Green Party Questionnaire for Alameda County School Board Candidates - Mark Harvey Trustee Area 4

On March 24, 2026, I submitted the following responses to the Alameda County Green Party for consideration. I hope they publish my answers on their website, as my message of accountability, educational opportunity, and community-focused leadership will resonate with their constituents.

1. Please give a brief summary of your background and qualifications for the County School Board.

I bring 32 years of executive experience managing $50M+ budgets and teams of 180+. As a father of four and a longtime youth coach and mentor, I combine a results-driven business mindset with a deep commitment to meeting the unique needs of every child.

2. Why are you running?

What do you believe are the main priorities for the County School Board at this time?

I am running to bring professional governance and fiscal accountability to the Board. My priorities are stabilizing district finances, closing achievement gaps, improving teacher retention, and ensuring student wellness.

3. How will you make yourself available to your constituents?

How would this be part of a general plan of accountability?

I will hold county-wide office hours, maintain a transparent digital presence, and collaborate with community groups. Clear, multi-channel communication ensures the public understands our fiscal choices and their impact on students.

4. The county has had a number of "financially challenged" districts in recent years. What do you see as systemic problems leading to this situation and what role could the County Board and the Superintendent play in addressing this and strengthening the fiscal situation for such districts?

What are your thoughts on state intervention in school districts, especially Oakland, including receivership and the role of FCMAT?  Might the new teacher contract in Oakland have any impact on such a possibility?

Declining enrollment is a systemic threat. We must optimize school footprints and administrative efficiency to protect the classroom.

While I view state receivership as a failure of local governance, OUSD’s insolvency made it necessary. New contracts must be weighed against long-term solvency to avoid future state-mandated layoffs.

Discuss your understanding of State Education Code language relating to fiscal issues, including Code Section 41372 (requiring a minimum of 55% of state funding going to school site/ classroom expenditures) and fiscal responsibilities of County Boards altered under the LCFF.

I view Ed Code 41372 (the 55% rule) as a moral baseline—funding belongs in the classroom, not in bureaucratic bloat. Under LCFF, I will ensure "Supplemental and Concentration" funds actually reach vulnerable students rather than being absorbed by general deficits.

What ideas do you have for increasing funding for school districts and programs administered by the County Board?

I advocate for three pillars: moving California to enrollment-based funding, acting as a regional grant-writing hub to secure federal/state dollars, and creating shared service models (payroll/transportation) to cut administrative overhead.

5. What are your policy views on charter schools?

Charter schools are vital to a diverse education ecosystem, serving as laboratories for innovation. However, this autonomy must be balanced with rigorous transparency. They should complement, not destabilize, the fiscal health of traditional districts.

How do you understand the responsibilities of the County Board regarding charters?

Our primary role is high-quality authorization and oversight. We must ensure every charter has a sound educational program and a viable budget. As the "court of last resort" for appeals, I will prioritize data-driven decisions that ensure these schools serve our most vulnerable students effectively.

How do you view the impact of the California Charter School Association?

While I value their role in supporting school leaders, my first duty is to the taxpayers and students of Alameda County. I will maintain a collaborative but independent relationship with all advocacy groups to ensure our oversight remains objective and local.

What is your assessment of the recent charter school legislation passed in Sacramento?

I support the shift toward increased fiscal oversight and vetting. Recent legislation correctly grants local boards more authority to consider a charter’s community impact. I specifically support the 2026 mandate requiring charter boards to undergo the same ethics and transparency training as traditional boards to ensure public funds are managed with integrity.

6. How can the County Board facilitate cooperation between different districts in the county, especially around resources and programs of the most vulnerable students?

The County Board should act as a bridge, centralizing resources for foster youth and special education. By pooling resources for our most vulnerable students, we provide high-quality services that individual districts cannot afford alone.

7. What is the role of the County Board regarding appeals from parents/ guardians especially around special education?

Transfer requests from local districts are sometimes overruled by the County Board. What are your views on this issue? 

I respect local autonomy but will intervene in transfers when student safety or specialized educational needs are at stake.

I support a standardized rubric to ensure these decisions are fair, transparent, and student-centered.

8. What is your position regarding Artificial Intelligence as it relates to education?

AI should be a tool for literacy and teacher efficiency, not a replacement for critical thinking. I prioritize academic integrity, strict data privacy for minors, and preserving the essential human bond between teacher and student.

9. How much money have you currently raised for your campaign?

I have not raised any funds for my campaign.

How much do you anticipate raising?

I do not anticipate raising any funds for my campaign.

What do you see as your funding sources?

I do not have funding sources for my campaign nor am I seeking them.

Are there sources from which you would refuse contributions?

I do not intend on accepting any campaign contributions from any source.

10. What endorsements have you received to date?

None.

11. Have you signed, or will you soon sign, Move to Amend's candidates' and elected officials’ pledge?  It supports HJR 48, the We the People amendment to the US Constitution, which would abolish corporate personhood, rescind constitutional rights for corporations, and end financial expenditures being legally treated as expressions of free speech:

https://www.movetoamend.org/pledge 

I have not signed as I am focused on local educational oversight and fiscal solvency. While I support transparency, I prioritize grassroots community engagement over national constitutional movements to keep my focus on Alameda County students. 

12. Are there other concerns/ goals for your being on the School Board which you wish to share?

I want to restore the "value proposition" of our schools so families choose to stay. By empowering parents and ensuring fiscal stability, we can move the Board from a "rubber stamp" to a source of common-sense solutions.

Mark Harvey

Candidate, Alameda Board of Education - Trustee Area 4

markharvey.org