# School Board Candidate Forum 10/21/26

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board of Education candidate forum for Areas 2 and 4 was held October 21, 2026. Candidates discussed student achievement, family representation, special education and IDEA funding, inclusion, after-school program access, district communication, and budget priorities. Several candidates emphasized transparency and directing resources toward classrooms; Brian Lawrence referenced the district’s approximately $500 million budget and argued that reserves of about 40% should be used to support students. Al Anderson cautioned against using reserves for ongoing expenses and called for greater focus on academic results. Candidates also proposed improved outreach, support for students with disabilities, and expanded or more accessible after-school programming.

No contracts, vendor selections, bids, purchasing decisions, procurement votes, or spending approvals were identified. The discussion raised budget and service priorities that could inform future district decisions, but no formal budget action was taken at the forum.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education
**Published:** October 21, 2026

### Sources
- [School Board Candidate Forum 10/21/26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9w9ja9T8i8) - Mt. Diablo USD Board Meetings