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Voters on Nov. 2 will fill three open seats on the St. Vrain Valley Board of Education, which has seven members.
The board determines St. Vrain Valley School District policy and how the district operates. Each board member is elected to a four-year term with each member representing a section of the district. While each member represents a geographical district, they are elected by voters across the entire district, according to the district’s website.
Incumbent Karen Ragland is the only one running for a District B seat.
Meosha Brooks, aerospace engineer/business development manager and co-instructor at Johns Hopkins University, is the lone candidate for the District D seat on the board. Tyler Gearhart withdrew from the race on Oct. 12, according to the district’s website.
Business owner Natalie Abshier and educator Sarah Hurianek are vying for the District F seat.
Ragland recently responded to a group of questions from the Leader. Here are her responses:
Tell us a little about you, who you are, your experience that has led you to want to run for the board.
I am a Niwot resident, community volunteer, behavioral health counselor, healthcare quality improvement consultant and project manager and parent of three SVVSD students (1 current, 2 graduated). I am excited to run again for St. Vrain Valley Schools Board of Education Director, District B (Niwot High School feeder system) for the 2021 – 2025 term.
I have been honored to serve in this role during the 2017-2021 term as assistant secretary and treasurer and envision the next four years as a continuation of support for and governance of our district leadership.
I am wholeheartedly dedicated to our mission to educate each student in a safe learning environment so that they may develop to their highest potential and become contributing citizens. I am also a member of the Longmont Multicultural Action Committee (LMAC).
What inspired you to run?
I believe change is a constant driver for societal improvement; and to enact change, you have to get involved at a local level. We are doing excellent work in SVVSD because we continually evolve to address the ways we can best prepare our students for life beyond PK–14 education with knowledge, skills and curiosity to be lifelong learners.
I’m running again because I’m so inspired by the students that are coming out of our schools, our amazing and dedicated employees, the partnerships we have with our community and how we proactively respond to our changing world.
What are your priorities and why?
The safety and wellness of our students is paramount. I value the role that public education has in building and maintaining a strong community and feel that working cohesively with our community is critical. I also have become more interested in policy and finance and through the experience of being in this role, have studied and seen the direct impact that education policy has had locally, statewide and at a federal level.
Is there a particular issue that motivated you to run? Please explain and tell us what you would like to change about the issue and how.
I’m a serial volunteer and active community member, and I care greatly about public education and its role in shaping strong and healthy communities. I have personal areas of interest that I might study or be influenced by more than others, but I feel very strongly that a governing board member should serve as a liaison between the community and the district and ultimately make all decisions in the best interest of all students, regardless of one’s specific agenda or interest.
What issues do you believe the district needs to address in academic programming and offerings? What changes do you recommend?
I look to the experts in our student services and curriculum departments to stay current and ensure we are offering programs that ensure our students are prepared for our competitive world and equipped with the information needed to keep up with technological advancements. I think the community and corporate partnerships have been an excellent resource for guiding areas for academic programming.
How do you think the district handled the COVID pandemic?
SVVS responded to the pandemic with strength to ensure safety for all individuals in our buildings, in addition to perseverance to keep kids learning through technology and in the buildings as much as possible while following guidance from the local and state health departments. Overall, I believe we continue to do an exceptional job, in our third school year affected by the pandemic, in providing stable employment, educational opportunities, strategies and resources for our students and our community.
Do you feel the district can better prepare our students for the future? How could the district change? How do you hope to influence that?
I think continuing to implement technology and career pathway education and skills are something we should prioritize. I repeat that I think the community and corporate partnerships are an excellent resource for guiding us to areas that will help prepare our students for the future.
What do you feel is the major issue facing our district and/or public education? How will you address it?
A great challenge is the polarized narrative around public education. The more I learn about all the ways we are positively impacting our children that are the future generations of our country; it becomes harder for me to hear negative news, false claims and misguided opinions about public education. I think one of the positive outcomes of the pandemic is more awareness of the complexities and importance of public education. I would like to see changes in how our society collectively views and talks about our public education system and realizes the potential in positive promotion and support of our schools.
How does a school board balance the need to provide a quality education with the need to respond to taxpayer burden?
I think we need to understand taxpayers and schools' existence in the context of a symbiotic relationship. With mutual support, strong schools can be both a foundation for and a product of a strong community. We have been fortunate to have tremendous community support that has been evident through the passage of bonds and mill levy overrides. We have gained trust through transparency and accountability and have demonstrated responsibility through millions of dollars in grant awards, and results through our incredible students’ accomplishments. I never want to take this for granted and want our community to know how much appreciation we have for their trust and this mutually beneficial relationship.
How do you feel about the district's budget? What changes would you make? What areas would you prioritize?
Our district finances are strong, and I see this as the underlying foundation for student success. Our award-winning finance department works with all departments to ensure priorities are met, while maintaining a healthy reserve for utmost financial responsibility, for special projects, like the pool, and to mitigate any unforeseen situations like the pandemic. I serve on the district’s Finance and Audit committee alongside district employees and valued community members that provide us with additional considerations and a view of our budget from other organizational lenses. I would always prioritize teacher compensation so we can attract and retain the highest quality workforce.
