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Livermore school board Trustee Deena Kaplanis is running in the general election this fall to represent Area 5 in an effort to swap the remainder of her at-large term for a fresh full term at the dais.
The longtime Livermore resident said she aims to protect and expand student programs and services, improve students’ reading and math proficiency, enhance school safety, improve mental health and wellness supports, restore career and technical pathways and enforce the district’s compliance with public records requests.
Kaplanis is facing off Nov. 3 against fellow at-large Trustee Christiaan VandenHeuvel and newcomer Sam Phelps in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District’s first by-trustee-area election.
The Area 5 trustee is set to represent southeast Livermore and part of unincorporated Alameda County located south of the city.
“I have stood up for our students by demanding full accountability, transparency, and decisions that truly prioritize kids over special interests,” Kaplanis said in a statement in July announcing her candidacy. “As Trustee for Area 5, I will continue advocating to ensure every dollar serves our students and strengthens our schools.”
Kaplanis was elected to the LVJUSD Board of Education at-large during the November 2024 election with a leading tally of about 24%.
Her at-large seat is safe for two years while she runs for District 5, but Kaplanis said she aims to continue her work on the school board past 2028 – which she could not do without winning the election in November, since she currently resides within District 5.
“Livermore’s children and families need a strong, independent voice that refuses to accept the status quo,” Kaplanis said in a statement. “During this transition to district representation, I am committed to earning the trust of Area 5 voters and delivering results that serve our students and community.”
Kaplanis said she stands apart from other candidates by consistently prioritizing children’s needs as an independent trustee.
“The central question facing LVJUSD is this: Why are we cutting services for children when we are receiving more money?” Kaplanis said in a statement.
The board last February approved a plan to make about $14.8 million in ongoing adjustments and cuts to avoid an expected budget shortfall in the 2026-27 school year. Kaplanis cast the sole dissenting vote.
In June, the board unanimously greenlit a budgetary package restoring and introducing over $2.7 million worth of programming and staffing for the 2026-27 school year.
“My priorities for the district are to bring the district back to financial health while restoring student services that other board members cut last year after their decisions created the Crisis,” Kaplanis said of the Area 5 post.
Outside of the board room, Kaplanis is a practicing chiropractor and owner of Kaplanis Chiropractic, a small business operated with her husband, as well as a volunteer for the Junction Avenue TK-8 School parent teacher association, her church’s children’s ministry and youth sports.
She is raising her two young children at LVJUSD schools, she said.
Kaplanis earned a Doctor of Chiropractic from Southern California University of Health Sciences and a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Whittier College.
More information about Kaplanis’ campaign can be found at drdeenak4lvjusd.com.
