Setting record straight on Dougco COMMUNITY candidates’ positions

Re: “A choice to halt school choice,” Oct. 22 Scott Gessler column.

Considering the consequential nature of the upcoming Douglas County school board election to our students, it is imperative that the public receives all the facts. As a member of the COMMUNITY candidate team, which includes Anthony Graziano, Kevin Leung, Chris Schor and myself, I can attest to our positions on several issues:

• We fully support quality public school choice for all students, including charter, magnet, neighborhood, online and home schools.

• We do not support vouchers. Using taxpayer dollars to pay private schools is irresponsible. The community loses oversight and accountability, and these schools can legally discriminate.

• We support and value all Douglas County schools, including charter schools. It is time we stop pitting our schools against each other and operate as a healthy and strong community committed to serving all our students.

• Voters have two clear choices this election — candidates who support public schools and those who want to continue the failed reforms. Students have been harmed by the drop in academic achievement, skyrocketing teacher turnover and infighting. We want to build back our district, while our opponents want to continue on its current destructive path.

Our opponents are supported by special interest groups and hidden outside money in excess of half a million dollars. Americans for Prosperity has admitted to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to advance their national pro-voucher agenda in Douglas County.

The COMMUNITY candidates are supported by individuals who live in Douglas County and by our local educators, who know that supporting public school choice for all students is paramount.

As you vote, remember that this election is really about serving all students, not just some.

The COMMUNITY candidates have spent 80-plus years serving directly in our local schools, and we hope to continue service to our community as members of the Douglas County school board.

Krista Holtzmann is a candidate for the Douglas County school board in District G.