Candidates address diversity, climate and more
Candidates for the Boulder Valley School District Board of Education spoke at a forum Wednesday night hosted by the League of Women Voters Boulder County.
Ten candidates are competing for four seats in Districts A, C, D and G. All candidates were given a chance to answer eight questions on a range of hot-button topics in education — such as how to address climate change, book bans in school libraries and declining BVSD enrollment — that could influence this fall’s election.
The first question asked candidates to talk about what the school district is doing well, and where it could improve, in incorporating diversity. Candidates generally agreed that fostering diversity in schools is important, but they expressed different ideas about what that means.
Some candidates said they themselves would add diversity to the school board and that they felt the district’s diversity policies could be implemented more effectively. Neil Fishman, an openly gay candidate running for District A, said his diverse life experiences and voice would help more students feel seen and represented.
“I think that I represent, actually, a proportion of the diverse student population here at BVSD who want to be able to ensure that kids see, not just in their school materials but also at the board table, the diversity that we seek for them,” he said, adding that it’s crucial for schools to be “safe and welcoming for all kids regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.”
And Stuart Lord, a District G candidate, said not only would he bring his lived experience as a person of color if elected, but he would like to see greater diversity among students, teachers and staff in schools.
“I asked my daughter the other day, who is a senior, had she had a person of color teacher? And she told me no,” he said. “I believe that we need to diversify our staff and make sure that all students benefit from a diverse staff. … We have policies, but we need to make sure that people will implement these policies to represent the greater diversity that’s in this district.”
Other candidates, such as District C candidates Alex Medler and Cynthia Nevison, felt the district could focus more on serving students with disabilities.
“it’s not enough just to ensure that people get in the door. You actually have to make sure that the schools are responsive and effective and a good place for all kids,” Medler said.
Candidates unanimously agreed that more resources need to be dedicated to combating climate change, whether through adding solar panels to schools, investing in electric school buses or other strategies. A few, such as Medler, Lord and District D candidate Andrew Brandt, said they feel the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (or TABOR) Amendment to the Colorado Constitution is “hamstringing” school funding, and a number of candidates voiced support for Proposition HH, a property tax reduction measure on this fall’s ballot that’s expected to generate more funding for schools if it passes.
All 10 candidates also said they opposed book bans in school libraries, with some pointing out that district policy already allows parents to review curriculums and study materials and opt their children out of any lessons.
School safety was a slightly more controversial issue. Several candidates, such as Brandt, Fishman, District A candidate Jason Unger and District C candidate Andrew Steffl, praised sitting board members’ decision in August to replace armed police officers in schools with school safety advocates. Lord and District G candidate Jorge Chavez emphasized the need to help students feel welcome, safe and included.
On the flip side, Nevison and District G candidate Anil Pesaramelli said they’d be open to reinstating armed officers in schools if the new program proved detrimental to student safety. Nevison also said she supports the Safe Zones 4 Kids ballot measure that would prioritize removing encampments and items such as propane tanks near schools, multiuse paths and walkways.
“As a longtime bicycle commuter, I have experienced harassment on the bike path and I just don’t think that our students should have to deal with that on their way to school,” she said.
Although candidates held differing views on some issues, all said they saw collaboration as key to advancing the entire board’s end goal: ensuring the well being of kids in schools.
“I believe in being collegial and professional, and I believe you had candidates in every single one of these seats that also believes in collegiality and professionalism,” said District D candidate Lalenia Quinlan Aweida. “And I also believe it’s super important to not come with a personal agenda, (but) to come with the agenda of the community.”