SAFETY FOR STUDENTS, STAFF, & COMMUNITY DURING COVID
Joseph understands about the concern for the students, staff. and community going into the 2020-2021 school year. Joseph supports an at home education, however, Joseph would like to see some sort of plan put in place for students experiencing homelessness in some form or those who have parents that cannot work from home and cannot take care of themselves as youth. Joseph believes that we should find a location at schools where these students can take digital classes and have a fair and equitable education as their peers. Doing this class in a library or cafeteria would keep social distance. We have the capacity to make sure our students, staff, and community are safe.
BETTER EDUCATION MATERIALS
In today's modern education system we need education tools that are up to date with the System. Joseph believes we should begin the process of moving forward from textbooks to the electrical system of iPad's and Kindles for 2 full reasons. 1. Students are more likely to take care of electronics over a heavy book. A current High School Student has about 7 classes to which they have at least 5 textbooks putting to much weight on their back, causing them to leave their books at school or not use them at all, which leads them to not do any homework assigned which ends up in the student not gaining a proper education. If we switched to iPad's or Kindles students would be more likely to carry the material with them every where they go and would be more likely to take care of the electronic over a textbook. 2. With Electronic Education Tools, there would be less of a need for paperback homework. All homework could be submitted onto the electronic device where it could be graded and submitted into the grading system faster. This would cause less work for the teachers meaning they would get more time to spend with their loved ones.
STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO
The current Student to Teacher Ratio's are too high and are causing students to miss out on a 1 on 1 opportunity with the teacher. Joseph supports partnering with Colorado College, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak Community College to bring in students who are wanting to obtain a teaching degree as teachers aides. Partnering with our colleges will help not only our students but the college student as well. This program would help college students see the inside of schools and work as teachers. It will also give District 11 students the chance to have a 1 on 1 opportunity with a teaching official.
BULLYING EPIDEMIC
The bullying epidemic continues to rise across the United States. The 2019 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey says that of those who took the survey, 16.6% were bullied on school property. Of that 19.0% were from El Paso County. Joseph supports putting restorative justice practices into all schools in District 11 and working with the student being bullied and the bully to come to a resolution about the situation. Joseph also supports working with the person who is bullying continually to find the reason to which that may be causing them to bully. Joseph supports holding any staff member accountable if the bullying is reported to them and nothing is done to properly handle the situation.
SCHOOL SAFETY
Across the United States, School Shootings have become more of a reality to many. Joseph believes a support system must be put into all schools to make sure students attain the high amount of safety they deserve when attending school. In November 2017, Citizens of District 11 approved the Mill Levy Override to which part of the funds go to hiring CSPD Officers to be SRO's in Middle Schools, this is a beginning to a much higher needed safety support system. Joseph is fully against arming teachers. Joseph believes that teachers are meant to educate not eradicate. Joseph does fully support arming school security guards, which began in 2014, that pass rigorous training's on a yearly basis and get evaluations on a yearly basis. Joseph believes that should the weapon of the Security Guard be drawn at any time for any reason, the Security Guard must be placed on administrative leave pending investigations and the guard must undergo a check to make sure they can still handle the weapon.
COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY
Joseph wants to work to make sure our students have a support system in place, so should they want to further their education after High School, they have the chance to do so. Joseph supports implementing a program that would assist a student in obtaining a trade licensing. With a trade license a student would have the opportunity to get a well paid job and afford the chance to further their education, should they choose to do so.
COMMON CORE CURRICULUM
Joseph believes that the current curriculum offered in District 11 does not prepare the student for a world to which they are about to walk upon. Joseph wants to work to make sure we are offering a curriculum that prepares the student for their future both in career and further education.
CHARTER SCHOOLS
Joseph believes that if a charter school wants to be funded under School District 11, they must follow certain rules to the point. Schools must have certain class requirements, they must have appropriate rules on who they can and cannot accept, they must have rules about how to handle bullying and harassment and they must have rules about how to handle emergency situations.
SEX EDUCATION
Joseph is a proud supporter of HB19-1032 for comprehensive sex education in school districts that choose to have it. Joseph wants to make sure that every point of HB 1032 is being followed to the exact point and that every student is getting a fair and proper education. When Joseph was in school he was unable to get a fair education because he was unable to ask the questions that mattered about his sexuality in fear of backlash from fellow students or the teacher. Joseph wants to make sure that our students are free to ask any and all questions that they have without and form of fear or contradiction.
TEACHERS COMPENSATION
Joseph agrees with the Board of Educations 2018 decision to increase teacher pay, however Joseph believes that the Board acted to late and that we lost phenomenal teachers to schools that paid a true living wage. Joseph believes that all teachers should be paid a wage to which they can take care of their personal necessities, family needs and other areas. All teachers who use their personal money to purchase an item for the school or the student should be refunded all funds to make sure they are not losing any personal funds. Teachers should also be given a beginning of the year budget to purchase any supplies that are currently needed and make sure they have everything to succeed in the school year.
SCHOOL VOUCHERS
Joseph agrees to a parents right to choose the education and the location to where their child receives their education. Joseph believes teaching students on personal choices is best to begin at a young age. Joseph is against vouchers on all levels. He does not agree with taking funds away from a public school to fund a private education. Joseph believes that should there be any issue in their child's education, the parent is welcome to meet with the board and school administrators and find a common ground to supporting a students future education, however taking funds from Public Schools is beyond the answer in Joseph's beliefs.
If you would like more information, feel free to email Joseph SheltonforD11@gmail.com