For District 1, Kristina Hines is the only qualified candidate. The editorial board believes that her prior experience on the school board, combined with her experience and education in business, makes her the best candidate for District 1.
In the past, Hines has proven her value on the School Board by enacting policies to help teachers and students. Among her successes has been a 5.5% salary raise for teachers across the district, helping offset the rising cost of living in Colorado. She has also streamlined how parents can arrange transportation through the district.
But in her race, the competition with Hines has become especially important.
Sheldon Kier is deeply unqualified, in both character and material experience, to be a member of the school board. At the recent candidate forum, he struggled to answer the basic question of whether or not students were safe in Delta County schools. He alleged that bullying was a hard word to define, despite all other candidates present being able to.
Kier also expressed his disagreement with CHSSA policy on transgender student-athletes, which says, “Member schools shall ensure that all students have equal access and opportunities to participate in activities and athletics without unlawful discrimination based on disability, race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, or ancestry. The Colorado High School Activities Association recognizes the right of transgender student athletes to participate in interscholastic activities free from unlawful discrimination based on sexual orientation.”
The alternative to equal access is discrimination. Opposing this policy indicates disdain for minority students of all sorts: racial, sexual, and religious. This editorial board will not support such a candidate.
Although there are strong candidates in District Five between Jennifer McGavin and Autumn Wynn, the Editorial Board chooses to endorse McGavin due to her vast experience as Vice President of the school board and her compassionate brand of leadership.
The Editorial Board believes that McGavin’s focus on individual student outcomes, particularly in a time when families are fleeing public schools, is important for the survival of Delta High School. With Governor Polis’s budget cuts on the horizon, a long-term retention policy, which McGavin supports and has worked for, is desperately needed
At a recent candidate forum, McGavin highlighted how important it is to families that the district address specific instances of bullying, rather than broad programs like Capturing Kids’ Hearts. This stance is particularly important in a small community, where individual support for students is logistically possible, and as one-size-fits-all programs have been proven ineffective.
McGavin’s strong commitment to non-partisanship is also welcome in an increasingly divided national context. Educational policy must be based on fact, and the Editorial Board believes that partisanship often conflicts with the truth.
We also agree with McGavin that children need positive, caring role models, particularly now, when pressure on students from social media has never been higher.
Besides McGavin and Wynn, the other candidate in District 5, Adena Kreutz, is endorsed by and shares advertising with Sheldon Keir. This cooperation is likely to bring partisanship into a non-partisan race.
Hines and McGavin are the clear choices for Delta County.
