The Sopris Sun asked all four Roaring Fork School District Board of Education candidates the same eight questions, formulated with help from our Youth News Bureau. We received all responses by Oct. 6.
What made you decide to run for the school board and what are
your qualifications?
I decided to run for three major reasons: First, I believe we all want to see our children succeed academically as well as socially and emotionally. Our achievement scores, for years, are well below the state’s average. Second, I want to see our teachers supported, allowing them to concentrate on the basics while simplifying lesson plans and eliminating anything that impedes their teaching abilities. Our teachers are on the front lines. We must listen to their input while empowering them to teach our children effectively. Third, I want to see parents more involved in their children’s outcomes. We must gain the trust of every parent and the way we do that is by being transparent, encouraging parents to be involved, and then listening when they do become involved. Involved parents will also help with the social and emotional aspect of our children’s lives.
The Roaring Fork School District is grappling with financial strain
due to several factors. What solutions do you propose?
Acknowledging past mistakes and addressing them has been key to getting the Roaring Fork School District back on financial solid ground. The district now has a chief financial officer who has gone through the budget with a fine-toothed comb and the district has been really good about making this all transparent. The biggest challenge the RFSD faces right now is decreasing enrollment. While some of this decrease may be due to a decreased birth rate, I think we should address why many parents are choosing alternatives to public school for their children. Let’s make the public schools a worthy and desirable choice for parents who are evaluating their options. Getting back to basics regarding curricula and lesson plans, and offering more career and technology education (CTE) options are a couple of suggestions I have been given directly by parents.
What are your budget priorities?
I value making sure teachers are set up for success by giving them the best tools and curricula possible in the classrooms, and the professional development required to use them. Creating more opportunities for CTE and outdoor education are also priorities of mine. Students have varying strengths and aptitudes and learn in various ways. By making curricula and hands-on training a priority, we may attract more students to the school district which could address our budget challenges, and additionally create more well-rounded and successful student outcomes.
How do you recommend balancing support for students with extra learning-support needs, including English as a second language, and maintaining an advanced curriculum for high-achieving students?
We can teach to the individual student’s skill and ability, giving extra help where needed. This could mean extra English-language learning for Spanish-speaking students, and encouraging reading in the home. Offering testing at an early age for learning disabilities while increasing verbal interactions to encourage increased vocabulary could help to close the achievement gap. For the students who are high-achieving, we should continue to offer the PEAK program so that they can be adequately challenged.
How do you recommend we protect students from discriminatory behavior?
Discriminatory behavior is essentially bullying, and bullying of any kind should not be tolerated. We currently have a curriculum in place to address ways to counter bullying tactics. However we can emphasize that anti-bullying education should start at home. At school, we can include an information campaign which may include school assemblies and conversation topics in class. If this type of behavior persists, it should have swift and serious consequences in order to deter any future negative behavior.
Please share your thoughts on the separation of church and state as this pertains to our schools.
Separation of church and state is a concept that was introduced in a letter between Thomas Jefferson and a church group regarding the importance of maintaining the expression of religious freedom. This separation was intended to keep government control out of religion, not for religion to be excluded from government. So, in our schools, religion should neither be banned nor forced in any way, but instead people should be allowed to express their religious freedom.
How do you propose protecting and preparing students and schools in light of potential acts of violence?
RFSD now has two school resource officers and one school safety and security coordinator. We have a standard response protocol as well as secure entrances for parents and visitors. If we need more safety infrastructure in place in each school, we will have to take a look at a variety of options, discuss them amongst the board and decide which solutions are the most feasible. We may want to look at solutions that are within our budget, have a quick response time, and discourage or prevent situations before they arise.
What are your thoughts on funding extracurricular opportunities, like music, movement and outdoor education?
I am wholeheartedly in favor of funding extracurricular activities. Children learn and process information in various ways, and offering a wide variety of learning opportunities allows for the greater possibility for their success in the long run. I was an outdoor education leader for sixth graders in the Boston, Massachusetts school system, as well as a backpacking leader for teens in the Pacific Northwest. Both experiences impressed on me the importance of these experiences for youth. Outdoor group experiences instill trust, leadership skills, and basic survival skills which all lead to greater confidence. Confident kids are happier kids. Music and sports are also extremely important for tapping into other areas of the brain for more well-rounded learning and physical fitness and skills.
A quick search on tracer.sos.colorado.gov reveals that this candidate has not responded to accepting voluntary spending limits and received $7,572 in contributions and $6,000 in loans as of Sept. 24. The sole major contributor listed, Emily Radler of Texas, gave $1,000.
The Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, The Sopris Sun, Post Independent and other CoWest Noticias Collaborative members will host an Issues & Answers forum with Roaring Fork School District candidates on Thursday, Oct. 16 at Morgridge Commons in Glenwood Springs from 6 to 8pm.