It is hard to make improvements and change when the district is already the number 1 in the entire State of Colorado, however I am eager to learn and help the district continue to be number 1.

District 12 is unique in that it is one of the lowest funded schools in the state of Colorado. Therefore, doing more with less is a key component to financial stewardship, especially when hiring and retaining top talent. We have to pay teachers their value, give students the best education we can give them and represent as many parents & tax payers as we can.

Technology should used to add value to students’ education and not serve as a distractor to teachers or students.

Artificial Intelligence is already a key component in our daily lives, and it benefits students that know how to use it. The American workforce is at an inflection point, and it is our duty to ensure our students graduate with the skills necessary to join the evolving workforce.

As a father, I trust that educators with the commensurate education and credentials are putting my kids best intentions at their forefront, however just like any industry, I know there can be radical opinions and ideologies. In this case, parents should be able to rely on trustworthy administration and staff to take appropriate actions and inform parents accordingly. And as a school board member, I would ensure that we have trustworthy administration and ensure accountability is upheld.

CMSD is the top-performing district in Colorado, and my first priority will be to maintain this excellence. However, despite this distinction, our students show only 66% proficiency in language arts at grade level and 60% in math. I will work with other board members and the superintendent to identify the reasons for this and determine paths to improve educational outcomes.

CMSD currently spends 59% of its budget on direct educational expenses, which is in line with the state average. Overall, the district currently spends $15,307 per student, slightly higher than the Colorado state average. CMSD also has the highest mill levy rate among all school districts in El Paso County. While much larger districts in the county have reduced their mill levy over the last 6 years by as much as 29%, CMSD’s rate has remained constant. Further evaluation of the budget is warranted to ensure prudent management of taxpayer funds, and my financial background will be very helpful in this task.

Technology has been an effective aid in education, but it has limitations. As we learned during the remote learning experiment, there is no substitute for in-person learning, which allows teachers to gauge students’ non-verbal cues of comprehension. This greatly improves the effectiveness of instruction. Furthermore, productive classroom management without distractions is paramount for maximum absorption of material, especially given the attention challenges inherent to students’ age and maturity levels.

Parents hold the ultimate responsibility for their children and authority over what their children are exposed to. School personnel and board members should view parents as senior partners in the development of children. No information should be withheld from parents, with one notable exception: if a teacher, as a mandatory reporter, suspects child abuse by a parent, the teacher must follow the legally prescribed reporting process.