COCOTAX INVITATION TO ATTEND A BOARD/MEMBERS SPECIAL MEETING FRIDAY July 25, 2025 at 11:45am
The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a special Board /Members Meeting on Friday July 25, 2025 at 11:45 am. Please note that we are using a different location and have different payment procedures for this meeting.
We'll be meeting at the Chicken Pie Shop, 1251 Arroyo Way, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (near Civic Drive). Free parking is available behind the restaurant which is also within walking distance of Walnut Creek BART.
Attendees will receive separate bills from the restaurant for lunch depending on what they order. We are charging a nominal registration fee of $2 for members and $10 for guests to cover our organizing costs and so that we can get a good advance count of attendees. So please register in advance and, if possible, pay online.
HEAR FROM ACALANES UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT
Superintendent John Nickerson, Ed.D., will present information about Acalanes Union High School District's fiscal position in light of its proposed parcel tax not reaching the 2/3rds threshold at the May 6th special election. Dr. Nickerson will also take questions from the audience.
Dr. Nickerson is in his fifteenth year as Acalanes Union High School District Superintendent. The Acalanes Union High School District, a relatively small district of four comprehensive high schools and an alternative school, is considered one of the highest performing districts in California. Dr. Nickerson has 36 years of experience working in schools, including teaching in Kenya and Brooklyn and 31 years in the California public education system as a teacher and administrator. Dr. Nickerson earned a B.A. from Harvard College, M.A. from University of California, Berkeley, and his doctorate from the University of La Verne in organizational development.
Dr. Nickerson serves on the board of the California High School Coalition, North Coast Section Board of Managers, and the Contra Costa County SELPA Governance Council. Dr. Nickerson and his wife, a school psychologist, have a daughter and son who recently attended public K-12 school in the area.
UPDATE ON CALIFORNIA EDUCATION POLICY WITH GUS MATTAMMAL
We will then hear from an independent education expert, who works regularly with high school students.
Gus Mattammal has been a full-time educator for 22 years, including 18 years in the Bay Area. He is the author of the forthcoming book "A is For Average: Why Our Public Schools Underperform, And How You Can Help."
His tutoring business, Advantage Testing of Silicon Valley, works with both paying and pro bono students across the Bay Area and in several states. Gus earned his B.A. in Physics and Mathematics from Pomona College and his M.B.A in International Strategy and Finance from the Yale School of Management.
Politically, Gus serves in an elected role on the Midcoast Community Council, and also serves on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee for the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, and on the Citizen’s Oversight Committee for Measure W tax revenue.
