FUSD Board candidates offer similar perspectives

By Staff Writers Varun Madhavan & Cham Yu 

On November 7, Fremont voters will elect a new Area 4 Trustee for the FUSD Board of Education. The previous Area 4 trustee, Yajing Zhang, is running for City Council and is not standing for re-election. The only two candidates, Rinu Nair and Ganesh Balamitran, offer similar policy priorities on budgeting, student workload, mental health resources, and campus safety. 

Rinu Nair recently graduated in 2024 from Irvington High School, having attended school in the district for 13 years. Nair founded the Global Health Resource Center magazine and held leadership positions in organizations like the American Heart Association during her time studying at Irvington. She eventually joined the FUSD Wellness Committee during her high school years and became its chair, through which she integrated new supportive mental health guidelines for students such as wellness breaks and gardens at schools. Outside of her studies, she has volunteered for local charities like Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, assisting unhoused refugees with food, vaccination, and shelter needs. After graduating, she enrolled in De Anza College and is currently a biotech researcher at Stanford University.

A key priority for Nair is supporting student wellness by adding campus facilities and expanding school resource officer programs. As a former student, Nair emphasizes her relatability and first-hand experiences with current FUSD policies. She hopes to introduce a greater variety of courses while applying her experience as a former chair of the FUSD Wellness Committee in crafting mental health policy. Throughout her campaign, Nair has also highlighted her background as a “next-generation leader” to dissuade concerns related to her age. In concert with the recurring theme of innovation and change, the campaign also introduced policy proposals that emphasize the use of technology to ensure fairness in standardized testing. Nair has also committed to maintaining student equity in classroom instruction and campus facilities. Notably, Nair has been endorsed by FUSD Board President Yajing Zhang, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, and the Fremont Police Association.

On the other hand, Balamitran is a decades-long Fremont resident who has studied technology marketing at Arizona State University and is currently pursuing graduate degrees in economics and sustainability at Torrens University. Aside from his studies, Balamitran has committed to his career as an engineer while volunteering for educational non-profits in India for 12 years and is currently serving on the FUSD Superintendent Budget Advisory Taskforce. “I’m running because I want to ensure that every child at MSJ succeeds on their own terms,” Balamitran said. His candidacy has received several endorsements from figures such as US Representative Ro Khanna and organizations like the Alameda County Democratic Party as well as the Fremont Unified District Teachers Association.

As FUSD faces a $30 million fiscal cliff in 2025, board members are obligated by law to maintain a balanced budget, with spending cuts on the table. “No one can deny the reality [of the budget shortfall] … we must start out by first having to make the cuts that need to be made … [with] community input,” Balamitran said. The FUSD budget deficit must first be narrowed to allow more investments from the district, which can be funded through federal and state efforts or local bond measures. Both of these factors ultimately lie beyond the control of FUSD, although Balamitran has promised to lobby with federal legislators for additional education funding if elected. 

When asked about Balamitran’s campaign advantages compared to his opponent Rinu Nair, who has personal experience in the FUSD school system, Balamitran emphasizes his personal experience with legislators, faculty, and parents. “The board is where you build consensus and engage with the community … I get that I have never [studied] in the school district, but I think I can bring in a lot more from talking to people from all sorts of different perspectives,” Balamitran said. Despite their differing backgrounds, both candidates emphasized the need for decisive action in the face of challenges for the district. 

While Nair promises to bring change to the board with her first-hand experience as a FUSD student, Balamitran emphasizes his policy proposals and his relationships with parents and faculty, although the two campaigns do not have significant distinctions in policy positions. Both candidates plan to continue hosting events like meet-and-greets, canvasses, and community events until election day, which are open to students and parents to attend. Further policy changes and updates on the race will also be posted on social media and campaign websites.