How About We Solve Real Problems?

The current D49 School Board, under the leadership of President Lori Thompson and supported by one of my opponents, Jamilynn D’Avola, is poised to pass a Sex-Segregated Facilities policy. You can view Policy JBAA in the agenda for the Special Meeting dated September 24, 2025 if it’s of interest: https://go.boarddocs.com/co/d49/Board.nsf/vpublic?open#

We can have a wide variety of opinions on the substance of the policy, but it is a fact that Colorado state law requires places of public accommodation (SCHOOLS!) to enable all of its patrons to use private facilities that are aligned with their gender identity. Enacting a policy such as that taken up by the current Board constitutes a violation of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

Looking forward to winning this campaign, I take very seriously my responsibility to the taxpayers of this District. Responsible financial stewardship is perhaps the most important duty bestowed upon a school board official. It will be my mission to comply with law and policy so as not to put our already fragile financial situation at further risk, especially affirmatively and unnecessarily as the current Board is on track for.

Another disappointing element of the current Board’s approach to this issue is that they will not be holding public comment during the meeting at which they intend to take action on Policy JBAA. I strongly believe in the need to listen to the community each and every time we take action on matters of consequence.

It is also a fact that there is no evidence to suggest there are widespread safety problems as a result of transgender students or staff using the facilities that align with their gender identity. I was driven to run for school board, in part, to return the board’s focus to real issues impacting our students and educators in their classrooms. So, what real problems should we be focusing on instead of wasting time on non-issues and willfully creating litigation exposure?

I have some ideas…

• School District 49 is facing an expected shortfall of $9 million due to expenses rising faster than expected revenue increases. I’ve been watching this board closely for several years and have been attending meetings regularly for months. I have not heard this board discuss any plans for how this shortfall is going to be handled.

• As the parent of a special needs student, I know firsthand that our Special Education (SpED) programs are suffering under the weight of staffing and resource shortages. Students are falling through the cracks and I find that unacceptable. We need a comprehensive evaluation of the current state of SpED services so we can make responsible prioritization decisions. We need to prioritize not only paying paraeducators more, but also enhancing background checking procedures for those working with our most vulnerable student populations.

• School District 49 currently has over $130 million in deferred maintenance across many rapidly aging buildings, with a meager $3 million annual budget for chipping away at it. Difficult decisions have to be made on roof replacements, HVAC systems replacements, safety and security enhancements, electrical and plumbing systems, flooring, kitchen appliances, grounds work, and a multitude of other costly projects.  I refuse to allow the learning environments of our students and the working environments of our educators and staff to crumble before our eyes. It will be my goal to work with administration to explore options to address the deferred maintenance problem. 

• I want to discuss strategies for improving District 49’s graduation rates to at least state average, if not beyond. Our 82% graduation rate is very close to the 83.1% state average, but I am confident that our incredible team of educators and administrators can help push us over.

• Teacher recruitment and retention remains a significant challenge for District 49. In some ways, our consistently well-rated organizational culture helps make up for being among the lowest paid Districts in the region. However, in the current economic environment, I worry about how much we can rely on our culture to inoculate us against significant staffing problems. It is time for the school board to get creative and explore options for better pay and better conditions so that we can entice the best talent to join the District 49 family.

When elected, my promise to the D49 community is to listen to our stakeholders and stay laser-focused on real problems. Not on national culture wars. Not on fulfilling special interests. Not taking on personal pet projects. Not on any political agenda. Real problems.

My only agenda is to sincerely serve the interests of our students and teachers.

What problems should the board be actively working to solve? I'm listening.