Deepti Garg, chair of the Union City Human Relations Commission, has announced her candidacy for the New Haven Unified School District Governing Board, aiming to enhance transparency and community engagement in education.
Deepti Garg, the current chair of the Union City Human Relations Commission, has officially filed her nomination papers for the New Haven Unified School District Governing Board, Trustee Area 5, in anticipation of the November 3 ballot.
“When I vote on school district decisions, I’ll be voting for my own family, my neighbors, and every student in our community,” Garg stated. “Strong schools benefit everyone. They prepare students for success, strengthen neighborhoods, protect property values, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.”
Garg is dedicated to promoting transparent public reporting on class sizes at every school, providing clear updates on major district projects, and ensuring effective safety systems are in place at all campuses.
In a recent interview, Garg shared her motivations for running for office and outlined her key priorities.
“My family came to Union City in 2012, looking for a place to raise two little girls. Union City took us in,” Garg explained. “Both our daughters chose NHUSD schools. One is a Logan graduate now at UC Berkeley; the other is a Logan senior this year. NHUSD provided them with teachers who took them seriously and a student body that reflects the real world. This community helped raise our girls, and running for the board is my way of giving back.”
Garg emphasized that her experience on the Human Relations Commission, which she joined in 2022, has been transformative. “I wanted to be in the room where the city discusses how people treat each other, and I’ve chaired it since January. Most of that job is showing up, meeting after meeting, long after the interesting part is over. I enjoy that work.”
When asked about her primary role if elected, Garg said, “Oversight, done in public.” She noted that the school board has one employee, the superintendent, and that the board is responsible for hiring, overseeing, and setting direction for that individual, as well as approving the budget and being accountable to the community.
“My job is to ask the hard questions early, out loud, and explain my votes,” Garg continued. “In my day job as a program manager for a Fortune 500 cybersecurity team, I manage a multimillion-dollar budget and focus on identifying waste and cutting it. I would bring the same discipline to the district budget, but with the understanding that this money belongs to the public, so the questions must be transparent.”
Garg’s one-minute pitch to voters is straightforward: “I’m Deepti Garg, the Union City mom who chairs our Human Relations Commission, and my kids are in our schools right now. I’m running on three key points.”
“First, I will steward the budget in public. New Haven is a well-run district, but like many families, it spends more each year than it brings in. I’ll ask the hard questions early and out loud to protect classrooms and the educators within them. The school bond you approved deserves transparency: a public dashboard for every project.”
“Second, I want to make New Haven the district families choose. This starts with publishing actual class sizes, by school, grade, and subject. Parents deserve to know the truth about the classroom their child is in.”
“Lastly, I aim to finish the job on campus safety. The district has invested in safety systems, and my responsibility will be to ensure they function effectively at every school and to communicate honestly when they do not.”
Garg believes that good schools are essential for maintaining property values, ensuring public safety, and managing tax dollars efficiently. “I live here. I’ll show up, listen, and stay,” she affirmed.
Addressing her priorities for the district, Garg emphasized the importance of budget stewardship conducted transparently. “New Haven runs an operating gap of about $16 million a year while maintaining a 3 percent reserve of approximately $5.65 million, with a positive certification from the county. Both facts are true, and voters should be aware of them. I want the hard questions asked early and publicly to ensure classrooms are the last area to face cuts.”
She also highlighted the need for the district to publish actual class sizes annually, as this is crucial information for parents. “It’s the one number a parent wants most and currently cannot access,” she stated.
Regarding campus safety, Garg noted that while the board has approved districtwide safety measures, ensuring these systems work effectively across all campuses is essential. “My job is to verify their functionality and communicate openly when they fall short,” she said. “Systems keep kids safe, and support keeps them well. I’ll hold the district accountable for both.”
Garg acknowledged the significant challenges facing the New Haven Unified School District, which serves approximately 11,000 students across Union City and part of south Hayward. The district is grappling with rising costs, particularly in special education, which increased by $3.2 million in a single year to $26 million. “That’s a legal and moral obligation, and we must find sustainable funding,” she remarked.
Enrollment is another critical issue. For the first time in over a decade, enrollment did not decline last year, which Garg sees as a positive trend worth building upon. “In California, enrollment directly impacts revenue. Families choose districts based on class size, safety, and trust in the district’s communication,” she explained.
Garg believes that transparency is vital for fostering trust, especially in a diverse community where many families are navigating the education system for the first time, often in a second language. “Publishing clear information is essential for making the district accessible to everyone,” she said.
When asked what sets her apart from her competitors, Garg emphasized her deep connection to the community. “I live in Area 5, and my children are currently enrolled in these schools. When I vote on this budget, I’m voting on my own family’s schools and my neighbors’ kids. That’s why the tough decisions resonate with me,” she stated.
Garg’s professional background as a budget manager gives her a unique perspective. “Reading a multimillion-dollar budget and identifying inefficiencies is my expertise. A school district is ultimately about financial choices that impact children,” she noted.
As she campaigns, Garg is personally reaching out to nearly 2,000 households in Area 5, primarily to listen to their concerns. “Some of the best ideas in this campaign have come from conversations on front porches,” she shared.
Garg, who was born in India and holds degrees in electrical and electronics engineering and microelectronics, has a rich background in education and technology. She and her husband, Sumit, settled in Union City in 2012, where they are raising their two daughters, both of whom attend James Logan High School. Garg has also served as a substitute teacher in Bay Area classrooms, providing her with firsthand experience of the educational environment.
Outside of her professional and community commitments, Garg enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, including their labradoodle. She is proud that New Haven Unified now offers Punjabi as a world language for grades 9 through 12.
As the election approaches, Garg’s commitment to fostering strong schools and a vibrant community remains at the forefront of her campaign.
According to India Currents, Garg’s candidacy reflects a growing trend of diverse voices seeking to influence local education policies.