Election 2021 Q&As: Candidates for Englewood school board

Voters in the Englewood school district are choosing four directors on the Board of Education in the election that ends Nov. 2: Three to serve four-year terms and one to serve for two years. Ballots go into the mail starting Oct. 8.

There are four candidates running for the three four-year seats. The top three vote getters will be elected. And Caty Husbands is unopposed for the two-year seat.

The Englewood Herald sent questionnaires to each candidate to help voters learn more about them. Here are their responses, edited for clarity.

FOUR-YEAR SEATS

Julie Hoag

Occupation: Part-time nurse at Swedish Medical Center

Campaign website/contact information: julieforenglewoodschools.com

Why do you want to serve on the school board?

I am a strong advocate for public schools, and I see serving on the Board of Education as a wonderful way to serve our district and community I love so much. I have sent eight children to schools in our district, and understand it would be a privilege with significant responsibility to be on the school board. By serving on the board, I can help assure Englewood School District is a place where all students, teachers and staff can thrive.

What would you say are your most important qualifications for the office you're seeking?

I spent the last two years on our District Accountability Committee (DAC), and was co-chair for DAC this past year where I was empowered to lead an amazing group of people through budget priority discussions, SAC (School Accountability Committee) reform and more. I have parented 26 children ages 0 to 15; I know how to fight for a child’s best interest. I am a dedicated person and an outstanding team player. I plan to be available to those in our district, as I am here to listen, learn and advocate.

If elected, what would be your first priority in office?

I of course have some priorities I would like to work on within the district if elected, like student enrollment, resourcing our teachers and ensuring we cultivate diverse learning environments where all students can succeed. However, my very first priority will be to listen and learn. I am one person, and I would like to listen to the many other voices represented in our district to learn from them where they see needs or gaps.

What in your view is the greatest single issue facing Englewood Schools and how would you address it?

I will talk with representatives from each school in order to hear about issues they see, as those directly involved in our schools have greater insight than I currently do. At the outset, a primary issue I see in our district is student enrollment and retention, and this directly affects our funding. Many students (about 30%) in Englewood opt to transfer out-of-district. I will research more about why, and then I will address our district’s “online reputation/scores,” and I will encourage more community engagement.

As things stand now, should students be required to wear masks in class, or should mask-wearing be voluntary?

Currently, I support required masking in our schools. Masks have proven effective in protecting students, teachers and staff from COVID, and although I find them to be inconvenient, it is a small price to pay to keep people safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics (made up of 67,000 pediatricians) is a reliable authority on the topic, and they too recommend masking in schools. This was a hard decision for the board in August, and I believe they made the right call.

What are your views on the district's current policies regarding the teaching of racial issues in American society?

This is a particularly important issue for me as several of my children are kids of color. I am in support of teaching the full racial history of our country, even the parts we don’t like. I am grateful our district is intentional about finding curriculum that is free of racism. As a white person, I have found I have many blind spots when it comes to racism in schools and systems and I am in full support of a third-party audit that would help our district discover these injustices and discrepancies so they can be corrected immediately.

Andy Szekeres

Occupation: Campaign finance administrator for the City and County of Denver

Campaign website/contact information: andyforenglewood.com

Why do you want to serve on the school board?

I want to leverage my background as a fundraiser, Englewood Library board member and small business owner to help solve complex issues. I have public education and amazing teachers to thank for helping me to become who I am today. I want our educators and students to have the resources and support they need to thrive. Additionally, I feel representation matters. As a gay person, I would be the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the school board which I think is important to the young people and staff in the district who identify with the LGBTQ community.

What would you say are your most important qualifications for the office you're seeking?

My background as a small business owner and non-profit fundraiser will provide a different perspective compared to other board members. I will work to provide additional resources to the district from private and foundation entities. I have an extensive background in budgeting, complex problem solving and ensuring all sides of every issue are heard and represented.

If elected, what would be your first priority in office?

I want to be a strong voice for the staff and community in the school district. I will first work to be a champion for our educators, support staff, students and community members to ensure their voices are heard. I will also work to ensure we build more trust with the staff and parents in the district. We must do a better job at engaging the community to support the goals of the district and expand community involvement.

What in your view is the greatest single issue facing Englewood Schools and how would you address it?

There are numerous issues facing our schools but I feel the most pressing issue is the lack of proper staffing within our schools. We face critical shortages of substitute teachers, educational support staff and staff that keep the day-to-day operations of the district working. Without enough support staff, our educators have to provide gap support across the district, which increases the chance of burnout. We must revamp our recruiting practices, pay scales to compete with other districts and account for hiring shortages due to COVID. We must invest to ensure we have proper staffing across the district.

As things stand now, should students be required to wear masks in class, or should mask-wearing be voluntary?

We must follow guidance from our healthcare professionals to curb the transmission of COVID-19 to get our students back into schools and Englewood back on its feet. Until students can be fully vaccinated, we should require masks for our young people and the staff. Currently, the district has some of the lowest COVID-19 transmission rates because of the mask policy. I support continuing the mask policy as well as the option for digital learning for parents who do not feel comfortable with the mask mandate.

What are your views on the district's current policies regarding the teaching of racial issues in American society?

We must prepare our young people for a world that understands our history and past. We must better educate our students to prepare them for the 21st-century economy. This also goes for the staff of the Englewood Schools. We must have a staff that mirrors our student population as well as understands the complex issues of race and social justice.

Steven Leflar

Occupation: Enlisted helicopter flight instructor for the Department of Defense

Campaign website/contact information: stevenforenglewood.com

Why do you want to serve on the school board?

I am passionate about serving others and giving back to the community that I grew up in. I believe my deep connection to Englewood coupled with my leadership experience from the military leaves me positioned to continue serving Englewood families and students with success. My life is one of service.

What would you say are your most important qualifications for the office you're seeking?

My demonstrated ability to listen to different opinions and develop shared understanding is one of the essential qualifications I bring to the table. I am dedicated to this community and served on the school board while deployed to the Middle East. I have served two years on the school board during unprecedented times and have immersed myself in the complexities of school issues and processes, leaving me ready to hit the ground running on day one. I also keep student outcomes at the center of all board discussions.

If elected, what would be your first priority in office?

My priority in office will be to continue working on increasing opportunities for community engagement and developing pathways for student voice to play an active role in the Englewood School District.

What in your view is the greatest single issue facing Englewood Schools and how would you address it?

I believe the COVID pandemic is the most significant issue facing Englewood schools. I would address it by continuing to center all decisions on what is best for the students. Students need to be in school. The second and third-order effects of school closures are debilitating to district families. As a father of four children in the district and spouse of an educator, I have seen these effects firsthand. I will continue to follow health officials’ guidance and scientists and do what is best for our families and educators.

As things stand now, should students be required to wear masks in class, or should mask-wearing be voluntary?

As things stand now, I fully support the mask requirement policy enacted by the Englewood School Board of Education. I believe children need to be in school for social/emotional well-being and receive the best educational opportunities. Wearing a mask now provides access to those opportunities.

What are your views on the district's current policies regarding the teaching of racial issues in American society?

I am supportive of the district’s current policies regarding the teaching of racial issues in American society. I also believe it is necessary to revisit these policies from time to time and ensure they accurately reflect our community and Englewood School District values.

Duane Tucker

Occupation: Director of Strategic Procurement at the University of Colorado

Campaign website/contact information: duane4englewoodschools.com

Why do you want to serve on the school board?

I am a passionate advocate for the important role public education plays in our society and our neighborhood. I am committed to do all I can to ensure Englewood schools continue to be a force for good for our students, staff, families and city. I previously served on the Board of Education in Englewood, and it was the most meaningful work I have ever done. I am excited for the opportunity to do that meaningful work again.

What would you say are your most important qualifications for the office you're seeking?

I previously served on the Englewood school board, so my experience is an important qualification. I am familiar with how boards operate, and understand the complex funding model for schools. In addition, I have served on district and school accountability committees, as well as the District Long Range Planning Committee. I co-chaired the 2011 and 2016 bond initiatives that resulted in the rebuilding of all Englewood schools in recent years. That involvement has helped me maintain important relationships with district staff, teachers and families. These relationships will help drive robust, inclusive conversations about how this district should approach the future.

If elected, what would be your first priority in office?

To prioritize the work the district has started regarding equity. Equity in all things, such as curriculum, policies, hiring practices and climate, is of the highest priority for me.

What in your view is the greatest single issue facing Englewood Schools and how would you address it?

Enrolling and retaining students, and recruiting and retaining staff. It is critical that our district is where families send their students — from kindergarten through graduation — and where teachers and staff want to work. I will address this by having meaningful conversations with all stakeholder groups to identify what the district can continue to prioritize to keep students and staff in Englewood.

As things stand now, should students be required to wear masks in class, or should mask-wearing be voluntary?

As things stand now, students should be required to wear masks. I am supportive of the mask mandate the district currently has in place.

What are your views on the district's current policies regarding the teaching of racial issues in American society?

I am supportive of schools teaching age and content-appropriate racial issues. The last few years have certainly shown that there is more need now than ever before to confront these issues in a meaningful, thoughtful way. The ongoing equity work the district is engaged in will likely help refine how racial issues are taught. I am excited to be a part of that critical work.

TWO-YEAR SEAT

Caty Husbands

Occupation: Englewood Schools Board of Education President 

Campaign website/contact information: clilly@gmail.com 

Why do you want to serve on the school board?

I have served on the Englewood Board of Education for the last four years, the last two of which as president of the board. I am honored to serve with our current exceptional, dedicated board. Working as a team, we ensure that our students, staff and community have what they need to navigate these complex times. I look forward to continuing my work on the board in order to provide experience, continuity and a unique perspective. There is no greater honor than serving this community and continuing the work to provide educational excellence for our kids.

What would you say are your most important qualifications for the office you’re seeking?

My background as an educator, leader and parent to students in the district provide me with a strong foundation in order to serve effectively. Four years on the board provides me with an understanding of how board policy and decision making works. I am also aware of the time commitment and have a proven track record of committing to that commitment. I lead on the board through collaboration and consensus, which has contributed to the board’s ability to work closely together to find common ground.

If reelected, what would be your first priority in office?

The candidate did not return an answer to this question. 

What in your view is the greatest single issue facing Englewood Schools and how would you address it? 

Fiscal sustainability. As a small district, we are aware of the woefully inadequate funding for our education system. We must save money where we can and spend it where necessary, while remaining competitive with our surrounding, larger districts. We do this in consultation with our District Accountability Committee and our administration. I will continue to support our district in seeking out funding sources wherever we can find them. I will continue my advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels through my position on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Association of School Boards. I will also continue to bring advocacy efforts to our community through the board so we can work together to increase funding. 

As things stand now, should students be required to wear masks in class, or should mask-wearing be voluntary? 

As things stand right now, I believe that wearing masks should continue to be mandatory in order to keep our community safe.

What are your views on the district’s current policies regarding the teaching of racial issues in American society? 

The district’s current policies support curriculum teams who explore and locate the best resources available for our students. They then present their recommendations to the board for approval. I believe our current policies support our content and education experts so they may select curriculum that contributes to raising civically engaged students who become active members of our diverse society..