A question-and-answer session held Sunday spurred lively conversation – and some disagreement – among Durango School District Board of Education candidates.
General agreement was expressed among candidates on approaching achievement gaps, the concept of parental rights in a child’s education, collaborating across the aisle, and the use of cellphones in school.
More nuanced responses – and some disagreement – arose on whether professional development inclusion training should remain mandatory for staff, the impact and presence of charter schools in the area, student mental health measures, how candidates view the district’s recent budget cuts, and whether the political affiliations and views of board members and educators should be shared transparently.
The event was held by the League of Women Voters of La Plata County at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4031.
It featured all three incumbents – Erika Brown, Andrea Parmenter and Rick Petersen – and one of the three newcomers, Jody Trampp. Organizers seemed to suggest the two candidates who missed the forum – Tamra Fenberg and Pearl Stegner – could not attend because of scheduling conflicts.
Questions were submitted by community members and read by event moderator Kathleen Wells.
In a moment of across-the-board agreement, every candidate cited funding as being a top issue facing the district.
Board members were asked how they work with others who have differing views. The four attendees said they all have the same goal to help students, but they may take different paths to get there.
“Our values are aligned, we just don’t always get there the same way,” Brown told the crowd.
Brown, Parmenter and Petersen said centering student voices is key when working with other board members who have differing views. She cited the controversy over whether pride flags and Black Lives Matter flags should be allowed to be displayed in classrooms as an example, and said student voices were crucial in helping draft the current district policy.
Candidates agreed parents should be involved in their child’s education.
Trampp, Petersen and Brown all said parents should have the right to opt their child out of certain assignments or curriculum. Parmenter said parental involvement is welcome and valued in schools, but that a full definition of parental rights has not been fully outlined.
All three incumbents said they are against book bans in schools; Trampp did not give his views on book bans.
All candidates were generally in agreement that the political affiliations of board members and educators does not need to be disclosed to students.
Petersen said educators sharing their personal views during an educationally pertinent moment and attempting to sway students’ political views are two different things. He opposes a blanket ban on discussing personal views in the classroom.
“I’m not ever going to say that no adult can talk about politics in the classroom, because this is the world we live in, and ... you have to be aware of what’s going on,” he said.
Trampp said displaying pride and Black Lives Matter flags at school are “political symbols (that) blanket over the entire school district (and) tear communities apart.” Earlier in the forum, Trampp said political divisiveness is one of his top issues, and that the district needs more political neutrality.
Brown said the pride and Black Lives Matter flags are signs of acceptance, not political symbols.
Trampp said “things are being done behind parent’s backs,” and that students are “joining groups their parents don’t know about.”
Parmenter said allegations that the district is engaging in anything secretive with students is “nonsense,” and that parents are a welcome and vital part of their student’s education and school experience.
Petersen and Trampp butted heads over budget cuts.
Trampp said he disagrees with sweeping 5% and 10% budget cuts made across the district. If elected, he would like to pursue grants to help cover budget gaps.
Petersen responded by calling federal funding cuts “the elephant in the room.” He said budget cuts made by the district in response to reduced federal funding have been intentional and carefully thought out.
Petersen said President Donald Trump is “the one who tried to make (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) a divisive issue.”
Parmenter, Brown and Petersen said they support mandatory professional development training for all staff when it comes to creating an inclusive environment and responding to hate speech at school.
Trampp said his support is contingent on whether training comes from within the community versus via third-party consultants or sources.
Donna Howard, who has lived in Durango since the late 1970s, said she attended the forum because she is concerned about recent politics in the district, and wanted to learn more about the candidates to decide who to support in the board race.
“I feel like I need to know who I’m going with here, and (know) that they represent some of my views,” Howard said. “(And) to me, the current board does.”
In Petersen’s closing statement, he urged all voters to exercise their right to vote.
“If you feel like we’re on the right course, if you feel like the district is doing great things for our students, then the choice is easy. If you feel like we need a different direction, then that choice is easy, too,” he said. “... Vote. Encourage your friends to vote. ... This is democracy in action.”
Recording of event
A full recording of the event can be accessed at www.lwvlaplata.org
epond@durangoherald.com
