In Colorado, educators, families and students are united in what we want from our public schools – an exceptional education in a safe and supportive environment for all of our kids, no matter where they live, the color of their skin or their household income. Soon voters will receive their ballots for November school board races and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

School boards have enormous power in our schools. Board members develop an educational philosophy, establish goals, adopt policies that have the force of law and supervise the superintendent, who implements board decisions. Their decisions and directives impact every student and educator in the district’s schools. Who we vote for is a reflection of what we want to see for our students, educators and schools.

In a number of communities, ideologues have taken over their school boards, causing chaos where there used to be peace. In Woodland Park school board members representing a small, vocal minority of religious conservatives have taken extreme measures. The board adopted a highly controversial social studies curriculum that distorts history to promote American and Christian exceptionalism, despite community opposition.

The board majority opposed mental health screenings for students and cut mental health programs in their schools, and then bullied educators, barring them from publicly commenting about school matters with the media or on social media, firing those who spoke up and causing others to quit from frustration.

The board hired a superintendent who, as a highly divisive Jefferson County school board member, was recalled by voters for his politically motivated attacks on teachers and curriculum

And the board president proselytizes via his official email, issuing invitations to join his church and receive Jesus as a savior. He invokes overtly Christian prayers in official meetings, running the risk of alienating people of other faiths.

Many of its residents – including conservative Republicans – are distraught over the politicization of the schools. One community member recently lamented, “The school board has really broken our small town – we can’t even talk to each other at the local coffee shop anymore.”

Woodland Park is the most glaring example of ideologues who are imposing their rigid, out-of-step values on schools, but there are many other districts where school board candidates have similar – if better hidden – goals, including Cañon City, Colorado Springs District 11, Academy in El Paso County, Westminster and Jefferson County.

Yet in all these districts, there are candidates who are running to strengthen our public schools – rather than tear them down – in order to ensure our students learn the skills they need to be successful in their careers, college, and lives. Educators, parents, students, and community members don’t want political culture wars in school – we’re united on the following four key elements of successful schools that provide the opportunity for every student to succeed.

First, students should be exposed to inspiring and age-appropriate curriculum that is fact-based, honest and includes topics like the Trail of Tears, the Holocaust, and the U.S. civil rights movement. Reactionary curricula like American Birthright social studies program have no place in public schools.

Second, no one in a school should ever be in physical or emotional danger, and with the rise of mass shootings in schools, it’s a reality. Students and staff members who feel afraid of violence can’t learn and teach well. Similarly, LGBTQ+ students should be able to expect a safe environment at school.

Third, many children and youth depend on mental health, special education, and other services at school to be able to engage with lessons and learn. Without these supports, many students will not be able to reach their potential.

Fourth, educator shortages are real – at the start of the school year, not one school district in the state opened fully staffed. Large class sizes mean some students fall behind without the one-on-one attention they need. Also, many kids simply don’t get instruction in subjects like art, music and P.E.

As Coloradans, most of us want strong public schools that give every student the freedom to reach their potential. I encourage voters across the state to do their research and support candidates who are focused on building up our public schools by:

• Committing to a fact-based curriculum that includes an honest account of U.S history

• Prioritizing violence prevention

• Ensuring that students have access to the support they need

• Increasing educator staffing through better pay and lower class sizes

•  Trusting educators to work with parents and students to make education decisions rather than politicians who have never set foot in a classroom and mandate one-size-fits-all policies

We won’t let a handful of extremists attack our public schools or divide and distract us. Every one of us has a role in creating the safe and supportive schools our students, educators, and communities need. Make sure you know what your school board candidates stand for and vote for solutions, not strife.

Amie Baca-Oehlert is the president of the Colorado Education Association representing 39,000 educators.

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