Jason Casper
Challenger: Susan Sander
Jason also completed the ACLU Survey.
Why are you the best candidate for School Board?
In recent years, I have integrated my distinct viewpoint as an educator and local entrepreneur into my role as a School Board member.
Engaging with students on a daily basis allows me to understand their struggles and requirements.
This firsthand knowledge strengthens my dedication to enhancing the educational standards for all students, particularly those who are underprivileged or facing academic difficulties.
How will you prioritize improvement to student academic achievement, particulary reading and math?
Prioritizing the improvement of student academic achievement in reading and math as a School Board member requires a comprehensive approach that involves setting goals, implementing evidence-based strategies, allocating resources effectively, and monitoring progress.
By prioritizing these strategies and collaborating with stakeholders we can create a supportive learning environment that helps drive improvements in student academic achievement, especially in the critical areas of reading and math.
What steps will you pursue to strengthen the connection between parents and the school system?
Strengthening the connection between parents and the school system is crucial for promoting student success and creating a supportive learning environment. Some of the ways we can engage in this are:
- Fostering open and transparent communication channels between parents and the school system.
- Encouraging parental involvement in school activities, committees and decision making processes.
- Offering workshops and training sessions for parents on topics that support their child’s learning, understanding academic standards and promoting positive behaviors.
- Providing family engagement events to provide opportunities doe parents to interact with teachers, administrators, and other families.
How will you ensure that parents will be made aware of proposed or new regulations or policies that affect their children?
As a School Board member, ensuring that parents are informed about proposed or new regulations that affect their children is essential for transparency, accountability, and fostering positive relationships with the community. Avenues we must use include: 1. Public Meetings and Hearings 2. Communication Channels 3. Parent Forums and Workshops 4. Collaboration with Parent Organizations 5. School Website and Portals 6. Parent Surveys and Feedback.
By implementing these strategies and prioritizing open communication and engagement with parents, we can ensure that parents are informed about proposed or new regulations that affect their children and create a culture of transparency and collaboration within the school community.
What steps should be taken at schools to create a safer learning environment?
Creating a safe and secure learning environment is crucial for the well-being and success of students. Here are some strategies that schools can implement to enhance safety:
1. Enhanced Security Measures 2. Emergency Preparedness 3. Mental Health Support 4. Bullying Prevention Programs 5. Conflict Resolution Training 6. Wellness Programs 7. Collaboration with Law Enforcement 8. Digital Safety 9. Visitor Management Protocols 10. Crisis Intervention Teams 11. Regular Safety Audits
Collaboration, communication, and a proactive approach to safety are key in fostering a positive and secure learning environment.
What changes should be made, if any, to local and state funding to maximize the amount that goes directly to producing academic achievement?
We need to ensure that state and local funding is distributed equitably to all schools and districts, taking into account factors such as student needs, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, and special education requirements.
Implement funding formulas that prioritize equity and allocate resources based on student needs.
We also need to provide additional funding and resources to schools with high concentrations of students from low-income families, English language learners, students with disabilities, and other disadvantaged populations to address their unique needs and promote academic success.
How will you commit to increasing classroom transparency - including but not limited to curriculum - with parents?
Increasing classroom transparency, including sharing information about the curriculum with parents, is essential for building trust, engaging families in the education process, and promoting student success.
We should conduct parent orientation sessions at the beginning of the school year to provide an overview of the curriculum, instructional practices, and learning objectives for each grade level or subject area.
Additionally, we can host curriculum nights or open houses where teachers can present detailed information about the curriculum, teaching methods, and assessment practices used in the classroom. Parents can ask questions, provide feedback, and gain insights into their child’s educational experience.
How will providing curricula that defines people as oppressors and oppressed based on group identity such as race or sex either help or hinder students in their interactions with the world around them?
Curricula that views individuals solely through the lens of oppressor or oppressed based on group identity overlooks the complexity of individual experiences.
Although it is important to teach based on facts, we need to ensure that our curricula does not create more divisiveness. This only leads to a “us vs. them” mentality, hindering meaningful dialogue and mutual respect.
In what circumstances would it be considered acceptable for material that contains visual or written depictions of sexual acts to be presented to students in the classroom or in school libraries?
With the exception of legitimate educational purposes, such as a sex education class where the content is age-appropriate, visual and written depictions of sexual acts should not be considered as acceptable material for students to be exposed to in a general classroom or in school library.