Jefferson County School Board Candidates Respond to Questions from RMEQ

RMEQ invited all school board candidates in Jefferson County to complete a questionnaire to share their positions on issues important to our community. Two candidates provided responses:

Tina Moeinian (District 5)

Mary Parker (District 5)

Read their responses below to ensure you are making informed decisions when you vote this November.

---

Why are you running for a seat on the school board, and what drives your commitment to public education?

Tina Moeinian (District 5)

I believe education is the foundation to democracy. Education is an equalizer, it opens doors and opportunities. I come from a family with strong beliefs in support of education and I attending public school from elementary through Undergrad. I want to see public education protected and improved for the next generation. For too long I have watched what happens when public education budgets are gutted. I have seen what happens when education is turned into a for-profit business. If we are not careful our education system will look like our healthcare system, which I think we can all agree, is not working for all of us.

Mary Parker (District 5)

I am running for re-election to the Jeffco School Board because I want to continue the work we have done in the last 4 years. We made hard decisions to close 21 schools due to declining enrollment, we changed start/end times so that high schools start later, introduced new literacy and math curricula, gave significant raises to teachers and support staff, and are working on a High School Re-imagined project. Now we are facing drastic funding cuts and the need to reduce expenses and plan for a Mill Levy Override to generate more revenue.

What personal and professional experiences have prepared you to serve effectively on the school board?

Tina Moeinian (District 5)

Personally, I am tired of the business as usual attitude that many elected officials have. I want to see public education protected not gutted in the name of "school choice" which is just a way to divert tax dollars to private for-profit institutions. New studies coming out show that "school choice" is leading to socioeconomic segregation. Part of education is being exposed to different ideas, different points of view. We are doing a disservice to all young people by homogenizing their school.

Professionally, I have my master's degree in psychology and I am currently working as a mediator. My day job requires me to stay cool when things get heated and to bring people with opposing perspectives and opinions to the table to discuss their perspectives. Mediation is not about agreeing on a perspective, but on finding a path forward and building the future together. I think that is what is needed today. Everyone deserves to be seen, and heard and have stake or share in the future.

Mary Parker (District 5)

I have been on the Jeffco School Board for almost 4 years and currently serve as the President.

How do you believe public schools should balance teaching accurate, standards-based information in subjects like history and social studies with responding to recent parental rights movements and efforts to ban or restrict books?

Tina Moeinian (District 5)

I believe in our constitution. I believe in our right to free speech, which also includes the materials we consume, like books. While I appreciate that some parents might have certain priorities for their children, and I respect that. I cannot accept another parent's preferences encroaching on the right's of others.

I have a degree in psychology, so I understand and believe that feelings hold a certain time and place for validity. However when we are discussing education, we should be teaching based on facts. One of my favorite subjects in school was history and social studies because it was not purely black and white. It is not the same as math, where you can verify and check things. History, social studies requires the student to understand all perspectives, to understand the events and the context in which they occurred. Strong fundamentals like reading, writing, math helps to serve as a foundation for skills like critical thinking which become necessary when attempting to examine the complexities of history.

Mary Parker (District 5)

It's important that our schools continue to teach history and social studies in a way that honestly and accurately covers everything that actually happened. There should be no topics that are "off limits". As a School Board member, I have received many emails from parents who protest certain books or course topics. I tell them they have the right to opt their child out of lessons, but they have no right to control what others learn.

Do you support school policies that respect how the students, staff, and administrators choose to be addressed including chosen names, pronouns, and honorifics? Why or why not?

Tina Moeinian (District 5)

Yes, I support policies that promote respect for how students, staff and administrators choose to be addressed. Showing each other the basic human decency of respect is a small act that leads to large gains for everyone. Some people have a preferred nick name they like to go by, or some people would like to avoid pronouns or use different pronouns. I think it is simply good manners to honor that.

Mary Parker (District 5)

I absolutely support school policies that respect students, staff, and administrators and their chosen names, pronouns and honorifics. Schools need to be safe and welcoming places for everyone.

What are your top priorities for ensuring schools are physically and emotionally safe for all students, including addressing bullying and harassment, which we know disproportionately affects historically excluded students, and how will you ensure that the school climate supports LGBT students in their academic success?

Tina Moeinian (District 5)

Growing up I felt like a bit of an outsider. I am a first generation American and so I was different from many of my peers that I went to school with. I think if we want schools to be physically and emotionally safe we need to lead by example. We need to hold each other accountable for acts of incivility when we see them. As a mediator, I value listening and hearing all perspectives. We don't have to agree but we should respect each other enough to listen. I plan to lead by example and ensure that everyone has a seat at the table and an opportunity to be heard.

Mary Parker (District 5)

I work closely with Jeffco school leaders to develop policies and procedures that protect students (and staff) both physically and emotionally, especially those who are part of the LGBTQ community. I am the mother of a child who is a member of this community and I know firsthand the challenges they face.

With Colorado’s school funding strained by TABOR restrictions and anticipated federal budget cuts to education, what principles would guide your budget priorities? What three areas, if any, would you consider reducing funding for? Where would you protect or increase investment?

Tina Moeinian (District 5)

The goal and mission of the public schools is to ensure our students are receiving the best education. We need to ensure that our students, their teachers and the staff have the tools they need to achieve this mission. That's my top priority.

Mary Parker (District 5)

My budget priorities are to protect funding that is closest to the students - school staff, instructional resources, and support programs. Also, we need to continue to adequately compensate teachers and support staff and keep programs that support our most vulnerable students.

Do you believe that all recipients of public education funding, including charter schools and voucher programs, should be required to comply with the same state standards, regulations, nondiscrimination laws, and structural accountability as traditional public schools? Why or why not?

Tina Moeinian (District 5)

Yes. We need to ensure that all students are receiving the same quality education. If education is the foundation to opportunity in the future then we need to ensure that each student has the best chance and best start possible. That starts with ensuring that all schools are teaching the same standards, following nondiscrimination laws, and are being held accountable.

Mary Parker (District 5)

Yes, I believe that all schools and programs should be required to comply with the same state standards, regulations, nondiscrimination laws, and accountability. This, unfortunately, is not currently true for charter schools.