In keeping with the Ark Valley Voice approach to elections this year to do more to engage the public in the election process, we invited the public to offer questions to put before the BV Board of Education candidates.
AVV and Readers Ask…
We emailed all of the Buena Vista School Board candidates six questions on Wednesday, October 25 with a request to respond by 12: 00 noon on Monday, October 30. Ark Valley Voice received responses from candidates Casey Martin, Paula Dylan, and Mallory Brooks.
Candidates Montana Brown, Brett Mitchell, Trinda Windle, George Richardson, and Norman Nyberg did not respond. Richardson and Nyberg are both running unopposed.
What place do you believe alternative education has in our community and what role do you see it having in the future? (This question was provided by a local reader who wished to remain anonymous.)
Casey Martin:
“The ‘standard’ learning environment doesn’t work for every student. CCHS is an invaluable asset for our community. Even though remote learning has become more prevalent coming out of COVID, establishing a more permanent home for CCHS should be a priority. A permanent home will foster pride in the program and provide a necessary meeting place for our alternative learners and their educators.”
Paula Dylan:
“This is a very general and open-ended question. I am and always will be an advocate of Public School Education. Parents have the ultimate choice to decide whether their children should go to public, private, charter, or be homeschooled. I believe that Buena Vista has a wonderful public school system, including Chaffee County High School (CCHS).
CCHS is an important piece of the Buena Vista School District, giving students who are unable to perform to the peak of their capabilities in a traditional school setting a chance to grow, learn, and succeed in an environment where learning doesn’t have to stick to the strict borders of the traditional school setting. CCHS has been a vital part of the school district for many years, and I see CCHS continuing to have an important role in giving all students options for how they are able to succeed through their K-12 education in Buena Vista School District.”
Mallory Brooks:
“I believe that, as a board member, we commit to considering all students. There is a population of students who don’t learn well in the given curriculum structure. For them, remedial or accelerated education might be beneficial. I would identify these gaps and the individuals struggling and work to give them the challenges or assistance that they need to thrive.
Now, in a perfect world, we would have infinite funding and resources, but I am well aware that there are constraints. This is where thinking outside of the box becomes crucial. How can we give every student the tools and structure they need with the resources and funding that we have? I imagine that is a constant dilemma within a school board.”
What work or research have you done to prepare for your position on the Board of Education if elected?
Casey Martin:
District 1 candidate Casey Martin answers voters’ questions. Photo by Carly Winchell
“As the former governor-appointed Chairman of the Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners, current member of the board of the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation and general legal counsel to two elected boards of rural electric cooperatives, I have acquired a ton of experience developing, analyzing, and implementing board policies.
In addition, I’ve been researching legislation impacting school funding and diligently reviewing current Board of Education policy and procedure. Finally, I’ve been reading everything Superintendent Yates sends to candidates in her excellent weekly e-mail updates.”
Paula Dylan:
“Besides my work with Boards during my career, being a member of two other boards over the past 15 years and being on the District Accountability Committee for multiple years, I have started doing some additional work to get prepared to be a School Board Member if elected. I have been attending School Board Meetings and linkages, studying the agendas, and taking notes on what occurs at each meeting and writing down additional questions I would have if applicable.
I have also been reading through the District Policies, state requirements, and the state education funding formulas. I have been following education news around the state of Colorado to keep up on what is happening across the state. I have spent time talking to current teachers, teachers who have left the District, retired teachers that live in our community, parents, students, and other community members that are interested in the success of our District.
The two current school board members that will definitely be continuing on the Board have graciously reached out, and we have a meeting scheduled for this week. I am excited to learn from them what additional things I may need to do to prepare.
Finally, I recently attended a state youth conference where parents, educators, and the community were invited. It was wonderful to hear what was needed from the eyes of teens who are wanting to have a safe and successful high school career. Teens see things from a completely different perspective and their voices are so important. I hope to be able to attend more state and community forums like that and bring what I learn back to our District to help BVSD continue to grow and strengthen.”
Mallory Brooks:
“In addition to attending school board meetings and connecting with current school board members one-on-one, I have been putting myself through an unofficial boot camp. I am looking at what other schools are doing well/not-well and I am attending online lectures about inclusivity and teacher’s mental health.
Beyond that, I am talking to everyone in our community who is willing to engage about their thoughts and experiences with the school district.”
What is your position on the independence of school librarians? Do you believe parents or special interest groups should be able to dictate what is available in a school library?
Casey Martin:
“I will generally defer to the expert opinion of our professional educators, so long as they are operating within established Board of Education Policy. School librarians, in conjunction with any applicable internal committee of educators, should be provided discretion over what’s on the bookshelves. It goes without saying that elementary school libraries should maintain a selection that is age-appropriate for their students, but the decision surrounding what is and is not age-appropriate should be left to education professionals, not parents or outside special interest groups.
Families will always have differing values when it comes to certain ‘controversial’ subjects, but those personal family values should not be used to influence the selection of published materials available to all other students.”
Paula Dylan:
“I am not an advocate of special interest groups or parents dictating what is available in a school library. I personally believe that school librarians are the experts in their field and I trust them to recommend appropriate selections for the school library.
I am open to hearing ideas on how to ensure additional separation between age level books if there is an issue with students accessing books way outside their age or reading level; however, I have not heard of that being a problem within our school district.
All students deserve to have books available to them to learn how to discuss sometimes controversial topics. Discussion of controversial topics is in the District policies. If there is an issue with a child finding high school age books in the elementary school library, that is something administration and, if needed, the school board should be made aware of.”
Mallory Brooks:
“Library collections are a result of collaboration. I believe that librarians, our experts on collection development, meet the community and its needs. No one group should dictate the contents of a collection. This should be thorough collaboration and conversation. That’s where our town’s strength resides.”
When you are expressing positions or responding to questions, what steps do you take to ensure you are not spreading misinformation, disinformation, or mal-information or allowing it to influence your positions? Essentially, how do you fact-check your own research when formulating an opinion on a new topic?
Casey Martin:
“First and foremost, it’s important for elected officials to have enough humility to know what they don’t know and then backfill their education accordingly.
I’m humbled every day in my line of work and must always support my legal positions with facts and the law. I take the same approach to my positions as a candidate for the Board of Education. Before I write something on my Facebook page, respond to a policy question, or publish something in the Ark Valley Voice, I diligently research the topic and then cite applicable sources. I will do the same as a member of the Board.”
Paula Dylan:
At Large candidate Paula Dylan answers voters’ questions. Photo by Carly Winchell
“I take a multi-tiered approach, the same way I do in my career every day. I first read state requirements, and District Policy to see what is required by the state and how the District has put those requirements into practice.
The next step is to talk to the key players. I want to ensure I have a reasonable understanding of all sides of the issue, including where there may have been misunderstandings, gaps, or not enough information. I continue to research, not only with people that I may initially agree with, but also talk openly and listen to what other positions and facts behind those positions are out there.
Then I express my opinion. Even after expressing my opinion, I realize that as a human, I may have missed something and am will to admit it and change my opinion if I missed something.”
Mallory Brooks:
“If I have factual data I would like to share, I am careful to include the source of this research, so others can fact check me or learn more. I don’t take for granted the information I absorb. I am certainly one to use the terms ‘I think…’ or ‘I believe…’ so as to ensure its accuracy is attributed to my own understanding and not to a greater researching body.”
What is the specific, number one issue you hope to work toward solving if elected? (This question was provided by local Thomas Golson.)
Casey Martin:
“Ensuring that faculty and staff have a true voice in the boardroom.
Many people I’ve spoken with during this campaign have framed this issue as a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ referendum on whether the Buena Vista Education Association should be recognized for collective bargaining purposes. I do not accept that premise. While I would likely be supportive of a future petition for collective bargaining submitted by an overwhelming majority of our faculty and staff, I also think if we more effectively engage with our employees, a resolution short of collective bargaining is possible.”
Paula Dylan:
“I am not running for school board with a specific agenda. I am running because I care about the children, teachers, staff, and community that makes Buena Vista School District so amazing. I hope to continue to build bridges and strengthen the foundation of the District to make it an even better place to learn, teach, work, and succeed.
Strong schools build strong communities, and anything I can do to help support that initiative will feel like I have accomplished something.”
Mallory Brooks:
At Large candidate Mallory Brooks answers voters’ questions. Photo by Carly Winchell
“I am adamant about making sure all teachers feel heard. I don’t prescribe to the thought that this is solely done by ensuring a union. It’s much deeper and thorough than that.
We need to establish a solid working relationship with the teachers. If our job is to provide our students with the best experience, then a lot of that hinges on keeping teachers happy, heard, and supported.”
In the interest of length, the candidates’ answers for the final question will be published Tuesday, October 31. Keep an eye out for that story to learn what questions the candidates have for you, the voters.
If you have a question you would like Ark Valley Voice to ask the candidates or simply a question about the election or voting process, email your question to arkvalleyvoice@gmail.com and we will work to find the answers.
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