We only have a few days left until the polls open on Nov. 2nd (reminder, the polls are open from 8am-8pm). Several groups issued surveys to candidates asking questions on where we stand on issues from school budgets to why we decided to run for School Board. Below I am sharing my responses.
I also wanted to share a great quote from a book I am reading called "The Town That Food Saved" that reminds us all how important our involvement in local government and democracy is for our town.
There is a certain irony that local government, which is most accessible, is often left to those whose interest lie in maintaining the status quo rather than searching for new ideas to address common needs. Governance is difficult and often draining and damning, but turning one's back on government does not make it go away. Ignoring government leaves a vacuum that will be filled by those who choose to pursue power--often for their own narrow ends rather than the common good. Progress comes when there are new ideas put on the table by the people elected to sit at it. That which we do in common requires hard work. Just as people's energy enables sustainable agriculture, there is a need for citizen involvement if we are to have sustainable democracy, too.
Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you around town. If you have any further questions, please
email me or call 402-705-3622.
Hastings Tribune Candidate Survey Answers
1. What is your position on the board’s recent decision to issue the $7.3 million in no and low-interest bonds to improve the high school? Why?
I support the decision. I listened carefully over the course of several school board meetings to all sides of the issue. I shared my thoughts on my website, www.votekleeb.com, and the feedback I received from experts, teachers, students and community members was in favor of taking advantage of this opportunity to finance these capital improvements with the no and low-interest bonds.
I don’t think anyone who has spent any time inside our current school facilities (with the exception of our new middle school) can deny there are pressing and basic facility needs. Our high school lacks not only the basic heating and cooling systems we all come to expect in our workplaces and homes, but it also lacks electrical infrastructure to support the technology that is now essential to education. How are we to say we invest in our kids when we have a high school that hasn’t seen any upgrades to a science wing in over 40 years?
Hastings has bright and resilient kids. If we want them to go on to do great things, we need to invest in our schools. The upgrades to the high school aren’t ‘wants’ at this stage, they’re necessary to give the building added lifespan and necessary to put our students on a level playing field with communities all around us. I feel the decision, while difficult, was fiscally sound and the right vote for the school board.
2. How soon do you feel the board should begin pursuing a bond issue to renovate or replace one or more of the 75-year-old elementary schools?
I’d first want to see a thorough fiscal analysis of both the district’s needs as well as the financing options. As a school board, we’d then need to meet with teachers, parents, community members and building experts to give a full report of what changes could be made and on what timetable. There’s no doubt our schools need to be updated and the small fixes here and there that we’ve been doing are not solving the larger, long-term problem.
3. Would you like to see HPS keep its six elementary schools or build larger buildings and reduce the total number of schools. Why?
We live only two blocks from Longfellow where Kora is in fourth grade and Maya is attending pre-school. The girls walk to school and the school is an important part of our neighborhood. I understand the fiscal advantage to consolidating our elementary schools and understand many other communities in our state are going in this direction.
Even though it might change the dynamic of our neighborhoods, I think the board needs to give serious consideration to consolidating elementary schools if it can be demonstrated to be the most cost-effective way to deliver a quality education to our students. If making these changes means that we can give our students better schools and save taxpayer dollars in the long run, then the convenience and tradition of neighborhood schools needs to be weighed against what could be gained.
I’m confident we can develop a solid plan that places education first, that honors our neighborhoods and that builds schools for twenty-first century learning. I’d pay special attention to ensuring our schools are equipped with current technology and that our school district has the cooking facilities to serve our kids healthy school lunches.
4. Nebraska schools that receive state aid are facing a funding drop-off because money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will run out at the end of this school year. If HPS had to cut its budget next year because of this, what costs should it cut?
Without seeing the current and forecasted budgets, it’s difficult to answer this question specifically. As a school board member, I’d take several steps to ensure our schools are fiscally sound. I’d study the budget and find areas where we could trim. I have extensive grant writing experience and could help write grants and pursue private business partnerships to supplement the budget and special programming. I’d encourage other small districts to form a coalition so we don’t get the short end of the stick when the State makes school funding allocations because we’re from a small community compared to Lincoln and Omaha school districts.
Our schools should never be used as political footballs and I won’t sit quietly on the sidelines and let our schools be the target of state funding cuts. Education is the great equalizer in our community, state and nation and I’ll work to ensure that every student from Hastings Public School has the education they need and deserve to compete in today’s world.
League of Women Voters Candidate Survey Answers
What issues or concerns involved with this office are you most interested in seeing resolved? (200 words or less)
I first decided to run for school board because the education of our children is one of the most important investments we can make and I particularly want to focus on the often neglected role of our school lunch program. Currently, our kids’ school lunches are unhealthy and this leads not only to poor classroom performance, but long-term and expensive health care issues. We can develop a local network of fresh food that will not only be healthier for our children and better for the classrooms, but will also help grow our local economy.
We’re facing another huge challenge; several of our elementary schools need upgrades. We must develop a plan that is comprehensive and involves input from teachers, students, parents, community members and experts. This plan may involve consolidating schools and may also mean building new schools, however this is an area that will need creativity, long-term thinking and, most of all, vision. Our students deserve the opportunity to learn in safe, updated and healthy learning environments.
Our community, state and nation are all facing serious budget issues that must be addressed. I will work to ensure that our schools are not used as political footballs. Education is the great equalizer and I’ll do my very best to protect that tradition so that every student from Hastings has the education they need and deserve to compete in today’s world.
Hastings Education Association Candidate Survey Answers
1. What has prompted you to seek the office of school board member?
I was raised to believe in public service. As I look around at what politics and public service has become, I am frustrated that there is a lack of vision. When did we stop wanting and electing leaders who think big, ask questions and who take action?
While I have never been a classroom teacher, I did run a literacy and after-school program based at an elementary school for almost five years. I understand the difficult decisions that need to be made when budgets are tight and teachers can only make a certain amount of copies. Or when teachers need better tools with which to teach and yet can’t always find the leadership they need to help meet those needs. I have extensive grant writing experience and could help write grants and pursue private business partnerships to supplement the budget and special programming. I’d encourage other small districts to form a coalition so we don’t get the short end of the stick when the State makes school funding allocations because we’re from a small community compared to Lincoln and Omaha school districts.
Our community, state and nation are all facing serious budget issues that must be addressed. I will work to ensure that our schools are not used as political footballs. Education is the great equalizer and I’ll do my very best to protect that tradition so that every student from Hastings has the education they need and deserve to compete in today’s world.
2. What are your two top objectives if elected to the office of school board?
I first decided to run for school board because the education of our children is one of the most important investments we can make in our nation. In particular, I wanted to focus on the often-neglected role of our school lunch program in supporting a healthy atmosphere in which to learn. Currently, our kids’ school lunches are unhealthy and this leads not only to poor classroom performance, but long-term and expensive health care issues. We can develop a local network of fresh food that will not only be healthier for our children and better for the classrooms, but will also help grow our local economy.
We’re facing another huge challenge; several of our elementary schools need upgrades. We must develop a plan that is comprehensive and involves input from teachers, students, parents, community members and experts. This plan may involve consolidating schools and may also mean building new schools, however this is an area that will need creativity, long-term thinking and, most of all, vision. Our students deserve the opportunity to learn in safe, updated and healthy learning environments.
3. If lost revenues were to cause budget cuts, which three areas would you protect and why?
1) Staffing levels—It would not help if we protect salaries but then faced teacher and support staff cuts. The number of teachers and support staff we have on board must be protected and in the future increased. We know lower classroom size is critical for our kids’ learning ability and this is an area I will protect.
2) Teacher salaries—Our teachers are on the front-line every day and we should never put them in a position about worrying about their bank account.
3) Facility and maintenance—Upgrades and maintenance of our buildings are not ‘wants’ at this stage, they’re necessary to give our buildings added lifespan and necessary to put our students on a level playing field with communities all around us.
4. What do you see as the most productive relationship between Hastings Education Association and the school board?
The school board and Hastings Education Association need to work hand-and-hand in order to ensure our schools continue to excel. I like the idea of each school board member meeting with a team of at least three teachers at least once a month to talk through any hot topics, issues and generally keep an open dialogue. I also think we need to re-visit how we handle contract negotiations. This process should be an open dialogue between the school board and teacher representatives.
5. Is there any statement not addressed by the above questions you would like to make?
I mentioned our elementary schools and the upgrades to those buildings in the Hastings Tribune survey and wanted to share the response.
We live only two blocks from Longfellow where Kora is in fourth grade and Maya is attending pre-school. The girls walk to school and the school is an important part of our neighborhood. I understand the fiscal advantage to consolidating our elementary schools and understand many other communities in our state are going in this direction.
Even though it might change the dynamic of our neighborhoods, I think the school board needs to give serious consideration to consolidating elementary schools if it can be demonstrated to be the most cost-effective way to deliver a quality education to our students. If making these changes means that we can give our students better schools and save taxpayer dollars in the long run, then the convenience and tradition of neighborhood schools needs to be weighed against what could be gained.
I’m confident we can develop a solid plan that places education first, that honors our neighborhoods and that builds schools for twenty-first century learning. I’d pay special attention to ensuring our schools are equipped with current technology and that our school district has the cooking facilities to serve our kids healthy school lunches.
