The Oak Grove School District runs elementary and intermediate schools in South San Jose. Ballotpedia lists 8,578 students across 18 schools. Trustees are elected by area, so you vote only in your own area’s race.

Area 2: Diego Martinez vs. Victor Ramirez

Diego Martinez is the incumbent. Ballotpedia shows he won the seat in 2022 after losing the Area 2 race in 2018. Victor Ramirez is endorsed by the Santa Clara County Democratic Party. Ballotpedia also lists endorsements from Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN) and the South Bay Labor Council.

Area 3: Kaushik Joglekar vs. Sophie Freestone

Kaushik Joglekar was appointed to the board on Feb. 4, 2025, according to Ballotpedia, and has worked in information technology. He ran unsuccessfully in 2014 and 2018. Sophie Freestone is a mother of three and secretary of the parent group at Parkview. She has two master’s degrees and has taught as an adjunct professor in Chicago and Salinas. Her priorities are fairness in resources, transparency about funding, and community. She is endorsed by DAWN, the South Bay Labor Council and the county Democratic Party.

Area 5: open seat, three candidates

No incumbent is running in Area 5, per Ballotpedia.

  • Paul Chun has taught for 23 years. He graduated from UCLA, holds a master’s in curriculum and instruction, taught in China and volunteered in Tanzania. Ballotpedia lists endorsements from the Oak Grove Educators Association, the South Bay Labor Council and Democrats for Public Education.
  • Casino Fajardo says he is a district parent and certified school chief business official. He is a former licensed general contractor and LEED-accredited professional, and his doctoral research covers teacher retention in California. His priorities are campus security and modern facilities, keeping good teachers, and fiscal accountability, including transparent use of bond money. Ballotpedia lists an endorsement from the Jewish Democratic Coalition of the Bay Area.
  • Pradeep Kumar is also on the ballot. We did not find a published platform for him.

Other South San Jose and nearby school races include Evergreen School District and Morgan Hill Unified.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center. For more local races and measures, see our 2026 Bay Area election hub.