Elect
Marc Cooper
for
Franklin McKinley School Board 2026
“The role of the Board of Trustees for a school district is to represent the values of the community. That’s what I will do for you.”
My ABC’s as a Board Trustee
After teaching in the public school system for the past 23 years, I have sadly recognized that children are being promoted to high school unprepared to succeed academically. I am running for Franklin-McKinley School District Board to have an impact on the preparation of kindergarten through 8th grade students to succeed in high school.
Opt-Out Notice Program
The OPT-OUT Notice delivery system allows you to send a fully completed and signed OPT-OUT Notice directly to your child’s school and district. By utilizing this system, you ensure that your preferences regarding your child’s education are formally communicated and respected.
Parents Have Rights
I support every parents' right to choose the school they feel is BEST for their children, whether it's Regular, Charter, Private, or Homeschool!
This parent leadership team at one of our great charter schools, ACE Esperanza Middle School, thanked me for my unwavering support of them and their mission to provide a quality education in a safe and friendly environment. Go Panthers!
Alpha Public Schools 'Stars of Tomorrow'
March 5, 2026
At the "Alpha Public Schools 'Stars of Tomorrow'" event, I had the privilege of meeting this parent leadership team at one of our great charter schools, Alpha Cindy Avitia High School, which many of our charter schools in FMSD send our students after they complete 8th grade. The parents thanked me for my unwavering support of them and their mission to provide a quality education in a safe and friendly environment at Cindy Avitia! Parents like these make our schools great!!!
Supreme Court delivers 'MASSIVE VICTORY' for parental rights
California mom Erin Friday was interviewed on-aire regarding this decision by the Supreme Court. She has voluntarily spoken to our FMSD Board about the Resolution that was submitted by trustee Rudy Rodriguez (running for reelection) to our school board in support of AB 1955.
Catch up with Marc out and about:
August 19, 2026: Back to School Night, 5:30–7:00 p.m. (College Connection Academy 1855 Lucretia Ave, San Jose, CA 95122)
August 25, 2026: Board Meeting
Parent Meeting with Board, 5:30 p.m. (Captain Jason M. Dahl Elementary School, 3200 Water Street, San Jose, CA 95111)
Open Board Meeting, 7:30 p.m. (District Service Center - Boardroom, 645 Wool Creek Drive, San Jose, CA 95112)
August 26, 2026: Back to School Night, 6:00–7:00 p.m. (Lairon College Preparatory Academy, 3975 Mira Loma Way, San Jose, CA 95111)
August 27, 2026: Back to School Nights
4:30–6:30 p.m. (Santee Elementary School, 1313 Audubon Dr, San Jose, CA 95122)
5:00–6:30 p.m. (R. F. Kennedy Elementary School, 1602 Lucretia Ave, San Jose, CA 95122)
5:00–6:30 p.m. (Windmill Springs Elementary School, 2880 Aetna Way, San Jose, CA 95121)
5:30–7:00 p.m. (Sylvandale Middle School, 653 Sylvandale Ave, San Jose, CA 95111)
August 28, 2026: Back to School Night, 5:00–6:30 p.m. (Franklin Elementary School, 420 Tully Rd, San Jose, CA 95111)
September 1, 2026: Back to School Night, 5:00–6:30 p.m. (Captain Jason M. Dahl Elementary School, 3200 Water Street, San Jose, CA 95111)
September 3, 2026: Back to School Nights
4:00–6:00 p.m. (George Shirakawa, Sr. Elementary School, 665 Wool Creek Dr, San Jose, CA 95112)
4:30–7:30 p.m. (District Service Center - Boardroom, 645 Wool Creek Drive, San Jose, CA 95112)
5:30–6:30 p.m. (G. W. Hellyer Elementary School, 725 Hellyer Ave, San Jose, CA 95111)
Marc Cooper - working to protect your children:
Marc’s FMSD Board Meeting Notes:
OFFICIAL BALLOT STATEMENT
I’m a 23-year experienced teacher, parent, veteran, and Christian dedicated to preparing the next generation of leaders. Married to an immigrant, I’m also a descendant of the Blackfoot Tribe. Raised by my mother through abusive relationships while my family relied on welfare, I understand the challenges many families face. Today, I serve as a Special Educator committed to improving Franklin McKinley School District student academic achievement, protecting parents’ rights, and increasing transparency between the district, schools, teachers, and families.
Franklin McKinley School District states every 8th-grade graduate will be prepared for a college-preparatory curriculum. Yet only 35% of Franklin McKinley School District students are proficient in English Language Arts (reading and writing) and 28% in math, with scores declining over the past 14 years. Our children deserve better!
As your current Board Trustee, I’ve answered hundreds of communications from parents and community members because transparency and accountability matter. I represent you!
I will continue fighting for safe schools with equality for all, secure campuses, and boys staying out of girls’ sports, locker rooms, and bathrooms; parents’ rights to direct their children’s education; transparency between families, schools, and the district; and academic excellence by raising test scores and strengthening educational quality.
Visit www.marccooperforschoolboard.com for district data, photos, voting records, and more information.
2026 CAMPAIGN PLATFORM:
My Three Priorities for the Franklin McKinley School District
(You can see what I’ve done since 2022, and see what they (Trustees Rudy Rodriguez and Steven Sanchez, also running for reelection in 2026) have done.
1. Increase Test Scores & Academic Proficiency
The Question
Why have test scores gone down consistently for the past 14 years in the Franklin McKinley School District?
Current Academic Performance
28% of FMSD students are proficient in Math
35% of FMSD students are proficient in ELA (Reading & Writing)
Is that the kind of education you want for your children?
*** The Franklin McKinley School District Mission Statement states:
“The Franklin-McKinley School District will ensure all 8th grade student graduates have the skills and knowledge to be ready for a college preparatory curriculum in high school. They all will have the ability to pursue a program preparing them for university and/or careers and lifelong learning.”
Board Actions
Incumbent Board Trustees Rudy Rodriguez and Steven Sanchez, voted YES on:
A. A Resolution to put tampons in TK–5th grade boys’ bathrooms.
B. A Resolution to change the spelling of Women and Woman during Women’s HistoryMonth to “Womxn,” further confusing our children.
C. A Resolution creating a “For Blacks Only” class on one of our campuses, excluding other ethnicities who might need academic support, which is, in fact, against the law (see Brown v. Board of Education, 1954).
D. Purchasing over $50,000 in Nintendo Game Boy Switches and monitors for an after-school tutoring program.
E. Spending over $1 million on Chromebooks, iPads, and MacBooks.
(And the list goes on!)
My Question at Every Meeting
I continually asked one question because I always voted NO on these and other non-academic issues:
“How is this going to help increase our test scores, and how is this going to help improve our children’s education?”
Recommendations I’ve Shared with Dr. Limary Trujillo, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, to Improve our Test Scores and Academic Achievement for our Students:
More direct instruction and less in-front-of-screen time.
More positive reinforcement to encourage student success.
Greater accountability.
Better communication with parents regarding academic progress and concerns.
More authentic classroom assessments to guide instruction.
Academic competition between classes, schools, and students.
Public recognition of students who improve grades, attendance, reading levels, math skills, science participation, and other achievements.
Expanded peer tutoring.
Greater parent-student involvement.
Homework centers.
Personal tutors on campus.
Collaboration among teachers and principals from all schools, including charter schools, to share successful instructional practices.
(Currently, most charter school principals are not invited to collaborate with regular FMSD principals, even though many charter schools perform significantly higher academically. Why not have all schools work together to improve student achievement?)
And many more recommendations I have shared with Dr. Trujillo.
2. Increase Transparency Between Parents, Schools, Teachers & the District
One of the first things I did after being elected was organize a community Town Hall at the Seven Trees Community Center to present historical Math and ELA test score data and discuss ways to improve Reading, Writing, Math, and overall academic achievement.
What Happened?
A. Board Trustees Rudy Rodriguez and Steven Sanchez (and the other Board members) voted to censure me, saying I should not be speaking with the FMSD community.
THAT IS NOT TRANSPARENCY!
B. I demanded Superintendent Cruz publish a list of all books donated by an outside San Francisco vendor to each school library. Prior to my election, these lists were not published.
THAT IS NOT TRANSPARENCY!
C. Parents informed me their elementary school children participated in a month-long activity encouraging them to dress and act like the opposite sex without notifying parents. I joined those parents in meeting with the Superintendent.
THAT IS NOT TRANSPARENCY!
D. During a classroom visit to one of our charter schools, I discovered there were no American flags displayed in classrooms. I reminded administrators that California Education Code requires a U.S. flag in every classroom. The school later installed flags.
THAT IS NOT TRANSPARENCY!
E. During another classroom visit, I observed an LGBTQ+ flag displayed in place of the American flag. After bringing it to the Superintendent’s attention, the LGBTQ+ flag was removed and the American flag restored.
THAT IS NOT TRANSPARENCY!
(There are many more examples of the lack of transparency between teachers, schools, the District, and parents.)
3. Stand Up for Parents’ Rights
Board Trustees Rudy Rodriguez and Steven Sanchez (and the other Board members) voted YES on:
A. A Resolution ensuring parents and caregivers are not informed if their children discuss changing their name or gender identity with school staff.
I voted NO! Parents have the right to know what their children are discussing at school.
B. A Resolution funding an after-school program that teaches boys how to be girls.
I voted NO! I do not believe this belongs in before-school, during-school, or after-school programs.
C. A Resolution preventing the banning of any books in school or online libraries.
I proposed an alternative resolution that would:
Give parents complete access to all books their children see or are read in school.
Allow parents to determine which books their own children may check out.
Trustees Rudy Rodriguez and Steven Sanchez voted NO on my proposal.
(There are many more examples of parents’ rights being taken away in the Franklin McKinley School District.)
Conclusion
What kind of schools do you want for your children?
Schools where only 28% of students enter high school proficient in Math?
Schools where only 35% of students enter high school are proficient in English Language Arts?
Schools with no transparency between classrooms, teachers, administrators, and parents?
Schools where parents’ rights continue to be diminished?
You have had these kinds of schools for over a decade because you elect trustees like Rudy Rodriguez and Steven Sanchez.
You elected me in 2022, and I have stood for:
Parents’ Rights
Transparency
Improved Academic Achievement
Higher Test Scores
They have continually voted me down, but I will not stop.
REELECT ME TO THE FRANKLIN MCKINLEY SCHOOL BOARD IN 2026, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO:
Improve Academic Proficiency and your Children’s Education, especially in ELA (Reading and Writing) and Math! To help them be academically ready to enter and be successful in high school.
Increase Transparency Between Parents, Schools, Teachers & the District.
Stand Up for Parents’ Rights.