Five vie for three seats on Emery Unified School District board
on October 31, 2026
As Emery Unified School District faces challenges in student enrollment, academic performance and special education services, three school board candidates offer different ideas for the district’s future, from strengthening existing programs to merging with a neighboring district.
Five candidates are running for the district’s Board of Education: Christopher Keith Allen, Regina Chagolla, Brian Donahue, David Ridlehuber and Kimberly Solis. Of the five, Chagolla, Ridlehuber and Donahue responded to Emeryville Today’s questions in writing via email, providing information about their background and priorities for the district.
Solis, a direct support professional and former board member, and Allen, a mechanic and CPR trainer, did not respond.
Voters will elect three to the board. Current members Brynnda Collins and Susan Donaldson are not running for reelection.
Chagolla, an elementary school teacher and vice president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, is seeking reelection after six years on the board.
“My goal is to continue to be in communication with the district staff, labor partners and the city so we can continue to work in partnership and ensure the success of all of our students,” Chagolla said.
Ridlehuber, a general contractor and construction project manager for a real estate investment trust, said his priorities include protecting classroom instruction, retaining teachers and strengthening academic support. Ridlehuber said his volunteer work at school events and coaching Girls on the Run — a program that builds girls’ confidence by combining physical activity with a life-skills curriculum —motivated him to seek a board position.
“Those experiences have given me a deeper appreciation for the dedication of our educators, staff, families and students. … I care deeply about the future of our schools and want to help ensure Emery Unified remains a place where all students can learn, grow and thrive,” Ridlehuber said.
Donahue, who writes the Emeryville Tattler blog and has run twice for School Board, said he is running to force an election and bring new ideas to a board he believes lacks dissent. He does not want voters to elect him, emphasizing that his candidacy is meant to ensure a contested election.
“The reason why I’m running is that there desperately needs new ideas,” Donahue said.
Academic achievement
California’s 2025-26 standardized testing results show only 34% of Emery Unified students meet or exceed state standards in English language arts, 15 percentage points below the state average; while 27 meet or exceed standards in mathematics; 11 percentage points below the state average.
For Chagolla, retaining educators and providing professional development are central to improving student performance.
“I would prioritize holding on to our staff as a budget priority, and professional development and training for both classified and certificated,” said Chagolla, who has worked in Berkeley Unified since 2015.
Chagolla pointed to Project Para, an Alameda County Department of Education program that trains prospective instructional staff, as one way to help address staffing needs. She also advocated for increased federal funding for special education, saying the cost of services strains the district’s general fund.
Ridlehuber also prioritizes staffing and special education.
“As a parent, I’ve also seen the impact of staff turnover at Anna Yates,” he said. “Retaining great teachers and administrators helps provide stability for students and strengthens the overall quality of our schools.”
To improve academic performance, Ridlehuber proposes tutoring and small-group instruction. Chagolla suggests expanding applied mathematics opportunities, such as partnering with traders and Amtrak engineers to talk with students about their expertise.
Donahue said the district should compare its academic performance and practices with other school systems to identify ways to improve.
“See what they’re doing and what works,” Donahue said.
Enrollment
Emery Unified serves about 600 students. The candidates offered different ideas for how to attract and retain families in Emeryville.
Ridlehuber said the district should promote positive school experiences and strengthen parent involvement.
“Supporting parent involvement, programs like the PTA, and regular family feedback can help strengthen our schools and better understand what families value,” Ridlehuber said.
Chagolla emphasized a need for collaboration between the district, the city and county education officials to address enrollment challenges. She argued that Emeryville needs more family-friendly housing an said the city should “invest in spaces that allow residents to stay and raise their family in Emeryville.”
Donahue wants Emery Unified to explore a merger with Berkeley Unified, one of the highest-performing districts in the East Bay. He agreed that the lack of family housing makes it difficult for Emeryville schools to attract students and criticized the School Board for not pressing the City Council to address the issue.
“Small districts come at a disadvantage over larger districts due to economies of scale. That’s one of the reasons why I think that Emery should try to, if it can, merge with Berkeley Unified School District,” he said.
(Top photo of school district administration building, by Isabella Merino; other photos courtesy of the candidates)
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