JOSEPH'S VISION FOR D11
BRINGING STUDENT REPRESENTATION TO THE BOARD
Joseph supports bringing the students voices back to the Board of Education and in doing so, Joseph supports creating a Student Representative seat on the Board of Education. The Student Representative seat would be 1 seat for 1 year. Students from all D11 high schools can apply. The Board of Education will interview all applicants and choose the student to fill the seat. This opportunity will open up a furthers support and guidance from within our students community, allowing our students to further voice their concerns and fight for change within their community. Not only will it bring a new and current voice to the Board of Education, but it will also help our students further learn about local government, the importance of speaking up on issues, and working with others to make solutions in to successful change.
COVID-19 INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
COVID-19 has attacked many families in many ways. Joseph fully understands the losses many students have faced both inside the school and outside the school. Should Joseph be elected, Joseph wants to make sure all students, staff, and community members of Colorado Springs School District 11 are being given the safest environment possible. Since posting Joseph's thought's (May 2, 2021), the numbers showed that School District 11 had a total of 948 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in schools. This number caused Columbia Elementary School, Coronado High School, Doherty High School, McAuliffe Elementary School, Palmer High School, Swigert Middle School, and West Middle School to go back to remote learning. Joseph supports the continual use of masks in schools by all those on campus, the continued use of monitoring numbers and moving education remotely when deemed necessary, and other needs deemed necessary by the CDC, CDPHE, and EPCPH.
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
Joseph supports a parents right to choose whether or not their child receives the COVID-19 vaccine, just as many other vaccines that are out there. However, Joseph supports the request that all students who are not vaccinated attend school remotely until COVID-19 is found to be under control. This request would only be held on those 16 or older as the CDC has not released the vaccine to be used on those under 16 at this time.
GENDER INCLUSIVE BATHROOMS
Joseph supports the implantation of Gender Inclusive Bathrooms in all D11 public middle schools and high schools. In January 2020 Joseph spoke at the Board meeting in favor of this issue (seen at 14:25). Joseph also supports either ending the requirement of swim class or requiring gender neutral locker rooms for both PE and swim classes. The 2019 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey found that 20.3% of students were bullied in the locker rooms or bathrooms, of the 22.5% were from El Paso County. As well 47.6% were apart of the LGBTQ+ community. It is so important that we give our students safety and security at school and this only begins by giving bathrooms and locker rooms that are safe for use.
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.
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.
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.
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. Students who hold a trade license 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. While School District 11 has been following HB19-1032 for quite some time, Joseph believes that more needs to be done to make sex education as comfortable and educational as possible. Joseph supports splitting classes to have males and females separate and more comfortable asking questions that pertain to them. Joseph also supports bringing in outside resources to educate on issues that are in their expertise.
TEACHERS COMPENSATION
Joseph supports the Board of Educations 2018 decision to increase teacher pay, however, Joseph believes that the Board acted to late, causing the loss of many phenomenal teachers. Joseph believes that teachers should be paid a wage to which they can live upon. Joseph believes that use of personal money to fund any school necessities should be refunded by the district up to a certain amount agreed upon by the district administrative team.
SCHOOL VOUCHERS
Joseph supports a parents right to choose the type of education their child receives. He believes educated students on personal choices at a young age is of utmost importance. This does not go without saying that Joseph is fully against vouchers. Joseph stands strongly against taking funds from public education to fund private education.
If you would like more information, feel free to email Joseph
SheltonforD11@gmail.com
SheltonforD11@gmail.com