Opinion
By Jessica Styers, 6-18-24
I highly recommend attending the “We the People” candidate forums. Last night, Dr. Kathy Burns and Curtis Gaus, running for the Nassau County Superintendent of Schools, answered questions developed and asked by Deb Boelkes. Both shared their thoughts and answers as they campaigned for the position. Their bios were on the invitation, which was very helpful.
If you don’t know what the issues are both nationally and locally, Deb Boelkes’ excellent questions led you to understand what is going in our schools. Her first question was about the candidates’ stance on Critical Race Theory, DEI, SEL, humanism, Marxism, racism and maybe more. (Both candidates pointed back to the standards set by the state.) Another question referenced a new statue HB 931 (I think that is the right statute) where school districts may have chaplains volunteer in the schools. Other questions addressed the biggest challenges in Nassau County; do you use Prager Kids, free to class rooms, in your schools; stance on encouraging volunteers in the school; stance for or against having a Citizen Advisory Committee on budgeting; and educating parents on HB1403 (I think that is it) which informs them of their options on private, religious, or charter schools. Another question asked about Florida’s #3 ranking on human trafficking, child grooming, and gender coaching. And, of course on everyone’s mind, a question on what happened on the millage rate where the School Board proposed a 1 millage rate when all they needed was a .75 millage rate – and ALL our taxes went up significantly.
Yes – we have a great school district. Yes – each candidate is qualified and has much experience and loves Nassau County. Yes – we have great successes in personal stories of the students. Yes – we have great programs being introduced such as welding (but mostly for the kids who can come to Amelia Island). Yes – I learned Nassau County is one of seven counties in Florida rated the highest in safety. Yes – academic rating in the state are high.
But I also learned that we have lost 200 teachers and that every school district has an even or negative growth except Wildlight, which was surprising.
It was a great, informative night. We obviously have two good candidates. I recommend you do your research, talk to the candidates, and vote!
But as a conservative, I am looking for leadership in our schools to combat the rise of indoctrination going on our children. I am looking for real fiscal responsibility with real transparency of the budget and spending. My concern comes from listening to arguments on the school textbook; reading Indoctrinating Our Children to Death, Alex Newman; watching the news with what is going on with gender and sex education in our children behind parents backs; listening to the documentary War on Children produced by Robby Starbuck; and the seeing the fight against taking books with sexual content out of the libraries and schools.
Jessica Styers is a concerned Citizen of Nassau County, Conservative Christian, American First.
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida
