and our local schools. I have the experience and the passion to facilitate the change our students need.Experience:<ul><li>San José Library and Early Education Commission (2016-2022, served on Digital Literacy Quality Standards sub-committee and as Commission Chair)</li><li>San José Unified Board Trustee (Appointed 2018)</li><li>Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) (2019 - 2021, chair)</li><li>Partners in Reading (PAR) Adult Literacy Tutor (2017 - 2019)</li><li>PTA member: Reed Elementary, Castillero Middle School, Pioneer High School (2016 - present)</li><li>Castillero Middle School School Site Council, Secretary (2025-2026)</li><li>Pioneer High School Education Foundation, President (2025 - present)</li></ul>

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Dear neighbor,Our neighborhood schools are the foundation of our community. Whether or not you have children in them, we all benefit from strong public schools filled with dedicated, exceptional teachers.For the past ten years, I’ve served in various roles supporting public education because I believe there is nothing more important than ensuring every child has access to a safe, high-quality education.I’m not running to build a career in politics. I’m running because our district needs leaders who are willing to do the work, listen closely, and show up for families and educators. I believe parents of current students should have a strong voice on our School Board.I’m doing this for my children, and I’m doing it for yours.I would be honored to earn your support and your vote as your next San José Unified Board Trustee.Let me be your voice.Michael

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<h2>Biography</h2>Michael was born in New Haven, CT and grew up with his parents and three sisters in the suburb of Hamden. As a child, he loved to play sports, particularly baseball and hockey, which he participated in through high school. Michael learned the importance of education at an early age from his grandmother, Adeline Melillo, who always made sure that he was getting good marks in school. She also taught him the value of hard work, how to be responsible with your money, and the importance of spending time with your family.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/2e44ec9c-ba92-4dea-aa99-258d2895d7cb/e0566895-8de5-47bc-b387-67e61fb328c4/e0566895-8de5-47bc-b387-67e61fb328c4.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=38%2C125%2C738%2C1093&amp;w=1500" alt="Bunny" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">While still in elementary school, the family got an Apple II computer, and Michael's love of technology was born. That early interest would eventually lead him to a career at Apple, where he has worked for nearly 20 years.Michael went to college at the University of Massachusetts and met his future wife Stacy when she handed him a job application at an Apple store near Boston. The couple relocated to the Bay Area in 2007 when Michael accepted a new position with the company. After spending time in several apartments scattered across Santa Clara county, Michael and Stacy decided to purchase a home in the Cambrian neighborhood of San Jose in 2012. Michael and Stacy now have two teenage children who attend Pioneer High School and Castillero Middle School. They attended Reed Elementary School and will always be proud Bobcats.Michael served on the San José Library and Early Education Commission (LEEC) from 2016 until 2022 including one year as commission chairman. As a commissioner, Michael was a strong supporter of the Library's early education efforts such as "Wee Play San José" and the San José Bridge Libraries. The Bridge Libraries not only serve young children, but also low socioeconomic status families that utilize both the library materials as well as the family resource center (FRC) at each location. He also successfully advocated for the removal of late fees on all youth materials from the SJPL by working with City Council.In addition to the LEEC, Michael also became a volunteer Partners in Reading(PAR) adult literacy tutor. PAR tutors provide one-on-one instruction with adults who read and/or write below a 9th grade level. By spending time each week with an adult learner, Michael saw firsthand how impactful community-based volunteer work can be on someone's life. It also showed him what was possible when you invest in people directly, and started his journey to find ways to make a bigger impact.Michael and Stacy are avid dog lovers and have volunteered for years as foster parents to dogs in need of a stable home before being ready for adoption. He also enjoys the outdoors and spends many weekend mornings hiking across the many Santa Clara County parks.

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Want to share what you're seeing at your school? Interested in hosting a meet-and-greet in your neighborhood? Reach out.▎ Email: <a href="mailto:michael@melilloforsjusd.com">michael@melilloforsjusd.com</a>▎ Mail: Melillo for SJUSD Trustee 2026, PO Box 24631, San Jose, CA 95154 By providing your cell phone number you consent to receive campaign updates and fundraising messaging from our campaign, including by automated text message. Messages may include donation asks. Msg frequency varies. Text HELP for help, STOP to end. Msg &amp; Data rates may apply.

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<h3>A great teacher in every classroom.</h3>San José Unified teachers are among the most dedicated people I have ever met, and they deserve a district that invests in them the way they invest in our kids. When teachers have the time, resources, and support to do their best work, every student benefits. My commitment is to treat our teachers with the respect they deserve. They are the professionals closest to our students, with real expertise that the district should be learning from, not micro-managing.<h4>What Our Teachers Deserve</h4><ul><li>Expand professional development.&nbsp;Teachers deserve meaningful, ongoing opportunities to grow. I will advocate for investment in professional development that teachers actually want and that demonstrably improves what happens in the classroom, including training on emerging tools like AI.</li><li>Increase preparation and collaboration time.&nbsp;The strongest schools are built on teachers who have time to plan together, share what is working, and tailor instruction to the students in front of them. We need scheduling and staffing decisions that protect and expand the time teachers spend planning together, because that time is an investment in every student they teach.</li><li>Invest in the support staff that make teachers successful.&nbsp;Instructional coaches help teachers grow and refine their craft throughout their careers. Intervention specialists can get students back on a path to success. Counselors and wellness staff make sure every kid has an adult paying attention to their wellbeing. These are the roles that quietly make the difference between a school that is just surviving and a school that is thriving.</li><li>Deliver on Measure R's teacher housing commitment.&nbsp;Voters approved Measure R in part because it promised investment in affordable teacher housing. Housing is one of the biggest factors in keeping great teachers in San José. We need to stay on top of this project as we navigate the complex bureaucracy of building housing in California.</li><li>Build community schools that support our teachers.&nbsp;Teachers should not be expected to be social workers, mental health counselors, food pantry coordinators, and family liaisons on top of teaching. The community school model brings those services into the school through dedicated staff and community partnerships, so teachers can focus on what they do best, and students get the wraparound support they need.</li></ul><h4>My Record</h4>I am proud to have earned the&nbsp;San José Teachers Association (SJTA) endorsement in 2018, and I have been working with teachers ever since.During my time on the Board, I met regularly with teachers, principals, and school staff to understand their day-to-day challenges and bring their perspective into board-level conversations. Any teacher that reached out had an opportunity to meet with me.Since leaving the Board, I have continued to show up for our teachers. I worked with them on plans to reopen schools safely after the pandemic, helped pursue grants to support our music programs, and made myself available whenever a teacher needed to talk. That commitment has never stopped.As a parent of two students, I have seen the impact of great teachers on my own children. I have also experienced the frustration when teachers are not given the tools to succeed. Our teachers show up every day for our kids. They deserve a Board member who shows up every day for them.

Teachers are the backbone of our schools. They know what they need to best support students, and they deserve a board member who not only listens to them, but works tirelessly to find ways to get the resources they need to improve student outcomes.

Every parent deserves to know their child is safe at school, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I still remember making up the care package for my kids when they entered kindergarten. A picture of mom and dad, a granola bar, and a note that told them how much we loved them. That is what they would be given if there was an active shooter at school. No parent should have to think about that, but every parent does.Safety isn't just about physical security. It’s about creating a supportive environment where every student has access to non-academic supports, including counselors and wellness centers. School safety requires a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to keeping our kids safe.<h3>The Problem</h3>San José Unified lacks a comprehensive school safety strategy. Instead, there is a patchwork of measures that vary from school to school, with no consistent standards and no clear accountability. Most schools don't have a wellness center, and the ones that do aren't open every day. The counselors are academic counselors, with most feeling underprepared to address the mental health needs of students. Safety drills are conducted without any standardized, age-appropriate protocols.Physical safety starts at the curb. There have been multiple accidents in the past year involving San José Unified students struck by cars at or near our campuses. The City of San José provides crossing guards at busy intersections, but there is not enough. A safe school starts with a safe arrival at school, and I'm recommending a full transportation safety advisory commitee be created.Research from the University of Michigan's National Center for School Safety tells us that school safety requires attention across the full spectrum, from primary prevention to early intervention to recovery. That means addressing the social environment (school climate, social-emotional learning, restorative justice), the attentive environment (anonymous reporting systems, threat assessment, mental health), and the physical environment (controlled entry, emergency equipment, safety protocols), all working together. A school that only invests in physical security without addressing mental health and school climate is not a safe school.<h3>Active Shooter Drills: Preparing Without Traumatizing</h3>Over 90% of students in the United States participate in some form of active shooter training every year. That makes these drills one of the most common safety measures our schools implement. But according to research from the University of Michigan, 60% of students reported feeling unsafe, scared, helpless, or sad as a result of experiencing active shooter drills. Only 56% said the drills made them more prepared, and there was no consensus among students about whether drills actually make schools safer.Safety drills are an opportunity to protect our kids, but too often we do drills that don't make anyone safer. San José Unified should adopt age-appropriate, trauma-informed drill protocols based on the best available research. Drills for kindergartners should not look the same as drills for high school students. Parents should be informed about what drills their children will experience and when. And the district should evaluate the psychological impact of its safety measures, not just check a compliance box.<h3>A Comprehensive Approach</h3>The National Center for School Safety offers free training, technical assistance, and evidence-based resources to any school district in the country. Their Positive Youth Development framework makes clear that the goal of school safety is not just preventing violence, it is creating environments where students can thrive and develop into healthy, productive adults.San José Unified should be taking advantage of these resources. We should not be figuring this out on our own when a federally funded national center exists specifically to help districts like ours.<h3>Equity in School Safety</h3>Any school safety strategy must account for the fact that safety measures do not affect all students equally. Research consistently shows that physical security measures like metal detectors and police presence can disproportionately affect students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students. Anonymous reporting systems can be misused. Drills can re-traumatize students who have already experienced violence in their lives.The Positive Youth Development framework emphasizes that equity must be built into every school safety decision. If our safety measures are not implemented fairly, they undermine the very environments we are trying to create. A safe school is one where every student feels safe, not just the students who look like the people making the decisions.<h3>What I Will Fight For</h3>Fully fund mental health resources at every school.&nbsp;Wellness centers should not be open only two days a week. Every high school should have a fully staffed wellness center, and every elementary and middle school should have access to a dedicated counselor, available every day.Create a transportation safety advisory committee.&nbsp;Leverage the work of our School Site Councils and transportation experts to share the best practices throughout the district. We need a venue to spread what is working and discuss our problems so that we can solve them before more students get hurt.Adopt evidence-based, age-appropriate drill protocols.&nbsp;Work with experts and adopt trauma-informed active shooter drill practices that prepare students without causing harm. Inform parents about what drills their children will experience. Evaluate the psychological impact, not just compliance.Implement a comprehensive safety model.&nbsp;School safety requires investment across the full spectrum: social-emotional learning and restorative justice to build school climate, anonymous reporting systems and threat assessment for early detection, and physical security measures where appropriate. No single approach is enough.Partner with the National Center for School Safety.&nbsp;San José Unified should be actively utilizing the free training and technical assistance offered by the NCSS to develop and evaluate evidence-based safety programs tailored to our schools.Empower School Site Councils.&nbsp;Safety strategies should not be one-size-fits-all. Give School Site Councils the authority and resources to address the specific safety needs of their campuses, with input from parents, teachers, and students.Partner with city, county, and community colleges.&nbsp;Santa Clara County has significant mental health resources. The City of San José has libraries, after-school programs and provides crossing guards to our busy intersections. The San José-Evergreen Community College District is committed to supporting students with educational and socioeconomic challenges, and its college readiness and student success programs could directly benefit San José Unified students transitioning out of high school. In San Diego, the school district and community college district hold regular joint board meetings to coordinate on shared priorities. San José Unified should be doing the same with SJECCD. All of these agencies should be working together every day on student well-being, not operating in silos.Center equity in every decision.&nbsp;Evaluate every safety measure for its disproportionate impact on vulnerable student populations. A school safety strategy that does not account for equity is not a school safety strategy.

Every parent deserves to know their child is safe at school, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Safety isn't just about physical security. It’s about creating a supportive environment where every student has access to non-academic supports, including counselors and wellness centers.Safety is a community effort, and School Site Councils need to be empowered to define what comprehensive safety looks like at their school, and the district needs to partner with county agencies to better support student safety.

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School Safety

Every issue comes back to the same root cause: a district that asks the community to trust them without demonstrating why they should be trusted. The Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury issued a report in 2024 titled “District Adrift: Leadership Issues at San José Unified School District.” The Schools of Tomorrow process lacked appropriate community input. The district is operating at a significant deficit despite record revenue. Student performance has stagnated. Transparency and accountability is the foundation that everything else depends on.<h3>The Problem</h3>San José Unified has an opportunity to strengthen its relationship with the community through greater transparency. Board meetings are not currently live streamed, which means many families never see their elected Board in action. Public comment requires being present before the start of the meeting, making it difficult for parents with work schedules or childcare responsibilities to participate.Greater transparency would make a real difference across the district. When budget decisions, school closures, or boundary changes are made without broad community input, it's harder for families to feel connected to the process.<h3>What I Believe in</h3>Make Trustees accessible.&nbsp;Board members should hold regular office hours and community meetings in the neighborhoods they represent. Families should not have to navigate district bureaucracy or attend a formal Board meeting to talk to their Trustee. I will hold regular community meetings throughout Area 4 and make myself available to the families, teachers, and staff I represent.San José Unified hasn't held a town hall meeting since 2019.Live stream every Board meeting with full video.&nbsp;The Santa Clara County Office of Education has had video streaming for over 10 years. There is no excuse for San José Unified not to have the same level of transparency. Every resident, whether they can attend in person or not, should be able to watch their elected Board in action. Archived video should be available on the district website so that community members can review meetings on their own schedule.Open up public comment.&nbsp;Public comment at Board meetings should be encouraged, not restricted. Community members should be able to speak during meetings in response to what they hear, not only if they submitted a request before the meeting started. When families show up to speak, the Board should listen. That is how representative governance is supposed to work.Demand transparency in any process that affects school communities.&nbsp;Any future process involving school closures, boundary changes, or major policy decisions must include meaningful community engagement from the beginning, not after the decisions have already been made. Families should have access to the same data the Board is using, presented clearly and honestly, so they can evaluate proposals on their merits and hold Trustees accountable for their votes.Open the books on Measure R and capital spending.&nbsp;Voters approved Measure R to invest in our schools. The community deserves clear, regular reporting on how those funds are being spent, which projects are on track, and where cost overruns or delays have occurred. Bond oversight should be proactive, not reactive.Empower School Site Councils.&nbsp;School Site Councils give parents, teachers, and community members a direct role in decisions at the campus level. These councils should have real authority and real resources, not a symbolic seat at a table where the decisions have already been made. Local governance works when it has teeth.

A transparent school district is a trusted school district. San José Unified makes too many decisions behind closed doors without meaningful engagement from the community. Public schools exist to serve the community, and that service must be based on a foundation of trust and accountability.The most recent example is the Schools of Tomorrow process that led to the decision to close five schools. For months, families across San José Unified packed Board meetings, organized, rallied, and filed formal complaints. Parents raised concerns about student safety, including young children facing walks of up to 60 minutes to reach their new schools.

Transparency and Accountability

Michael Melillo, candidate for San Jose Unified School District Area 4 Trustee, issued the following statement after the SJUSD Board of Trustees voted 3-2 on March 26 to close Canoas Elementary, Empire Gardens Elementary, Gardner Elementary, Lowell Elementary, and Terrell Elementary under the district’s “Schools of Tomorrow” initiative. Hammer Montessori Magnet would be relocated to the Gardner campus. The closures and relocation will take effect in the 2026-2027 school year, despite months of organized opposition from parents, teachers, and community members, including a formal complaint alleging violations of state and federal equity protections.“The vote was disappointing, but it was not surprising. As I said in my public comment, whatever the committee recommended, the Board would approve. I asked the Trustees to prove me wrong. Instead, they proved me right.“All five of the schools this Board voted to close are Title I schools, ranging from 59% to as high as 91% unduplicated students (English learners, foster youth, and students eligible for free or reduced-price meals). These are the communities with the fewest resources to absorb this kind of disruption, and in the current immigration climate, many of these families don’t feel safe showing up to public meetings to fight for themselves. The Board knew that and voted to close their schools anyway.“For months, families across San Jose Unified have packed Board meetings, organized, rallied, and filed formal complaints. They told the Board, clearly and repeatedly, that closing their neighborhood schools would devastate their communities. Parents raised real concerns about student safety, including young children facing walks of up to 60 minutes to reach their new schools.“What makes this even more frustrating is not just the final vote, it’s the absence of leadership that preceded it. It was the most important vote of all their tenures on the Board, and there wasn’t even an attempt to convince someone to change their mind. A ‘no’ vote without advocacy is just an empty gesture. Board Trustees should be more than a vote. They should be a voice.“Families deserve to see their elected representatives do more than go through the motions. They deserve Trustees who would stand up in that room and make the case. That didn’t happen.“I have served on this Board. I know what it takes to ask the hard questions and to push back on staffrecommendations. That is the kind of leadership I will bring back to this Board when I am elected.“To every family at Canoas, Empire Gardens, Gardner, Hammer, Lowell, and Terrell: I hear you, and I will fight for you.”

Michael Melillo issued a statement after the SJUSD Board voted 3-2 to close five Title I elementary schools under the "Schools of Tomorrow" initiative. "Board Trustees should be more than a vote. They should be a voice."

Melillo Calls for Leadership

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Melillo Calls for Leadership, Not Empty Gestures, After SJUSD Board Votes to Close Five Schools

It was exactly 8 years ago this week that I was appointed to the San José Unified School Board.What would follow would be one of the most intense 9 month periods of my life. I would learn all about being a public official, local politics, and just how many people were upset by the fact that I had been appointed.I jumped in with both feet. I went to every possible meeting I could. Every committee meeting that I could. Every PTA meeting that I could. I met with parent’s who had complaints about how the district treated their children. I met with teachers who had complaints about how the district had treated them.At the same time I had to learn how to campaign. With the support of my talented graphic designer wife, we put together all of our materials. The web site, the door hangers, the business cards, and mailers. And with the help of a few volunteers, we knocked on all of the voters doors in my district area.While I came up short, I am still proud of the campaign I ran in 2018. I was endorsed by both SJTA and The Mercury News. I took no money from outside organizations.And I am proud of the work that I did while on the school board. One teacher described me as the “Rookie of the decade” of school board trustees.If you have read this far, you may realize this is not simply a nostalgia post. Today I filed paperwork with the Registrar of Voters to declare my candidacy for San José Unified School Board Trustee Area 4. I always knew in my heart that I would run for the seat again. In 2022, amidst the pandemic, the timing wasn’t right. My family needed me to support them with all that I had.Now in 2026, with (among other things) the threat of multiple elementary school closures and the safety of our students continually at risk, the time is now.I’m running because our students, families, and teachers deserve a board member who speaks up and represents them.Opportunities to donate and volunteer will be available in the near future. This campaign will be built the same way as last time — by our community, for our community.Thank you,Michael

Michael Melillo is running for San Jose Unified school board in 2026.

Michael Melillo files candidacy for SJUSD Area 4 

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Michael Melillo Files Candidacy for SJUSD Area 4 Trustee

San José Unified's performance has stagnated. Enrollment is declining faster than the decline of school aged children in the district. Families are choosing charter schools, private schools, and neighboring districts because they've lost confidence in San José Unified to provide what their children need. It’s time for a change to restore the trust in public education.We live in the most innovative region in the country. The answer is not found by continuing to run the same playbook we’ve always run, lowering expectations and closing schools. The answer is to set clear goals, hold the district accountable, close the resource gap between schools, and give teachers and students the tools they need to succeed.<h4>Agenda</h4>Set measurable academic goals and hold the district accountable.&nbsp;No more vague promises. The Board should establish clear benchmarks for reading proficiency, math achievement, and graduation rates and report progress transparently to the community. While working at Apple, I have spent nearly 20 years using data to identify problems, build the case for solutions, and drive accountability at the highest levels of the organization. Our kids deserve the same scientific approach, and I will bring that same rigor to tracking and improving student performance.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/2e44ec9c-ba92-4dea-aa99-258d2895d7cb/0a667b0f-feb6-43d8-be0a-7f5a7d6a3b6f/0a667b0f-feb6-43d8-be0a-7f5a7d6a3b6f.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1912%2C1092&amp;w=1500" alt="Below average Math" caption="60% of our schools are below average in math." align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">60% of our schools are below average in math.Strengthen early literacy and math intervention.&nbsp;Kids who fall behind in the early grades rarely catch up. The district must invest in evidence-based early intervention programs so that no child leaves elementary school without a solid foundation in reading and math. This is where the return on investment is highest, and where San José Unified has the most room to improve.Prepare for Transitional Kindergarten expansion.&nbsp;California's expansion of Transitional Kindergarten to all four-year-olds requires San José Unified to adjust staffing models and facilities to provide quality learning experiences for our youngest students. This is an opportunity to get early education right, but only if the district plans for it rather than treating it as an afterthought. The demand for TK currently exceeds the capacity at many elementary schools, which provides a great opportunity to give families a high-quality learning experience before they make the decision to go to private or charter schools.Make special education a priority, not an afterthought.&nbsp;Every student in San José Unified deserves an education that best serves them as individuals. Too many families feel like they have to fight the district just to get their child the support they are legally entitled to. IEP meetings should not feel adversarial. Parents should not have to hire advocates to get the district to follow through on its own commitments. The Board has a responsibility to ensure that special education is resourced, staffed, and delivered with the same urgency and accountability as every other program in the district. When I was on the board in 2018, the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education was among the best attended and most active advisory committees. Now it no longer exists in that form, and has been outsourced to the county SELPA. CACSE should be a place where families of students with disabilities have a real voice in shaping district policy, identifying gaps in services, and holding the district accountable for outcomes. When parents are heard and included, students get better support.Close the resource gap between schools.&nbsp;The difference between school performance shouldn't be determined by the amount of money parents raise and contribute to the school. The district has the resources now to provide equitable funding and programs to ensure every school provides high-quality learning experiences.Partner with our Community College District.&nbsp;San José Unified students should graduate prepared for college, career, and life. The San José-Evergreen Community College District is focused on ensuring all students, especially those with educational and socioeconomic challenges, have the skills to succeed in the next stage of their life. Their priorities include college readiness, transfer preparation, degree and certificate completion, and career development with local employers in high-wage, high-growth fields. These are the exact outcomes we should want for every San José Unified graduate.There is already evidence that this works in California. San Diego Unified has partnered with San Diego Community College District to improve the outcomes of their graduating students.Prepare students for an AI-driven economy.&nbsp;Artificial Intelligence is the largest disruption to both education and the workplace since the advent of the personal computer. But it comes with dramatically more risks. Without a comprehensive policy on AI, our students and teachers may be doing more harm than good. Fewer than one in five teachers nationally have received any professional development on AI.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/2e44ec9c-ba92-4dea-aa99-258d2895d7cb/f0d87dd4-713e-404d-b6c3-ac4c29e4ca95/f0d87dd4-713e-404d-b6c3-ac4c29e4ca95.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1102%2C552&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="Negative transfer in action" align="right" alignwidth="45" variant="framed">Negative transfer in actionA 2025 Stanford study found that students who used AI tools and then lost access performed worse than students who never used AI at all, a phenomenon researchers call "negative transfer." If we let students become dependent on AI without teaching them how to think independently alongside it, we risk making them less capable. We need curriculum that includes AI literacy and critical thinking about AI-generated content. We need professional development so teachers can integrate AI on their terms as the leaders in the classroom.AI is not new to me. I have years of experience using it at Apple and I have seen the risks firsthand. No other candidate in this race brings that experience to this issue.Stem enrollment decline by rebuilding trust.&nbsp;Enrollment decline is easy to blame on the high cost of living in the Bay Area. Yet many families are also choosing to leave public schools when they lose confidence in the school. As expensive as it is to live in San José, it's even more expensive to pay for private schools on top of it.Strong public schools become the center of the community, with families choosing to send their children to their neighborhood school because it delivers real results: better student outcomes, transparent reporting, and responsive leadership. That's the district our kids deserve, and that's the district I will fight to build.

San José Unified's performance has stagnated. Enrollment is declining faster than the decline of school aged children in the district. Families are choosing charter schools, private schools, and neighboring districts because they've lost confidence in San José Unified to provide what their children need.On the California School Dashboard, San José Unified is placed in the Low performance band for both English Language Arts and Math. 55% of our schools are below average in ELA. 60% are below average in Math. 2025 results.

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Melillo for San Jose Unified Trustee 2026

Michael Melillo is running for San José Unified School District Area 4 Trustee in November 2026. A former Board member, Measure R campaign chair, and parent of two San José Unified students, Michael opposed the Schools of Tomorrow process that closed five Title I elementary schools over the objections of parents and community members. He is fighting for Student Outcomes, School Safety, Empowered Teachers, Transparency and Accountability. Our students deserve more than the status quo.