Six looking to fill four CCS board of education seats

    Come Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, or as they vote absentee, residents in the Chase County Schools district will have a decision to make—who they want on their board of education for the next four years.
    Voters in the CCS district will have six people from which to choose to fill four seats. Ballots for up to four can be cast.
    Two men who would be new to the board filed—Jason Banks and Jason Burke—along with four incumbents—Cindy Arterburn, Jeff Olsen, Dan Reeves and Steve Wallin.
    Below are questions posed to each candidate and their responses. Biographical information on each is also included. Questions were generated by staff at The Imperial Republican.

1) What is the most important outcome or result a tax-supported school should strive for?
Arterburn: The board recently spent an evening, along with a facilitator, working on an answer to this question. Our new mission statement was approved at our last meeting. “Chase County Schools creates exceptional opportunities, fosters strong relationships and empowers students to succeed.”
Banks: I believe we need to have a strategic vision for graduating students who are prepared for future schooling and careers. I believe we need to allow Principal leadership to improve the school now and in the future. I believe that we need to work hard to recruit and retain excellent teachers and other school staff. Keeping in mind that ALL students matter, kindergarten through senior.
Burke: A tax-supported school should strive to ensure every student in the district has a safe place to learn and a fair opportunity to reach his/her academic potential.
Olsen: The most important outcome a school should strive for is to prepare our students for success in whatever path they may choose after they leave Chase County Schools. Preparing them to be successful and productive citizens is crucial.
Reeves: College or workforce/military-ready graduates at the lowest feasible cost per pupil.
Wallin: Turning out students that are prepared for College/University, Tech School, Military or the workforce.
    2) How will you pledge to keep school budget spending low with property taxes in mind?
Banks: I believe we need to keep within a budget strategy with future planning to maintain facilities, to keep up on necessary capital improvements, to focus on programs that directly impact the students and making sure we are reasonably paying faculty and staff. I believe that if we have great team retention, our students will benefit.
Burke: I will pledge to keep school budget spending low by being diligent with discretionary spending. In my own business practice there are the temptations of automation, building improvements and software upgrades. However, the costs are usually outweighed by only marginal improvements. In a similar manner if our students need new technology, curriculum, facilities, etc. we support it. If what we have is sufficient we save our tax dollars.
Olsen: School spending is always important and we as a school board must ensure we spend taxpayer money wisely. A large percentage of the budget is used for staffing needs, so we need to make sure we are staffing for the needs of our students in the most efficient way possible. Reviewing the needs of our students and adjusting our needs as they warrant is a must. As far as other spending, we need to continue to consider the cost versus benefit of our expenditure, especially when it comes to facilities, making sure we are spending appropriately to once again meet the needs of our students and community.
Reeves: The district has been doing a good job staying competitive on staff pay/benefits, maintaining facilities, reducing debt and maintaining necessary cash reserves while staying under the budget caps set forth by NDE. We never know what our next financial challenges may be. I will work to continue this.
Wallin: CCS budget should be managed the same way that farmers/ranchers, business owners and property/home owners in the district manage their own budgets. There is definitely a constant need to balance between funding needs to keep this district successful and looking for ways to save costs.
Arterburn: It is the superintendent’s responsibility to prepare the budget. It is then reviewed by a board committee before it is brought to the board for approval. I believe the entire board is mindful of property taxes when approving the budget as we are all land/home owners.
    3) The NE State School Board has no statutory power, so how do you think the SBE’s recommendations, such as their health standards, should be viewed on the local level?
Burke: I think it is acceptable to assess the SBE’s recommendations for guidance only. Our local school board should adopt our own policies and standards (ex. health standards) that better reflect the values of Chase County.
Olsen: We are assessed on the state standards that have been adopted by the State Board of Education. Therefore, using their standards is required in most situations. However, our policy states that we as a local school board do not have to adopt a standard if we do not feel it is warranted. Therefore, we as a local district have the final say of what goes into our curriculum.
Reeves: We need to continue to be diligent at the local level to review all curriculum before implementation and create sound legal policy that benefits our students and reflects the views and values of all stakeholders.
Wallin: I think that we need to carefully consider any recommendation that comes from the SBE and determine if it aligns with where we want our district. Then only adopt recommendations that fit our goals/values.
Arterburn: We are fortunate that, at this time, our local school board has the ability to recommend health standards that are taught at age appropriate levels.
Banks: I understand the question as recommendations from the State Board of Education on how and what we teach our students. I believe that the school district, the school leadership system and parents should have a huge say on a subject such as health standards.
    4) Hindsight is 20/20, but if a situation such as COVID-19 ever occurs again, what will you support to deal with it? Do you support mask-wearing and closing schools? Explain.
Olsen: The first objective of the school district is to keep the students and staff safe. To do that, we need to rely on experts and the information we have at the time to make educated decisions. I feel we need to do anything we can to make sure the students can continue to learn at school in the classroom.
Reeves: Every situation is different and I believe we all learned a lot from COVID-19. If the situation is similar I think we do everything in our power to keep schools open for our kids. We have resources if you would choose to keep your students at home. I think we need better non-biased information in regards to mask mandates. To say there are no ill effects of students in masks is short-sighted.
Wallin: At the time of COVID-19, school closures, then reopening with masks seemed like the best option with the information we had. I think any future situation would require its own evaluation of the situation before taking any action.
Arterburn: Hopefully, a pandemic is a once in a lifetime occurrence. Staff, students and parents had very little notice that school closure was necessary in March 2020. We were fortunate that we were able to safely reopen in the fall 2020. The custodians and entire staff did a phenomenal job of keeping the building clean and safe and cases relatively low. In-person learning is generally more effective for most students. In the beginning of Covid, masks appeared necessary to slow the spread. As we continue to learn more about pandemics, it may become more apparent what measures may be most effective.
Banks: I will support the community, parents and school to deal with another pandemic. I do believe that masks have a place. I believe masks interfere with breathing and oxygen, communication and the ability to understand a person’s facial expressions. In most cases, I believe that healthy students don’t need masks. I believe parents need to make that decision. I think the closing of schools only disrupts the students and their families.
Burke: If a situation such as COVID-19 ever occurs again I support doing everything within our power to keep school open. Understandably we have a duty to keep our faculty, students and their families safe. We also have to assess the negative consequences of closing school including substandard learning and poor mental and social well-being. COVID-19 was challenging because recommendations were heavily politicized and constantly changing. The bold decision to close school or enact over-the-top safety mandates must rest on concrete evidence.