name: Kurt Kastein
Race: Poudre School District Board of Education B District
Question: Why are you interested in running for school board and what are your qualifications?
answer: PSD’s 30,000 students, their families, teachers, and staff deserve attention. These students will stand out for the rest of their lives with a quality education and will have a significant impact on our city and state. My wife Andrea and I have lived in Fort Collins for her 29 years and raised three wonderful children, each of whom attended PSD. As a member of the BOE, I will draw on my leadership experience as a father, eight years as a Fort Collins City Council member, and 12 years as Director of Engineering. Our children matter!
Q: What is the biggest issue facing the school district and how would you address it if elected?
answer: Our school district has trust issues. Parents of special needs children who were abused on school buses say they are not being heard. Parents concerned about student surveys asking inappropriate questions say their questions are not being asked. Teachers who year after year raise concerns about abnormal temperatures in classrooms say their voices are not being heard. Some parents believe that their child’s gender identity issues are being hidden. Healthy school districts can restore trust through open dialogue and transparency.
Q: How do you define parental rights as they relate to public education? What level of input should parents provide regarding curriculum selection and content?
answer: We must respect the right of parents to decide what is best for their children. Parents should be made aware of problems with their children and encouraged to intervene as those who best understand their children’s unique needs. Parents should have a voice and expect transparency so they can easily understand what is being taught. The system requires parents to have a say in choosing new curriculum and to have access to the curriculum their children are already using.
Q: Learning loss is significant across the country as schools switch to remote or hybrid instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. What should school districts do to close that gap?
a: The loss of face-to-face contact during the pandemic has been devastating. Not only the mental health of students, but also their academic performance was greatly affected. PSD must have an active goal of advancing student learning with an academic focus. Resources should be redirected to relieve teachers’ burden from non-teaching-related tasks. Distractions caused by the use of mobile phones in the classroom should be eliminated. Increased funding for mental health should be funneled into opportunities to include students and parents.
Q: As average temperatures continue to rise in Colorado, should all schools be equipped with central air conditioning? If not, why? If so, should we install central air conditioning in all our schools? How can I add it?
a: We need to consider more than the knee-jerk reaction of “Let’s raise more money.” Studies and task forces have been used in the past to address this issue, and I have heard from teachers at recent board meetings that there are creative solutions. Let those ideas surface and make a plan. Two possibilities are shifting the school calendar a few weeks and creating a capital investment plan that prioritizes installing air conditioning. But consider all your options and make a plan.
Q: We live in a high-growth area and will continue to need to build new schools. What steps should the district take to ensure equity among students in both old and new facilities?
answer: Good teachers and sound academic improvement strategies are more important than facilities. That being said, students and classrooms need good equipment. The new building will benefit from the latest building codes aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and will be equipped to take advantage of those opportunities. Existing facilities will receive new equipment to replace defunct or aging facilities. If properly managed, the district’s budget should equally meet the needs of old and new facilities.
Q: Given Northern Colorado’s rising cost of living, what steps should districts take to ensure they can attract and retain talented teachers, administrators, and district leaders?
answer: Teachers want to focus on education and the needs of each child while building their careers toward that goal. As school districts take on more non-academic responsibilities as part of their core mission, administrative staff positions with non-academic functions are also increasing. We need to focus on academics and provide resources (paraprofessionals, improved classroom equipment, competitive salaries) that benefit teachers and reduce the need for specialized administrative staff.
