What I'm Doing This Election Season

Many years ago, when my kids were very small, there was a kind woman at our church who, on more than one occasion, suggested that I should consider running for a spot on the County Board of Education. 

I didn't exactly laugh in her face. It was more of a polite chuckle. 

I was young(ish). Tired. Raising babies. Working. Sitting on the Board of Eduction was most definitely not on my bucket list. 

Fast forward 10+ years and I began to come out of the foggy haze of raising little people into the (still somewhat foggy) season of raising teenagers. While this season comes with it's own set of challenges, it is also, in my experience, somewhat easier to take a deep breath and look around once in a while. And what I was seeing in the world of education was unsettling. 

School board meetings had become contentious as we struggled through COVID and the related fallout of learning loss, chronic absenteeism and ongoing debates about health and safety. Public comment periods stretched for hours and included airing of grievances frequently outside the jurisdiction of the Board. Big feelings and loud discussions about book bans, religion, transgender rights, and "woke" curriculum further fueled the fire resulting in lengthy and boisterous Board meetings that nobody (at least nobody who values their personal peace) would voluntarily attend. 

I watched most of this drama from the sidelines, safely reading news reports from from the comfort of my living room couch.  I had no desire to jump into the circus I was witnessing, but I also saw signs of weariness from friends who were serving on school boards. Quietly, people were quitting or not running for re-election. School Board membership has never been glamorous, but it had become thoroughly uninviting. 

This is when I decided it was my turn. 

Since I joined the Shasta County Board of Education in May, many have commented that it is something they would never do in this political climate. Some question my sanity for volunteering to attend lengthy monthly meetings and spend hours reviewing thick board packets prior to each meeting. (My first board packet was 140 pages which seemed insane, until a few months later when the 400 page board packet arrived in my inbox). 

I joined because I'm a strong believer in the adage, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." Board membership is important. It is also time consuming, sometimes uncomfortable and often thankless. It is not the most glamorous work, but it is essential work for the functioning of our public school system. I joined because at some point good leaders need to tap out and take a breather. It is incumbent up on each of us to keep our eyes open for these opportunities and get off the bench once in a while. We've got to share the load. 

The County School Board is a non-partisan position. Each of us bring our own set of ideas and values to the role, but ultimately our political party is (or should be) irrelevant. It's not politics. It's not pushing an agenda. It's citizens supporting the education of children, and ensuring the strength of our future workforce. Grandstanding, bickering and extremist agendas only distract attention from the very important work of ensuring our schools are properly equipped to nurture competent, capable and kind humans. 

This is a bit about me, and why I'm running for the Shasta County Board of Education. Since I've joined the board I have learned a lot about what a county school board does....and even more about what it doesn't do. I've also learned a lot about politics and the irony of a non-partisan position being filled by a public election. On the November ballot, you will see six candidates vying for two open seats in Area 2. Without getting into the weeds and straying from my own anti-bickering agenda....I will say that this is a race worth paying attention to if you live in Shasta County.

If you're moved to support my campaign to maintain decorum and support quality education for all students, here are some suggestions...

1. I've never run an election before, and it turns out you can't really do much without money. So financial support is greatly appreciated. 

2. Educate yourself about the various candidates and make sure your friends are aware that this normally unremarkable section of the ballot could pack a punch this November. 

Area 1 Candidates:

Michael Orlicky

Michele Tyson

Area 2 Candidates (4-year term):

Amy Cavalleri*

Dolores Lucero

Don Aust

Jackie LaBarbera

Jessica French 

Richard Gallardo

Area 2 Candidates (2-year term):
Cindy Vogt*

Teresa Roberts

*Incumbent Candidates

3. Make sure you are registered to vote. (Californians can check status here) 

Oh, and keep your eye out for your turn to get off the bench.