PEORIA, Ariz. — Once a mostly nonpolitical office, school boards have become targets of intense political attacks and protests.
Arizona’s teacher’s union, the Arizona Educators Association, has identified who they call “anti-public-school candidates” running in 22 races in Arizona. The group lays out its endorsements of candidates they believe will support the priorities of educators and parents.
“Book, class sizes, deciding who we hire, those all aren’t supposed to be political issues. But unfortunately, we’re seeing things you couldn’t even imagine becoming political agendas now,” said Marisol Garcia, AEA President.
Deer Valley Unified District at a crossroads
Conservative candidates allege it’s the teachers’ unions that brought politics into classrooms.
That ideological battle is expected to play out in Arizona’s fastest growing school district, Deer Valley Unified. Three seats are open on the board with eight candidates running. Earlier this year Deer Valley Superintendent Curtis Finch alleged politics and “false narratives” were hurting the district and Arizona schools in general. He invited parents to visit campuses and meet administrators before making assumptions about what’s happening in classrooms.
Deer Valley’s local educators association is endorsing candidates Steve Bottfeld, incumbent Ann Ordway, and Julie Stockwell.
The local Republican Party precinct is endorsing Karen Pack, incumbent Kim Fisher, and Tiffany Hawkins. Two other candidates who unsuccessfully sought the Republican endorsement are Melody Holehan-Kopas and Terri Roberts.
An AZCentral written Q&A asked the candidates about a range of issues, including behavioral health programs and counselors.
“I believe schools should be focused on teaching academics: reading, writing and arithmetic. Any additional programming, if instituted, should be presented to parents as an "opt-in" choice only,” said Pack.
“Emotions affect learning capabilities,” said Bottfeld. “The Deer Valley SEL program (Social-Emotional Learning) is one step forward. However, there is currently a shortage of counselors throughout Arizona. That needs to change and change soon!”
The debate over the role of social workers recently played out in the neighboring Peoria school district where the board voted to cancel a federal mental health grant before reinstating it two weeks later.