Trans issues

In all cases, you follow the law. It’s not a gray area, but the law as it’s written. If a child is transgender and is following all the rules, I see no reason they shouldn’t be allowed to play. If the rules are based on science, like the Olympic standards that measure things such as testosterone levels, then I don’t see why those same principles shouldn’t apply here. That’s the standard used internationally, and if it works at that level, it should be good enough for us.

The reality is that a child doesn’t make this decision lightly. It’s something they spend a long time considering, and there are medical requirements and lab tests involved along the way. As far as I’m concerned, if the Olympics say it’s fair, then I’m comfortable saying it’s fair too.

Taxes

We’re all concerned about taxes, and I consider myself fiscally conservative. The biggest issue I see right now is that the federal government has frozen funding. If the state doesn’t receive the money it needs to maintain the same level of education, then committees may have to step in and evaluate potential changes.

I also believe it is worth reviewing the burden of school taxes on seniors. For instance, residents over the age of 75 could be considered for relief from school taxes. This approach would acknowledge their lifelong contributions while ensuring our tax system remains fair and sustainable.

School board overreach

I’m concerned about the school board’s overreach—especially when a single member can veto decisions that principals and other qualified staff have already deemed acceptable. Take the AI policy, for example: it’s good that one is being developed, but it shouldn’t be up to one person to override everyone else. That responsibility should fall to the technology experts. Right now, there’s far too much one-sided decision-making and not enough diversity of thought—it feels like a “my way or the highway” approach.

Bullying

My stance on bullying is simple: there need to be more stringent consequences for kids who continue to bully others. A quick slap on the wrist isn’t enough because it sends the message that it’s no big deal. We need a concentrated, long-term effort so students understand that bullying won’t be tolerated and that it’s not acceptable behavior in our schools..

Bullying

As a former student of this district and now a candidate for school board, I’ve lived this reality. I was bullied at knifepoint in these very halls because of the color of my skin. That experience shaped me, but it also revealed a truth we cannot ignore: racism exists, even here.

The current board may believe that social-emotional learning or cultural bias training are not the right tools. Fine. But if those strategies are taken off the table, we still need a real plan to address the real problems they were designed to tackle. Doing nothing is not leadership.

Our students—all of our students—deserve a school environment where they feel safe, seen, and supported. That requires more than slogans; it requires action. Let’s have an honest conversation about what will work: better reporting systems for bullying and harassment, more support for teachers navigating difficult classroom dynamics, and curriculum that reflects the diversity of our student body.

We can disagree on the method, but we cannot deny the need. If we want our schools to be places of learning, they also must be places of belonging.

On screen time

I support reducing screen time in schools—as long as we’re still teaching students to think critically about technology. That means actually talking about how tools like generative AI work, their ethical implications, and their impact on our lives.

At the same time, we can’t fall behind. Thoughtful, innovative use of technology is key to preparing students for the careers of tomorrow. Balance is the goal: less passive screen time, more meaningful, future-focused learning.

I hope I won’t make too many teenagers mad but I support locking away phones during the school day. It’s a practical step to reduce distractions and help combat issues like cyberbullying, which often spill into the classroom.

But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Teaching students how to use technology responsibly can’t be left to a single class or a one and done assembly. It needs to be an ongoing conversation across subjects and grade levels.

Speaker vetting

As a mentor to teenagers who wish to pursue college degrees or particular careers, I understand how important it is for students to see what’s possible. When a school invites a black female chemist who is willing to not only share her success but also the obstacles she overcame, we’re not discouraging students. We’re inspiring them.

Some may worry that talking about challenges might scare kids away from STEM. I see it differently. Overcoming adversity is the foundation of the American story. Hearing how someone pushed through difficulty to earn a chemistry degree tells our students, especially those facing similar barriers, that success is not just for others. It’s for them too.

Cutting programs or speakers that offer diverse perspectives doesn’t help our kids. It limits their vision of what they can become.

Transparency and values

I’m currently a state government employee and understand the importance of shared agendas and transparency. Our school board should operate with accountability to all constituents, not just those who align politically. That means no backroom decisions or private meetings that exclude elected members. When only a few members make big decisions behind closed doors, it undermines trust, and that hurts our entire community.

As a practicing Christian, my faith guides my values and how I treat others—with compassion, humility, and integrity. But I also believe strongly in the separation of church and state, especially in our public schools.

No one faith should be prioritized over another in curriculum or classroom resources. Public education should be a place where all students, no matter their background or beliefs, feel respected and included.

We can teach values like kindness, honesty, and respect without endorsing one religion. What it comes down to is that it’s not about removing faith but it’s about making space for everyone.

Trans Issue

At the end of the day, if we’re following the law, we’re following the rules as they’re written. That means there’s no reason transgender children shouldn’t be able to participate in sports. Our personal beliefs or social preferences—what we choose to agree with or not—shouldn’t override the law. If the law allows their participation, then every child deserves the chance to play, to learn, and to grow through sports just like anyone else.

Transgender students in sports and bathroom use

These are two very different topics – the sports side of the equation talks about fairness on a competitive playing field and the bathroom side talks about unwarranted fear.

I believe that transwomen should not be playing in women’s sports after puberty. Men, after puberty, have a significant, scientifically proven, strength advantage in athletic endeavors over women.  However, this is not my stance in elementary and middle school sports where a vast majority of the children playing have not reached puberty. The difficult discussion actually revolves around sports where strength is not the deciding factor in the sport. An example of this would be archery, or where the sport is not won or lost due to physical prowess– an example of this would be cheerleading.  In a perfect world I would divide women’s sports into different categories – those that rely on physical strength to win, and those that do not rely on physical strength to win.  In this perfect world I would allow transwomen to compete in all sports that do not rely on physical strength.  However, I think that would be far too cumbersome for our current sports system.  I believe the trans community will be able to create their own playing fields over time, much like women worked to create their own sports arena over the past years.

The bathroom issue is really a non issue. Susquahannock already has a female bathroom, a male bathroom and a gender neutral bathroom.  I do not believe that the school should be utilizing resources to have anyone “policing” the door of the women’s bathroom.  The women’s bathroom has individual stalls with locking doors – it is not set up like a men’s room with urinals out in the open.  There is really no data backing up the stance that transwomen are likely to take part in violence on cis women.  In addition, if a man is set on violence in a women’s room, no sign stating that the room is only for those assigned female at birth is going to keep the perpetrator out.  We do not have a history of violence against women happening in the school’s restrooms and we already have female, male and gender neutral rooms in place. 

Speaker Vetting Process

The current speaker vetting process clearly needs an overhaul.  It does not make sense that one vote can cancel an event.  However, it also does not make sense that the decision is made through signing off on a form.  The absolute easiest solution to this is to build two group meetings into the school calendar.  Those individuals responsible meet in person, watch the suggested speaker’s video, discuss in person, and vote. The majority decision rules. This should be done at the beginning of the school year or at the end of the school year for the next season.  Presentations should run the gamut of ideas from individuals of all backgrounds, and not be based on current or past political agendas.

Bullying and Harassment

Bullying is a sensitive and complicated topic that is not easily policed.  The school has a current policy for bullying that happens on school grounds which includes meeting with students and appropriate reactions based on the perceived severity of the situation.  Obviously the severity of a situation is not easy to label – the child and family who are being bullied are in a heightened emotional state and may not be happy with the outcome.  The parents of the accused bully may also be in a heightened emotional state of either being embarrassed that their child took part in the situation – or they may perceive the situation as “kids being kids” and feel that it is a non issue.  I believe the school’s current plan does its best to make all parties feel heard for issues that happen on school grounds.

Cyber bullying and bullying that happens off school property does not and, in my opinion, should not be dealt with in the school.  That is a job for parents and local law enforcement.  Now, the consequences for bullying may play out in school – children may have to have classes changed, or assigned seating may have to be used on buses – but those are decided with the help of local law enforcement who are trained to discover the facts behind the situation and who are not reacting on hearsay.

School library practices

Books should not be banned.  Period.  I trust that our current librarians are trained to select books that are widely accepted to have in our libraries and to effectively organize those books by grade level.  I also believe that parents have the right to tell their children what they are and are not allowed to check out and read.  That means that the PARENTS need to be proactive – they should be allowed to peruse the library collection and if necessary make a list of books that they do not want their children checking out.  It is not the librarian’s responsibility to know what family approves of what books.  I do not believe that parents should be given a list of what their child has checked out of the library – if monitoring your child’s reading choices is important then it needs to be a proactive, not a reactive, response.