In November of 2022, I wrote a story about the Hillsboro School Board election that was going on. I did not know any of the candidates, but I saw and paid attention to the massive election signs that were put up all over the City of Hillsboro. In the Herald’s 2022 story, Integrity & Guerilla Tactics Expose Themselves In Local School Board Election, I pointed out the fact that a panel of candidates supported by Communities For Sensible Schools had posted these signs around the City. The signs openly violated the signage codes on the books in the City of Hillsboro. The article compared the 2022 candidates, called out the lack of ethics being used, and questioned the ability to advise our kids and families fairly. After all, if a candidate wants to openly start the relationship with the people of Hillsboro by violating codes and ethics, what else would they be willing to do? Send your cell phone unwanted texts repeatedly? Sure. Why not. As an Independent voter, I was hammered by this conservative group last year with text after text, and it SUCKED!!
Now, just six months later, a slate of new candidates is running under the Communities For Sensible School’s flagship. By now, you should have all seen the 4 ft by 8 ft foot blue signs spread out around the City and beyond. Hell, the signs are being placed outside of Hillsboro, including in front of the Aloha Surplus Gun and Military store miles from the Hillsboro school boundaries. That news broke last night- how timely; read up here.
This year’s group of conservative candidates being promoted by Communities For Sensible Schools are:
Terri Kam, Shawna Arns, and Dr. Bart Rask. I can personally say that I know and like both Rask and Arns. They are very friendly and solid people in my experience. I do not know Kam. But it is said that you can learn a lot by looking at the footprints that people leave behind them and by following the money.
Before I make this recommendation to you, I want to clarify that I am a political Independent and I often am appalled by the likes of Kate Brown, Adam Schiff, and Janeen Sollman. I am also a former Rush Limbaugh – Ronald Reagan conservative. Hell, I was even listening to Lars Larson for years. Imagine that. But life, time, and realizing that hate and White Power are not who I am led me away from those darker days. Now I walk in the middle and try to support everyone who is a force for good. Good, and real freedom.
At the end of a very long look at this grouping, and being a fair-minded individual and knowing our City and people the way I do, I must conclude that this group is not the right group to take us forward as a school district. I can say that the answers the Herald received from Doctor Rask in the earlier article, while articulate, left the question of book banning and treatment of LGBTQ students hanging in precarious and uncommitted space. The other candidates did not want to respond.
But there is a lot more to why I am so concerned.
Rask has children in Hillsboro schools and is listed as the Director of Communities For Sensible Schools. Fair enough. Joining him is Johnathan Gilbert, who lives in the Beaverton school district. They are a Political Action Committee in the State of Oregon. Read the latest on them right here- https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/printerFriendly.do?OWASP_CSRFTOKEN=DPKM-4LWP-LWQ0-36GI-2C87-BHTJ-ZIMK-3P6S
Using the website https://www.portlandrecord.com/state-campaign-finance/pac/20761.html I could begin looking at the amount of money funding this PAC, where it was coming from, and where it is going to. It is all pretty standard, but there is a lot of it ($$$$) flowing for a local school board race. A lot. Most of it seems to be coming from Dr. Rask himself. No problem there either; the man wants to win and make a difference. That is his God-given right.
But things get weird when you track the money. Here is what we see as of tonight at the State of Oregon Campaign Finance site. Check this out: https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cneSearch.do?cneSearchButtonName=search&cneSearchFilerCommitteeId=20761&OWASP_CSRFTOKEN=DPKM-4LWP-LWQ0-36GI-2C87-BHTJ-ZIMK-3P6S
On the right, we noted that a substantial sum, 20,000 dollars, was spent at Blitz Canvassing, LLC today. There is no Blitz Canvassing, LLC registered in Oregon, but we found a company specializing in Campaigns and influencing outcomes located outside of Oregon. This is probably who received that $ 20,000 dollar today. If they did, get ready because you (and me too) are about to get blasted with inbound texts geo-politically targeted at those of us in Hillsboro and of voting age, and maybe even those who deep data caches know are possibly leaning. This would be the same thing I and others experienced last year which we reported on in 2022. Not sure how legal that is or ethical, but this race seems important enough to damn the torpedos.
Ok, now look at the left set of arrows. The Communities for Sensible Schools has spent just a tad under $30,000 with Noble Consulting, LLC. Stan Pulliam, the current Mayor Of Sandy, owns that firm. What? Here is what the Noble website says:
“Led by seasoned business and political communication experts, Stan and MacKensey Pulliam, Noble Consulting is a business, economic development, communications, public affairs and political consulting firm with a focus on digital marketing, public relations, issues advocacy, messaging and communications, fundraising and political organizing.”
Remember this guy? The most obnoxious candidate to run for Governor or any position in years? Could be. One thing appears pretty certain, Communities For Sensible Schools like this man a whole lot. Why and what he and his company have been hired for is a complete mystery to us at this point.
Pulliam and his wife were in the press a while back for admitting they had been active in the swinging community in Oregon. This article featured those admissions in People – https://people.com/politics/oregon-gubernatorial-candidate-confirms-he-was-in-swingers-group/ and the Oregonian in a 2022 story.
While I am sure we do not understand why the good Doctor would choose to align his political ambitions with a man who openly supported Donald Trump and the “Big Lie”, there must be a reason. The old saying that you should be careful who you get in bed with applies here … for sure.
Pulliam and his wife MacKensey are tied to the Oregon Mom’s Union, which has had a strong stance as an anti-LGBTQ organization, at least on a number of topics. https://www.sandypost.com/news/stan-mackensey-pulliam-deny-anti-lgbtq-bias-in-war-on-woke/article_f24c17dc-2ee1-5391-88f6-5c0f63245134.html
So let me get this straight – it is ok for the Pulliams to “swing” and that somehow gives them the moral high ground to consult this group of Candidates about this campaign? And Dr. Rask and his PAC are hiring them; why? Is this getting murky enough for you?
Well, if you are not convinced that this trio is not the folks we need on the Hillsboro School board, let’s have a look at Terri Kam, who is running for the Position 4 seat currently held by See Eun Kim. Terri is a local businesswoman with what appears to be a successful catering business. Her “About” page on the website sounds terrific- she looks like a model board member. But there are those footprints we leave in the world. And they must be looked at for people trying to take the power seats. Here is a quick look:
Terri Kam – https://communitiesforsensibleschools.org/terri-kam/
First off, various people have indicated this is Terri Kam’s Twitter account. If it is, it has some really choice tweets like this one:
Keep putting down truth. I feel like the duct tape was just removed from our mouths and we have 2 years of truths to that are spilling out. How about Trump Won that feels good to say also
— Terri Kam (@TerriKam2) April 27, 2022
So #TrumpWon I guess- thanks for the update!
A little research linked Terri and her business to perhaps the most controversial candidate to run for office in Oregon over the last few years. Meet March Thielman.
- Kam donated $30,000 to elect Marc Thielman for Oregon Governor https://marcfororegon.com/policy/2a/ –
- Her family business, Kam Catering, donated an Additional $5,000 to the Thielman campaign.
- Thielman is a hard-core right-wing conservative: His campaign page promotes his ideologies which are strong on the 2nd amendment and extremely Pro-Life. His messaging and language go in-depth to object to closing schools or forcing children to wear masks during the pandemic.
- On a fascinating note, Mark Thielman was the Superintendent of the Alsea School District. According to various news sources, in February 2022, he resigned after allegations of sexual harassment of his school staff and bullying staff. Thielman also, according to OPB, supported local school board control in Alsea, making pandemic masking optional, going against the State of Oregon. He was also accused of using threats against staff and anti-gay language- according to this article in the Corvallis-Gazette Times – https://gazettetimes.com/lebanon/news/local/alsea-schools-complaints-against-thielman-allege-hostile-work-environment/article_2768b024-6b3c-5721-8211-d0a8642312b1.html
- News Channel 8 did an in-depth story on Thielman, as seen below,
- Here is a quote from their story:
According to the Gazette-Times, three formal complaints were filed against Thielman in the past week, “alleging a hostile work environment, illegal firing practices and disregard for any viewpoint that is not his own.” During Tuesday’s meeting, Thielman called the complaints “deeply personal, hurtful and unsubstantiated” and said he would cooperate with the investigation. According to https://www.kgw.com/article/news/politics/alsea-superintendent-marc-thielman-resigns/283-4d4cc761-6e07-469f-8731-c2403359db9d
“The allegations paint a picture of Thielman as a bully, a man with a temper who is often distracted and even inappropriate at times,” the Gazette-Times reported. “All three said they believe they are not safe in the current working environment.” From the story https://www.kgw.com/article/news/politics/alsea-superintendent-marc-thielman-resigns/283-4d4cc761-6e07-469f-8731-c2403359db9d
Kam’s contributions to the Marc For Oregon (Governor Campaign) are outlined below. According to the Portland Record, she was his second-largest supporter, which posted the donations on their website. See that here- https://www.portlandrecord.com/state-campaign-finance/pac/21565.html
Here we see Thielman being prayed over by Q-Anon “Prophet” Johnny Enlow. WOW! This is one strong candidate for Governor.
Three Oregon GOP candidates—Marc Thielman, who is running for governor, Darin Harbick, who is running for U.S. Senate, and Patti Adair, who is seeking reelection as a county commissioner—were prayed over and “commissioned” by QAnon “prophet” Johnny Enlow. https://t.co/7vxz4PyvfS pic.twitter.com/sFHrqYHjss
— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) March 28, 2022
One last thing on Mr. Thielman – he founded the website/organization Battleground Oregon according to this website – https://www.battlegroundoregon.org/. The Home Page states, “FOCUSED & COORDINATED ORGANIZATION AMONG CONSERVATIVE ALLIES TO FUEL THE RED WAVE IN OREGON.” Ok, great.
Terri Kam and her business gave $35,000 in Cash to this man for his gubernatorial campaign AFTER these allegations came out against him. Serious allegations that he, as school board superintendent, created a hateful, hurtful, and harassing environment. A place where sexual harassment and bullying were alleged. A place where gay slurs were tossed about. All alleged, but he resigned and ran for Governor before he had to endure the investigation.
Let’s end this madness: Communities For Sensible Schools is too extreme and not being honest about their intentions once they win those school board seats. The coordinated effort to use money, influence, unethical signage, out-of-state money, and these unsavory connections (Pulliam, Thielman) is even more cause for concern. These concerted efforts to install new groups of like-minded school board members is something we have seen across the country. Unable to win at the polls, extreme ideologies often are using school boards and the like as launch pads for a more aggressive agenda. Unless Hillsboro, Oregon, is prepared to have a black eye like the one Newberg is still smarting from, this is not the group to send through. Unless Hillsboro students should be subjected to extreme ideology Voters across the Hillsboro District nust reject this panel.
I find nothing on the website for Communities For Sensible Schools that objectionable. But it is the things that have been done, that they don’t or won’t say, the people in the atmosphere around them, and the unwillingness to answer direct questions about Book Banning, LGBTQ equity, curriculum, and the freedom of expression by students and staff, that have convinced me that we must as a Community Vote No for Kam, Arns, and Rask.
I have interviewed all of the opposing candidates except one, and I find them all to be very mainstream, not extreme and focused on running a thriving school district for Hillsboro, Oregon. It is better for our kids. Because of that, I am proudly voting for Ivette Pantoja, See Eun Kim, and Patrick Maguire for Hillsboro School Board, and I happily support them and think you should too!
Oh, and I am a High Honors Graduate from West Union Elementary, East/R.A. Brown Jr. HS, Mid HIgh School, and Good Old HilHi! And My schooling here landed me the 1st ever Jackson Foundation Full Academic Ride to Portland State University where I graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. Not bad for a local boy.
Normally I like reading your articles, but this one is pure trash!!!! You never gave any reasons these candidates are bad except that they support Republican candidates. What kind of argument is that??? Have you seen the candidates you voted for??? When you look up Patrick Maguire, the first thing that comes up is he is a part of the LGBTQ++ community. Explain to me how that helps the children in our community? Then you look up Ivette Pantoja, and the first thing you see is she is endorsed by Janeen Sollman. Didn’t you say you can’t stand her??? The only person you voted for that looks ok is See Eun Kim. Don’t come on here and pretend you are down the middle, then tell us to vote for someone that is far left. What a weak story, you can do better…….
Anyone that knows me knows I am fair. I did my best to get answers-I stand by my beliefs. This panel has shown they are extreme. They openly violate our sign ordinances to get and edge, and that is enough for me, period. Someone’s sexuality is not the business of anyone. Not all have been involved with Hillsboro Schools, nor had kids in the schools. The fact is we do not need as a town or a school district extremes- people in this country do not want to be put upon by those with belief systems that harken back to a by gone era that simply stepped on the rights of others. I allowed you to state your opinion, I stated mine. And that in the end is the best thing we can do. That is called Freedom. I appreciate your input and I think the voters will make their own decisions. I cited plenty of specific reasons. Please continue to engage however you see best suits your beliefs and I will respect that and do the same. Thank you!
Dirk
Dirk, I appreciate this article but I have a couple questions. Please know I am asking in the true spirit of what used to be fair and balanced reporting.
1. Have you done similar research on the other candidates? It would be helpful to compare the money trails.
2. Why would you mention someone’s status as a swinger? That is no more relevant than any other sexual status (excepting pedophilia). I have friends who swing and friends who are asexual. That not a consideration for public office.
That’s an interesting question No. 2. First off, Stan disclosed that bit of information himself: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/02/republican-candidate-for-oregon-governor-confirms-membership-in-portland-swingers-group.html
Secondly, if “any other sexual status” is irrelevant, then why do the Oregon Moms Union and many of Stan’s other friends push so hard against LBGT representation in the classroom under the cowardly guise of “curriculum transparency?” Why do they seek bans of so many materials and accuse so many LGBTQ+ educators of bias… or worse?
Finally, given what that one particular slate has been lazy enough to leave on the self-published shelves of Amazon and on their Twitter feeds, they aren’t making it altogether difficult to follow their trail. In fact, I’m more surprised that Dirk and others haven’t unearthed more, though such revelations seem UNSAFE.
Let me help you:
Bart Rask has lied repeatedly about what is taught in schools and has said he’s a-okay with book banning.
Terri Kam’s twitter account is (or was–she may have deleted the tweets, but a trip to the Wayback machine will bring it all up) full of election-denying, science-denying, and conspiracy tweets.
Shawnna Arms just recently called the police on someone standing outside their own house in their own neighborhood.
These candidates have made no secret of the fact that they want to take parent choice out of school in regards to CSE and that they want to remove any book that they feel runs counter to their hyper-conservative views removed from libraries.
This article is bad. With some conservatives on the school board they can consetrate on the basics reading, writing, and math.
How about you “consetrate” on finishing third grade and learning how to spell or using proper grammar and punctuation?
Did conservatives help you spell it “consetrate?”
Not to mention that Bart Rask wrote 2 books that debunked evolution for devine creation instead. They are currently on sale on Amazon.
“The Evolution Delusion: How to Recognize the Unsupported Claims of Darwin’s Theory.” From that greatest of all publishing houses: Self.
Thank you so much for your extremely in-depth and focused article. I have noted that the flyers supporting this trio are extremely vague, and appear to be attempting to avoid their actual beliefs and agenda. You have made that crystal clear. I have also noticed the improbably huge banners, and wondered why the city hasn’t yet removed them. They are obviously out of code— are they waiting until after the election, for some reason?
Unfortunately, it has become so expensive to run for school board that I suspect we will be seeing more candidates like this, rather than regular people wanting to get involved and help to improve our schools.
This is the move now. Can’t win major elections on the merits of the issues and strength of the candidates? No problem. Go win school board and HOA elections. Get into positions of power and build the base. There is out of State money flowing into school board races across the country. Thank you for your comment and fore reading our stories!
Dirk
This seems very one-sided to me, Dirk.
When you interviewed Patrick, did you ask him if his position on the school board has given his freelance curriculum-writing business a boost? Or why he had to give up his chair position for the Washington County Democrats? Did you ask Ivette if her daycare business might benefit from her school board position if/when Preschool for All arrives? Did you ask See Eun if she felt any conflict or regret about keeping schools closed longer than they needed to be, extending learning loss, considering her employment at the Oregon Health Authority?
Besides all those potential or actual conflicts of interest, we have real problems in our schools. Our state’s test scores are in free-fall. In 2016, Hillsboro’s were around the state average, but they have fallen much more than the rest of the state. That’s what a real moderate would be looking at. A moderate would not distract readers from our current school board’s failures with all this fluff. And ranting about religious people “from a by gone era” in the comments? You are talking about half or more of our town! You refer to a school board election in November 2022. School board wasn’t even on the ballot for that election. This is one sloppy smear. I wouldn’t have bothered. Your readers will see right through it.
Like you said. You have freedom to write whatever you want, and I guess you did label it opinion. But I suggest that our students deserve better. The current school board is not delivering. I voted for Terri Kam, Shawnna Arns, and Bart Rask. They have ALL had kids in Hillsboro schools. Some (maybe all) of them graduated from these schools. I don’t believe your picks have had ANY kids in Hillsboro schools, Dirk, and if they do, not nearly to the extent that these Kam, Arns and Rask have. It makes a huge difference if they feel the pain their policies cause for the rest of us. Our enrollment continues to fall long after COVID ended, even this year, and our current board isn’t asking itself why. We have a problem! We need balance on our school board, and voting for the status quo will not bring it.
Happy to have your opinions shared, Joe. I share my opinions. You are welcome to yours. Thanks for weighing in. I know you know the Communities for Sensible Schools team very well. So, good for you! Keep posting. Glad to have you weigh in.
Dirk
Thanks Dirk.
Hey Joe! Hope all going well on the curriculum committee and with your family! I missed seeing you and the other CCAC members this past year.
For what it’s worth, my writing work hasn’t had to do with K-12 education in several years, so no there’s no overlap between my professional life and board service. I wouldn’t have thought to make the connection, but good to have the opportunity to share since perhaps other folks wondered the same thing.
On your other question, I didn’t have to leave as chair, I’m sure folks would have let me continue volunteering, but when my second term finished it seemed a good time to move on to help in other ways in the community. I think four years is a pretty reasonable length of time to volunteer in any one particular time-intensive leadership role. I was originally asked to take the role because there were persistent divisions and I’ve always tried to be a consensus-builder. With a lot of help I do think I left the group in a kinder, gentler place than when I arrived.
I haven’t had the chance to meet the conservative slate of candidates personally, but I’m sure they are sincere people who care about our community in their own way. I know most people think it’s a bit Pollyannaish, but while I’m concerned with a number of ideological stances they’ve expressed, I really do think there are many things we would share in common as neighbors in this community.
However, I have to question this narrative of the “status quo” ignoring opportunities for improvement. Since I joined the board a year ago there have been huge amounts of very robust discussion on how the district can improve outcomes for students. If the solutions to the challenges our students face were simple then they would have been found and implemented long ago.
There are some really positive initiatives our district is pursuing to target early literacy and coaching for at-risk students. If folks on the other slate had specific research-based plans rather than just slogans, I wish they would have shared them as part of our collaborative strategic planning process, because everyone volunteering on the board wants to improve student outcomes, and is always looking for new ideas on how to do that.
It’s right to always be looking for improvement and how we can do better, but we also shouldn’t forget to celebrate the incredible things that are happening. I think we can and should do both. Take care, and whichever way the election goes, hope to see you around!
Way to go Patrick! I voted for you. Hope you win!
Thanks for the answers, Patrick. Good on you for making an appearance. Those questions were more pointed at Dirk’s one-sided “investigative” reporting. They were easy questions he didn’t ask even from your filing form. I’m glad to have you put some of them to rest, though.
(Kudos to Dirk for allowing me to even post that criticism)
We may disagree on how to best help students, but you are one of the nicest people I’ve ever served with (and frequently disagreed with — that’s not easy to do).
My experience has been that ideas given to this board that don’t fit their agenda are usually politely (and sometimes even rudely) ignored. You don’t find the best solutions by electing 6 people who all think alike and steamroll the 7th. I wish the open-mindedness you’re describing matched my experience. If your claim were grounded in reality, I think enrollment and test scores would have rebounded by now.
Cheers.
Hey – are you the same Joe Everton that lost the school board election last cycle with similar groups of people and also lost your bid for state representative because of your ultra conservative views? I think you are and that makes you way more bias than Dirk. Thank you Dirk for calling out these wolves in sheep’s clothing. No room for any of this nonsense in our little Hillsboro, Look what happened in Newberg when they were elected. It took the Oregon Supreme court to step in on that and how much of our tax dollars were wasted?
Shawnna Arns kids went to Beaverton’s Westview High School. Just sayin. It’s her right to move across district lines to run in another district but your statement is disingenuous. I for one am glad that we voted against this cabal of rightwing self proclaimed Xtians. I expect them to claim the election was stolen. Yawn.
Hillsboro School District enrollment
source: https://www.oregon.gov/ode/reports-and-data/students/Pages/Student-Enrollment-Reports.aspx
2019-20 20269
2020-21 19366
2021-22 19013
2022-23 18872
Hillsboro School District Math/Reading Scores vs. State Average
Source: ESSA District Accountability Details Reports
HSD vs. State 2015-16 HSD vs State 2021-22
Meeting English Achievement 67.5% vs. 69% 30.1% vs 47.4%
Meeting Math Achievement 31.3% vs. 33% 12.2% vs 21%
Anybody who is thinking of students or our community will care more about these numbers. These trends will continue as long as we continue to vote for the status quo. Your picks are too cozy with groups they should not be cozy with — HSD administrators and teacher unions, and focused on too many distractions and not enough academics. I voted Kam, Arns, and Rask. They will put students first.
Well said. Best of luck. All opinions welcome here, mine, yours, everyones.
“Your picks are too cozy with groups they should not be cozy with.” Oh, unlike your folks who are up in Rock Creek singing “Open the Eyes of My Heart” with people who want to turn the Hillsboro school system into a seminary. Your lovely little slate whose friends stood up for coaches in this district who abused kids because they were “good guys.” Who go on Twitter and deny that President Biden won the election and then want to tell us our kids aren’t learning anything in school.
They’re not thinking about “students”: They’re thinking about some bygone notion of Christian “morality” and data points. Sorry, bud, but we aren’t going to reproduce you a whole bunch of new students for the district. School enrollment is down in most corners of this state, and most places are going to have to accept that reality. And banning books, tearing down LGBTQ flags and saying that Black lives don’t matter won’t boost scores: But listening to HSD teachers and administrators instead of your goose-stepping friends from Newberg and Battleground will.
Now that is a response. The truth is out there. Finding people with character and the courage to speak it is hard these days. Jason is not someone for the weak to tangle with. Thank you, Jason, for your thoughts! When will we go catch a game with the THOUSANDS of Hops fans? Maybe get in on the top fan base in the country? #PlayBall
And is this any different from most other school districts in the nation? I certainly don’t believe this is something that should be ignored, but putting this at the feet of the current board when it is happening everywhere is very short-sighted fear-mongering.
I have seen nothing from Kam, Arns, and Rask that shows me they work in the children’s best interest. They are not interested in children. Instead, they see the HSD School Board as a tool to promote their regressive views.
This article saddens me. You cover where the money is, who they voted for in the past but not the platforms they are running on. Our schools are a disaster. Since you are giving yourself accreditation, I have lived in Hillsboro the majority of my life, a 2nd generation Hilhi graduate, my children are 3rd generation graduates. Sadly, there won’t be a 4th generation due to the deterioration of the school system. Our daughter and family moved out of the school district, because of the schools. Our son and family moved their daughter to private school. Did you read what these candidates are promoting? Reading, writing, arithmetic. They are putting sex education back in the hands of the parents where it belongs. Isn’t that what schools are supposed to be? Teaching our children how to read, write, and do math? Our grandson was reading at a 2nd grade level when he entered school. After two years, he had to be held back because his reading was so poor. Our junior high grandchildren had to sit in a circle every Monday in and English class telling what pronoun they identified as that day. Yet, they cannot properly punctuate a sentence. We, and this school board is failing our children and preparing them for the real world. Did you read who is supporting them and notice who is missing from the list?
Debra- I researched all of the good and the bad. I welcome all points of view. But the facts are this is a very extreme political move on their part. They all have some severe character issues in my opinion. Backing the Big Lie, claiming that Darwin is not a mainstream scientific view, allowing election deniers and Jan 6th champions to advise them and paying for that guidance, violating sign standards to win. Supporting the concept of not allowing various books- the same people no doubt allow their Children to have cell phones, like most of us,- providing them full access to every form of pornography and outside influence. Are they willing to deny their kids access to the internet? TV? You-Tube? Tic-Toc? If they are all that great they should run unfunded, no money needed by PACS to win, and make their best case and honestly answer questions. They dodged questions. They are not good for the majority of the people in Oregon. For a white- Christian extreme majority they are the dream team. I said I think they are entitled to their opinions and beliefs, and I stand by that. The issues seem to be for me, Character and transparency. This panel does not have that. My father and mother were conservative people of the utmost character. They would never vote for someone in either party who will back an extremist agenda that imposes personal beliefs on others- NEVER would support book banning. I get it; things have slid too far. But trying to turn by the clocks is not going to work. We have to work for positive change and messaging. If they wanted to do that and have more of a straightforward approach, I would have no problem. Hell if they were a bit more mainstream and did not have these ties to the lunatic fringe, I would support them. But that is not who they are. Those footprints we leave speak volumes- we can not run or hide firm what we have done. Either own it or reject it. But don’t tell us you are one thing when you are another. That is just bad; we all deserve better at every government and public service level. Keep posting Debra – I appreciate your opinion, and I am sure many of our readers do as well. That is what I am happy to print your response and I appreciate your feelings and your position. That is a good thing for all concerned.
Dirk
Christian white extreme? Seriously? How are you different from those that label others? Have you looked as diligently into the background of those that currently are on the school board? Former head of the Democratic party in the county. The ones that have closed meetings, that you have to sign up to join the school board meeting, and whoops, we’re full, you can’t join? Or if you do show up to present uninvited they shut you down. Yes, it has happened to a friend. The ones that shoved an invasive sex education on the schools despite parents objecting. Over reaching according to several teachers I have talked to.
Those running have clearly stated their platform: reading, writing, arithmetic. Put the sex education, etc back in the hands if the parents. Do you have children or grandchildren in the current school system? I did until last year. They are getting an education, they are getting brain washed. Last I checked, Darwinism is a theory. One of several, including creationism. I see nothing wrong with pointing out the flaws in a theory.
You are very one sided and partial to those that agree with you. I realize this is an editorial piece but you present facts that take away from the main problem: that being the education of children and the right as a tax payer for the school board to be transparent. Which it is not.
Calm yourself.
Your comment is full of inaccuracies.
Invasive sex Ed? Have you looked at the curriculum? Because the entire curriculum is online for parents to see. Parents are also informed before the unit is taught and are given *multiple* opportunities to opt their children out of part or all of the unit. That is pretty much the opposite “shoving” invasive (it is not. Check it out) CSE. What you actually seem to want, and what these candidates want, is to take away the choice from parents and, instead, curtail the intellectual freedom of Hillsoboro’s children.
Great bit of work, Dirk. It seems pandemic-era grudges coupled with good ol’ bigotry and ignorance have fashioned a fine slate of local rogues that I’ll in no way vote for. Also, for those interested in just how much balance Dirk actually presented here, consider the United Neighborhoods Standing Against Foolish Education page on Facebook. Now THERE are some folks who got into the local newspapers, megachurches and third-tier wineries and took a look at the people behind the big lawn signs. Yikes: https://www.facebook.com/unsafehillsboro/
Wow! Jason. Love this Facebook page and I learned something new. Posted on this site it says “CfSS has been donating to Joe Everton’s HD30 bid, to the tune of $18k so far. ” Wow and only to lose and now he is supporting them. Seems pretty unethical for all parties.
Thanks Dirk for the information. I was also wondering about the squad and the huuuge signs. Did not know they were illegally huge.
I hope Hillsboro School board doesn’t turn into Newburg. That does concern me for the future of Hillsboro School District. And the possible banning/burning of books.
Schools are supposed to be places where students have the opportunity to explore new thoughts and ideas. How can we expect our children to become good citizens if they are denied the opportunity to come to their own conclusions about different social and political viewpoints. If students are not provided this opportunity, we will continue to perpetuate an environment of ignorance and bigotry. I support Kim, Pantoja and McGuire because they want a school system where all students can be successful, be welcomed and feel safe.
Nice work Dirk.
Thanks for this article Dirk. It answers many questions I’ve had about these candidates. I’m very concerned that Hillsboro not turn into another Newberg. Hopefully enough people will agree and won’t vote for these extreme and less-than-forthcoming candidates. Hillsboro and its students deserve much better. I’m voting for Kim, Pantoja, and Macguire.
I appreciate the huge amount of research you had to do to pull all this information together. Keep up the great work
These candidates all support a frighteningly reductionist stance of a strict return to “reading, writing, [and] arithmetic.” It seems they believe that things like literature, sports, social studies, science, art, music, theatre, vocational education, technology education, foreign languages, CSE, and a whole lot more lead to lower test scores. I don’t want to live in a world where those things are devalued due to conservative Christian discomfort.
I wrote a ‘note’ in support of Kim, Pantoja, and Maguire on Facebook about a week ago. Today, I read the opinions of some of my fellow voters who clearly voiced the discomfort I also felt when considering Rask, Kam and Arns as HSD board members. I did not trust their campaign messages. I know one of the candidates has been trying to influence elections to the HSD Board for several years, mainly through significant monetary donations to a far right PAC. Some candidates running for the HSD Board couched their ‘concerns’ over good old reading, writing, and arithmetic when what they were really after was dismantling sex education curriculums and discriminating against marginalized families and students. The idea that public education is a system organized to meet the needs of EVERY STUDENT is a concept completely foreign to these school board candidates. Congratulations, HSD on the return of and election of school board members resolved to serve every student and every HSD family.
I very much appreciate your position and I’ve given a voice to everybody on both sides of this issue. I think there’s been some healthy debates and I think certain facts became evident to many people as this campaign played out. It’s a difficult environment we live in and the country is very polarized. I just don’t see the value in trying to go back to the 1950s or that kind of mentality but I know that is a valuable proposition to a lot of people. I think it’s great that you voiced your opinion and found some support amongst your peers for it. Keep posting and expressing your views. Thank you very much!