Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates running for Blue Valley Board of Education to address leading up to the Nov. 7 election.
Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to Blue Valley district patrons.
Each day this week, we’ll publish the candidates’ responses to one question.
Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:
With an increasingly diverse student body, school districts like Blue Valley are putting more resources into training teachers and staff on ways to make schools and classrooms more inclusive and welcoming to all students. These initiatives, at times, have come under scrutiny, with critics saying diversity and inclusion efforts can take away from academic instruction or politicize the schoolhouse. Do you agree with how Blue Valley is currently approaching diversity, equity and inclusion? Why or why not?
Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on this issue:
Member Area 1
Jan Kessinger (incumbent)
I very much support the direction the Blue Valley School District has taken in putting more resources into training teachers and staff in order to make schools and classrooms more inclusive and welcoming to all students.
Blue Valley students represent 102 different languages spoken as the primary language at home. We are a diverse community and serve all. Our role is to prepare students for the real world. That includes academic instruction as well as understanding and working within a diverse community.
Christine Vasquez
As a Hispanic female, married to a Mexican man, raising biracial children I have seen the current approach create division amongst our community, rather than bring it together.
I want to ensure that all students are cared for and judged on the content of their character, not the color of their skin, ethnicity, culture, religion or any other unique qualities, with a goal of empowering our students and fostering understanding amidst the beautiful diversity in Blue Valley.
Member Area 2
Trisha Hamilton
The four candidates of the “Blue Valley Excellence” team are a diverse set of families. Three of our four families are multiracial. My family has been in the school district since 2008. Over the past four years, we’ve seen a greater focus on issues that divide our students. Blue Valley’s current approach is not driving unity among our students or community.
My desire as a board member is to ensure every student is cared for, regardless of the color of their skin, their ethnicity, their socioeconomic background or anything else that is outside of their control. As I’ve stated on my website, we need unbiased, comprehensive education that prepares our students to make informed decisions about their world.
Patrick Hurley (incumbent)
Yes. All means all students are welcome in Blue Valley! How does a child learn if they worry about being accepted or bullied by kids and others in the school? DEI initiatives support daily learning for all kids because our kids can focus on the educational instruction being presented each day and work together without worrying about being unwelcome, bullied or not accepted at school.
DEI initiatives improve every student’s learning time and success because there are fewer class disruptions, and more focus on learning and educational instructional minutes. Blue Valley provides a comprehensive list of careers, regular, honors and AP classes for any child to reach their academic goals and potential.
DEI initiatives support student achievement. Kids have more opportunities to succeed in school.
Member Area 3
Jodie Dietz (incumbent)
This initiative addresses many areas from ethnicity, race, special education and many more. The Blue Valley board created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee whose goal is to advise the district in these areas, resulting in actions that respond to the needs of all students and staff. The committee comprises students, parents, community members, staff and board members. They study areas, make recommendations, bring up community concerns and share information with their communities.
We also provide opportunities for staff development. My experience as a probation officer has given me insight into what environment is important to cultivate learning. Making sure we have a safe space is vital. I support the initiatives our district has taken and look forward to what our community believes our next steps are.
Rachel Faagutu
The issue of race is a very important one, as we are a multicultural family. My children have been exposed to a narrative in Blue Valley schools — a commentary on history — that makes white people perpetual oppressors and brown people perpetual victims. This idea is divisive for our home and our community.
Our experience of the Blue Valley community has been one of generosity and kindness. My husband and I have redirected our children towards achieving their best in school and encouraged them to believe the best in people, no matter the color of their skin.
At-Large
Michael Huebner
The “Blue Valley Excellence” team has a very diverse set of families, with three of our four families being multiracial. We have seen that the current approach has driven division amongst our community, rather than bringing it together. We want to ensure that all of our kids are cared for, regardless of the color of their skin, their religious beliefs or anything else that makes them unique.
Clay Norkey
All students deserve a safe and welcoming educational environment where they feel secure and included. Many in our community have been crying out on behalf of their children to ensure they feel accepted and can attend school without being bullied or alienated. Blue Valley has responded, and I support efforts to address these issues.
We all benefit in learning about different backgrounds, cultures and family traditions that may be different than our own. When we are intentional in teaching tolerance, understanding, and respect in our schools relating to these differences, we create a positive learning atmosphere for all. By bringing awareness about the diversity of our community, the significance of addressing and understanding issues of equity and the importance of having ALL students in our community feel included, we raise the level of excellence in Blue Valley and better prepare our children for life after graduation.
Many of us have invested time into learning about Blue Valley’s programs and have come away with a strong appreciation for the initiatives and how they’re accomplished without taking away from teaching our core subjects. In fact, it improves the ability of many students to learn.
Blue Valley provides a world-class education. Without doubt, no one moves here for a basic education. Families move here because of our top-notch schools that provide outstanding academics and robust programs that best prepare students for life after graduation. That is why Blue Valley is #1 in Kansas and Top 1% in the country.
Tomorrow, we will publish candidates’ responses to the next question:
School boards, including Blue Valley’s, have in recent years been faced with requests from some parents to remove books and other materials from school libraries or classrooms, often because of the books’ sexual content. The American Library Association says many of the books most frequently targeted for challenges last year were those with LGTBQ themes or authors. As a board member, what principles and standards will you use to determine whether a book or other material should be removed from a school library or classroom?
