Behind every student in District 51, there is a group of people working together to establish policies and guidelines throughout the schools in the district. Whether an elementary school in Clifton, or our very own Fruita Monument High School, these people are working hard to ensure every student has equal educational opportunities. These people are all members on School District 51’s Board of Education. 

This board has several different jobs, but their overarching role is to oversee the district’s educational system. This includes setting educational policies, managing the district budget, being advocates for the community, monitoring student performance, and hiring and evaluating school leadership, such as the superintendent.

The board is composed of five members who are elected to four-year terms. This is a volunteer position, and the district is extremely grateful to all the people willing to do this job as it can sometimes be difficult. But while it has its challenges, there is a lot of good that comes from being on the board as well. Andrea Haitz, the current president of the school board, states “Getting to know people at every level has been really rewarding and really fun.”

The board is looking for more people to step up for this job as two current board members Doug Levinson and Dr. Kari Sholtes’ terms are coming to an end. Levinson is term limited and cannot run again. Sholtes could run for reelection, but has decided not to. So, elections will be held on November 7th, with five completely new candidates. 

The candidates however are split into two groups, as the school board ensures that each of the five members are over different parts of the valley. They do this by splitting it into districts A,B,C,D and E. Districts A and B are up for election this year, with three candidates for district A, and two for district B.

The candidates for district A are Jose Luis Chavez, Jessica Hearns, and CynDee Skalla. Chavez was born and raised in the valley, he worked as a probation officer for 30 years. His campaign includes hopes for accountability, great teachers, and professionalism. Hearns is a Fruita resident now, but was previously a math professor at several community colleges for 10 years. She hopes to implement communication, freedom, and transparency, if she is elected to the board. Skalla is a retired teacher who taught for 34 years in district 51. She is hoping to implement this experience to the board of education. Her campaign focuses on parental rights, empowering teachers, and improving student performance.

The candidates for district B are Cindy Enos Martinez and Barbara Evanson. Martinez hopes to help students who aren’t as strong in the classroom have more opportunities to enter the workforce. Evanson is a United States Marine Corps veteran, former law enforcement officer, and a former security officer in several District 51 schools. Her campaign includes making sure the schools are safe, valuing student voices, respecting parents, and improving academics.

On November 7th, this election will take place. Although students can’t vote and aren’t involved in the decision, it’s still important to know and recognize what is taking place in the school system. The school board works to improve education around the valley, which directly links it to the students. “A well-functioning school board can help create an environment where students have access to quality education and a range of opportunities, which can impact their future prospects.” Haitz explained.

Students can get involved with the school board by attending school board meetings, joining student advisory committees, advocating for issues in meetings, and encouraging voter participation.

As the election and campaigns move forward, it’s important to examine each candidate to decipher who’s best for the job. After all, education is important, and as such it’s crucial to have the right leadership in our systems.