Many of you know that I ran against Meredith Reed and Mandy Pomeroy in the primary for the Jeremy Ranch school board seat. I lost by 22 votes. Yet, I believe I gained valuable insight into our school board.

I remember the call I received from Meredith Reed. She asked if I would be willing to forgo applying for Kara Hendrickson’s spot on the board. Ms. Hendrickson had resigned from the board due to health issues. Meredith made a compelling argument that democracy was best served by not appointing someone who would become an incumbent and afforded that advantage in the election. It made sense.

It made even more sense when Carlos Villar and E.J. Elliot applied for the vacancy. Of course, the Park City School Board didn’t choose the former 35-year FBI agent who is fluent in Spanish and would have provided a Hispanic perspective to the board. Nor did they choose the former Park City high school student who mentors current students and could have provided a younger and fresher perspective. The board could have chosen someone who could have grown the board –even if only for six months. Instead, they chose Mandy Pomeroy.

I’ve seen nothing in Mandy’s first six months of service that convinces me she will improve our schools. What I pay attention to in school board meetings are the questions a person asks, the stances they take, and how they influence others in their decision-making. I’ve seen little of that. Supporters may say she works behind the scenes. That could be true, but a school board should conduct its business in front of its constituents.

Then comes the question of taxes. Mandy, as a member of the board, didn’t stand up to the school board when they decided to keep our taxes higher than they should be. A bond had been paid off and our property taxes should have been reduced. Instead, Mandy and the rest of the school board voted to keep that tax on the books. She may be running with the support of the Republican party, but keeping taxes higher than they should be isn’t a Republican value.

I also can’t get past Mandy’s interview on KPCW where the host, Michelle Deininger, seemed to make a strong case that Mandy has played fast and loose with the truth. I want change in our school district and that interview terrified me. If you haven’t listened to it, I would.

So, what about Mandy’s opponent, Meredith Reed? Like I have said before, we as a community don’t win by running from something. We need to run toward something.

In this case, I buy what Meredith Reed is selling. She wants to ensure that all important discussions are made in the open. That enables us to understand how the school board’s decisions are made. She wants to take a hard look at the Superintendent’s contract. Given all the negatives we have seen, should we be compensating our Superintendent at $400K+ per year? Even more, she wants to ensure that the school board communicates with the public. Those are stances I can get behind.

In my mind, there is little question of whether Meredith Reed is the superior candidate to Mandy Pomeroy. If you are a fan of the current school board, and how they have acted, then Mandy is probably the right candidate for you.

I, however, don’t want more of the same. I want someone I can trust. I want someone who wants to make positive changes. That’s why I voted for Meredith Reed for Park City School Board.

I have met both Erin and Nick on multiple occasions. I personally like them both. Erin is friendly, and she has been in Park City for a long time. If you had a conversation with her over dinner, you’d enjoy it. Likewise, you’ll know you’ve met Nick because of his British accent. He also seems down to earth. Overall, he is practical and organized. If this were a high-school student council election, it would be a toss-up.

Yet, it’s not a popularity contest. It’s more nuanced than that, and those nuances shift my opinion toward Nick Hill. That opinion is based on the actions of PCSD while Erin has been part of the board and the actions of Nick Hill.

While I like Erin, it is undeniable that the school district has faced its darkest time in recent memory. There have been a number of problems:

• Teachers with children in their own schools faced enrollment challenges created by the district and teachers left.
• Mask mandates were not followed at Parley’s Park.
• Child abuse occurred without proper reporting.
• PCSD couldn’t be troubled with getting the right building permits (that many of us know are required), and that will likely cost us time and money.
• PCSD had the chance to lower our taxes, but Erin (and every other board member) voted to keep our taxes higher than they needed to be.
• After all of that, the school board gave the Superintendent a raise and extended her contract.
• Overarching all of that, I feel like decisions by the school board are made somewhere else and then presented to the public. There is little discussion in school board meetings. The problem is that I, as a citizen, don’t understand how the decisions are made.

So, while I personally like Erin, I don’t believe the school board is on the right path. Therefore, I wouldn’t encourage voting for Erin Grady and keeping us on the same, flawed path.

So, you can’t just run away from someone. You should run toward someone. So, why would I vote for Nick Hill?

Nick rose to prominence when he pointed out that Parley’s Park wasn’t following mask orders during the original Covid time frame. Since that time, he has emerged as someone who has experience managing complex projects. He seems to be someone who thinks critically and isn’t afraid of standing up for what he believes. I also have hope that his background as a project manager will serve the board well — in areas like strategic planning.

If Erin hadn’t been part of a board with so many failures, then perhaps I would think differently. However, that’s not the case. Therefore, the best choice is Nick Hill given his willingness to speak out, back that up by taking action, running for the school board, and his experience managing complex projects.

Earlier this week I provided questions to each of the Park City School Board candidates. Below is the response I received from School Board candidate Meredith Reed.

1. Tell us about yourself. How will you help make the Park City School Board the best that it has ever been?

I am running for the Park City School Board because I love our schools and want to do my part to make them even better.  I am the proud mother of four amazing kids: one PCHS graduate, a student at Ecker Hill, and two at Jeremy Ranch. I believe that great schools make great communities. 

We are so fortunate in that our community is deeply invested in ensuring that we have the best school district possible. Collaboration with our teachers, staff, parents, students, local government, non-profit organizations, community partners, and residents is essential to the immediate and long term success of our district and to achieving the best outcomes for our students. Building community trust is built on clear communication and transparency and by acting in an open and deliberative way.

I have the skills to realize these goals. I am a veteran who served as a Chaplain in the Air Force, and I’ve worked as a strategic planning and communications project manager for more than twenty years. I’ve worked to solve tough problems, and understand the value and importance of communication between government and the community.  

2. The majority of Park City families’ property taxes go to the Park City School District. Many of us have had our taxes triple over the last decade. How will you balance ensuring our educators are paid fairly while ensuring taxes are within residents’ means?

With a booming residential real estate market, tax payers have seen a jump in their property taxes this year.  Utah’s state laws are at the foundation of this problem. Language in the Utah Constitution establishes that property has to be taxed at fair market value. Exacerbating the current problem is an education funding law adopted in 2018 that interferes with a mechanism in the state’s truth-in-taxation law from the 1980s which has led to higher payments than a property owner would have to make under normal circumstances. This state law has affected taxpayers since it passed, but increased valuations have led to higher tax payments this year.  Property owners who are experiencing an undue burden from these tax increases have several options available to them for tax relief: the ‘circuit breaker” tax relief program, the option of requesting a tax abatement, or enrollment in a tax deferral program. 

Through my extensive community involvement and advocacy, I have connections with non-profit and government leaders across Park City and Summit County, as well as relationships with state lawmakers.  Productive relationships at the state house are essential for what we aim to accomplish for our school district and making sure we have the most resources available to compensate our educators and staff. It is critical that we are participating in the policy discussions at the legislature to ensure the concerns of the Park City School District and taxpayers are taken into consideration in new legislation.

3. Should the book Fun Home by Alison Bechdel be in the Treasure Mountain Junior High library. Why or why not?

I am not familiar with this book; I cannot speak to its content or merits.  When choosing books to include in the library, librarians should work to create a collection that serves the student community and reflects a variety of experiences, social and emotional development, and is appropriate for students’ intellectual and reading levels.  Park City’s curriculum adoption policy (9050), established in 1995, provides clear guidelines for curriculum. Materials that are adopted must be thoroughly reviewed by parents of students, teachers, administrators, and when appropriate, the students themselves. This policy, which has been in place for nearly 30 years, safeguards against the inclusion of sensitive materials. 

4. The school district has been involved in a number of controversies recently (mask mandates, child abuse, building permits, etc.). Do you think PCSD needs to change? If not, why not? If so, why?

Our community is rightly concerned about the many serious issues facing the school district. We need a positive change; to have open discussions about safety, transparency, communication, truthfulness, equity, and, most importantly, our children.

The school district has experienced a number of missteps and mistakes; some culminating in criminal charges.  More recently, the delays in construction projects has been an obvious and avoidable problem. By an overwhelming majority, voters approved the nearly $80 million bond for infrastructure spending to support the yearslong master planning project and strategic realignment of our schools.  When the construction began without the required permits, this delayed the completion of those projects and added to the costs.  In order to ensure seamless collaboration with state and county partners, the district should review protocols in place to make sure that the district, the contractor, and all partners are working in sync. All of our state and local government agencies have the same goal – to work together for successful outcomes for our students. 

The Park City School Board is at a crossroads and needs new leadership. It is critical that we elect leaders to our board who demonstrate integrity, a commitment to honesty and good decision making, and a willingness to cooperate with our district stakeholders. 

5. What is one thing you will deliver if elected to the school board?

I will absolutely ensure that our board is conducting its business in public and following the Utah Open Meetings Act.  I will use all community media channels (KPCW, Park Record, TownLift, et al, and social media community forums) and commit to using all resources available to communicate with our stakeholders. I will work closely with the district’s media relations spokesperson to develop and increase opportunities to engage with our broader community, and make certain that we all work together to accomplish what is best for our students. I believe we can work together to create meaningful change that impacts the students, educators and staff, and families of our community. 

6. What’s the most impactful memory you have of when you were in elementary school?

My father served in the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, and later after completing law school, as a Navy JAG officer.  Like all Marine kids, I was raised to hold Marines in the highest regard.  My life goal in third grade was to be a Marine, myself, when I grew up. While discussing my aspirations with my third grade teacher, Ms. Herman, she assuredly informed me: “girls can’t be Marines.’  I replied that indeed women could serve as Marines, but she was not convinced by an eight year old.  (Ms. Herman was clearly unaware that women had been a permanent part of the regular Marines since the 1940’s.)  Following our conversation, I returned home from school and let my parents know what Ms. Herman had said.  My parents contacted Ms. Herman to politely correct her and inform her that this career path was, in fact, an option for their daughter. Next, the three of them went a step further and agreed to having a female Marine come visit my 3rd grade class.  In my recollection of this class visit the Marine was absolutely perfect – her uniform was impeccable, she was gracious, the class was in awe.  There are a number of aspects to this story that have had a lasting impact on me: my parents were advocates for me with my teacher, my teacher was willing to learn something new and share it with the class, and an outside organization was willing to take the time to participate in that educational process as well. 

Earlier this week I provided questions to each of the Park City School Board candidates. Below is the response I received from School Board candidate Nick Hill.

1. Tell us about yourself. How will you help make the Park City School Board the best that it has ever been?

I’m Nick Hill, father of one son, a third-grader at Parley’s Park. I grew up in southeast England, immigrated to the US in 2008, and become a US Citizen in 2019. I have lived in Park City for 8 years, but I’ve been coming here and had ties to the area since 2005.

Professionally, I am a project manager with over 20 years experience working collaboratively with diverse groups of stakeholders at all levels of organizations in various industries. Relationship and stakeholder management, communication, and leadership are all essential in my professional life and equally valuable to achieve positive outcomes for the school district. I also have a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Colorado Boulder.

I’m running for the School Board because I believe in the district’s potential. I believe that we can support teachers and elevate their voices, bring decision-making into the open, and rebuild the trust between the district and its stakeholders with transparent dialogue. I believe we can hold people accountable when legitimate procedures are ignored, putting children at risk and wasting money. I believe we can focus budgets on getting resources into classrooms, rather than administrators’ and attorneys’ pockets. I believe when we are honest about the challenges our school district faces we will find great strength in meeting them together as a community.

2. The majority of Park City families’ property taxes go to the Park City School District. Many of us have had our taxes triple over the last decade. How will you balance ensuring our educators are paid fairly while ensuring taxes are within residents’ means?

I think it’s important to recognize that wages are only one (critical) component of what those taxes fund. Currently the district is near the top statewide in spending per student, close to double the average. That’s a good thing, but what is that money spent on, and how much of it is debt financed? I believe we need to evaluate and reprioritize the budget to get more money to teachers and their classrooms, and to identify sources of waste. We also need to look at how effective we are at generating additional sources of revenue.

We can look at the overall structure of a district that is top heavy with highly-paid administrators. We can look at the number of no-bid contracts and the ineffective tools and services used within the district. We can fix processes and hold people accountable for failures so that we’re not spending significant sums on attorneys to defend the district from legal challenges. We might also look at whether we are maximizing revenue from facilities like the Eccles Center and the Aquatic Center. Unless we look at actions like these, sooner or later taxes will have to rise again.

I haven’t read it, and I didn’t have time to before responding to these questions (though I looked up the themes, controversies, and some critical reviews). That being said, I’m not sure I am qualified to comment on the specifics of the book. In general, however, I believe it is incredibly important that children can access books which represent their and their peers’ lived experiences, and these are certainly lived experiences for some children in that age-range. I do not personally believe it is productive to hide children from social realities. I believe it is much better to have meaningful conversations to help them navigate the world around us.

3. Should the book Fun Home by Alison Bechdel be in the Treasure Mountain Junior High library. Why or why not?

I haven’t read it, and I didn’t have time to before responding to these questions (though I looked up the themes, controversies, and some critical reviews). That being said, I’m not sure I am qualified to comment on the specifics of the book. In general, however, I believe it is incredibly important that children can access books which represent their and their peers’ lived experiences, and these are certainly lived experiences for some children in that age-range. I do not personally believe it is productive to hide children from social realities. I believe it is much better to have meaningful conversations to help them navigate the world around us.

I also recognize that is a decision I can make for my own child, not for other people’s. Utah State law now expressly allows for parents to trigger review of books in schools, with a committee reflecting each school community determining if any reviewed book should be kept in their school or not. Parents also have the ability to opt out of any class texts they do not want their children reading, and of course they can determine what library books they want their children to read. So parents have plenty of freedom to make decisions for their own children without making decisions for mine, or vice versa.

The reality is that children today have personal computers in their pockets that can access all the internet has to offer. My son (3rd grade) doesn’t have a phone, and he won’t for some considerable time, but even last year he was watching things essentially unsupervised on friends’ phones during recess. To my mind that provides a much more significant threat than the books in the library, but unless I plan to homeschool him there is always a limit to what I can control, so I believe my job is to prepare him for the world, rather than hide him from it.

4. The school district has been involved in a number of controversies recently (mask mandates, child abuse, building permits, etc.). Do you think PCSD needs to change? If not, why not? If so, why?

I do think it needs to change, and that’s why I’m running! I’m concerned that the common thread between all the listed controversies above appears to be a systemic disregard for legitimate procedures in the district administration – a belief that rules simply don’t apply to us. That cannot be acceptable. The mask mandates were about protecting a community during a once-in-a-century global pandemic. Child abuse reporting requirements ensure a fair hearing for both accused and accuser, and protect the school district from legal risk. Building permits ensure safety, and environmental protection, for all of us.

When we disregard these things, there are costs. Rejecting the mask mandate put many in our community at serious risk, caused parents to miss work and children to miss school at a time when we had done so much to keep them open, and increased the likelihood that a school would have to be closed entirely. The failure to report suspected sexual abuse left a huge emotional cost on those directly affected, but it also cost the district in legal fees and reputational standing, and ultimately resulted in a beloved educator leaving the district unable to properly clear their name. Having a major building program shut down for months certainly came at a reputational cost, and likely added to legal fees, in addition to inflationary costs on materials and the budget impact of having workers and equipment sitting idle. (It should be noted the district claims there is no budget impact, but offers no explanation for how that could be so.)

It is more than just these well-documented controversies, however. Staff morale is low, class sizes are rising, the trust between the District and its stakeholders is broken, and school performance is trending down. By one ranking (based on State Board of Education reported test scores), our highest elementary school is ranked 38th in the state, while our lowest is 177th at time of writing. Another ranking has our High School at 21st in the state. We can and should do better. We have to change the culture of the district, because the status quo isn’t working for too many of our children, our educators, or our other stakeholders.

5. What is one thing you will deliver if elected to the school board?

I firmly believe that bringing our district back to the top has to begin with transparent dialogue between the district and its stakeholders – including, but not limited to, teachers and parents. Nobody can reasonably expect that every decision made by an elected body will be met with universal approval, but when we communicate openly and bring decision-making into the open we give stakeholders a chance to recognize and respect that decisions come from a thoughtful evaluation of different facts and viewpoints. Involving people in the process is also critical to getting buy-in and building consensus.

To that end I believe communication presents several quick wins, and I am committed to delivering new communication channels, both through use of technology and in person, to meet the district’s stakeholders where they are. I also give my word that I will always personally communicate as openly and fully as I am able, including with local media.

6. What’s the most impactful memory you have of when you were in elementary school?

I love this question, because almost everything we have been asked over the past few months deals with difficult and often contentious issues. This is a wonderful reminder that we were all in elementary school once, and we could not have imagined the labels that we now either willingly accept or have imposed on us – the idea of looking for difference rather than commonality. So what do I remember from elementary school? I remember teachers, I remember pogo sticks in the school yard, I remember friends (some of which I still know today, albeit from far away), but the most impactful? That would have to be the social and emotional jolt of changing schools. I have heard too many parents, and too many teachers, say they are doing just that because of this school district. That is incredibly sad, and there is no bigger reason why we must see change.

Earlier this week I provided questions to each of the Park City School Board candidates. The second response I received was from current School Board member Mandy Pomeroy.

1. Tell us about yourself. How will you help make the Park City School Board the best that it has ever been?

I am a Parent. I am an Educator. I am an Advocate. I am a former elementary school teacher and teacher of the year. I am a mother of three girls who go to school in the Park City School District. I served my community as PTO president at Jeremy Ranch Elementary for 3 years; I am the chair for the Red Apple Gala, the Park City Education Foundation’s flagship fundraiser which raises hundreds of thousands of dollars every year that stays in our community and funds over a hundred programs: our preschools, the arts classes, and after school care. I have worked in higher education and have volunteered at school weekly for many years. I am experienced, passionate and the only candidate with demonstrated commitment to the children, teachers, and administrators in the Park City School District. My efforts on the board will be directed to ensuring we follow laws and create transparency and better communication with families.

2. The majority of Park City families’ property taxes go to the Park City School District. Many of us have had our taxes triple over the last decade. How will you balance ensuring our educators are paid fairly while ensuring taxes are within residents’ means?

As a former teacher, I have a sincere understanding of the needs of our educators. As a full-time resident in Park City for nine years, I also understand the tax implications of living in one of the most expensive areas of the country. This year, I was able to go through the budget process while serving on the board. It is essential to understand all of the pieces involved in that process. As a board, we have opened salary negotiations a year early and increased the housing allowance for teachers and ESP’s.

3. Should the book Fun Home by Alison Bechdel be in the Treasure Mountain Junior High library. Why or why not?

I have not read this book so I cannot speak to it, but if a parent feels it’s inappropriate, there is a process in place to challenge it.

4. The school district has been involved in a number of controversies recently (mask mandates, child abuse, building permits, etc.). Do you think PCSD needs to change? If not, why not? If so, why?

We can always do better! Change will always be necessary to meet the needs of our changing district and community. I will commit to being flexible with that change and stand up for the needs of our teachers, parents, and students.

5. What is one thing you will deliver if elected to the school board?

I am committed to being a voice for all parents. We all want to be heard and know that our children are getting the best education they can. I will listen, and I will represent all constituents.

6. What’s the most impactful memory you have of when you were in elementary school?

My first-grade teacher was one of the most impactful people in my life. She took the time to get to know me and invested in my education. That was the year that books came to life and also the year I knew I wanted to become a teacher when I grew up. I did just that and became an elementary school teacher. My first-grade teacher went on to become an author, and it was an honor to use her books in my classroom, and now with my children.

Earlier this week I provided questions to each of the Park City School Board candidates. The first response I received was from the current School Board President, Erin Grady.

1. Tell us about yourself. How will you help make the Park City School Board the best that it has ever been?
   
   I’m Erin Grady, one the five members of the Park City School Board (PCSD) and current President. I had the privilege of growing up in Park City. I moved here the second half of my first-grade year and attended Parley’s Park Elementary, then Treasure and graduated from Park City High School. I attended the University of Utah where I majored in Public Relations. I graduated and was immediately hired at Deer Valley Resort as part of their Public Relations team. While at Deer Valley I met my husband, we have two children that are both students in the Park City School District. Beyond the PCSD Board, I also sit on the Board for PC READS and on the Board of Directors for the Park City Chamber of Commerce.
   
   Since being elected to the Board five years ago, I am proud of where the district has come. When I started, we were just beginning our Master Planning process. This past November, we were able to get a $50 million bond passed. This plan is not to just expand our schools but, to take the communities vision by realigning and growing space for our early childhood learners, wrap around services and CTE (Career Technology Education). These enhancements allow our educators ensure best practices for our children’s future education. I am committed to making sure that we are communicating and staying fiscally on track as we move forward with the building process and realignment. As we move into realignment, we as a Board are tasked with making sure our strategic plan continues to reflect the values of our community. Our strategic plan includes making sure our mission to inspire and support all students equitably to achieve their academic and social potential still stands. We will do this by working with our teachers, students, parents and our community partners.
   
2. The majority of every Park City family’s property taxes goes to the Park City School District. Many of us have had our taxes triple over the last decade. How will you balance ensuring our educators are paid fairly while ensuring taxes are within residents’ means?
   
   The actual rate has not significantly increased. It’s more a result of the property value assessments. In fact we didn’t even change the rate this year to pay for the new buildings.

3. Should the book Fun Home by Alison Bechdel be in the Treasure Mountain Junior High library. Why or why not?
   
   The board has adopted a policy that addresses HB374 about sensitive materials. We have adopted a policy that we believe complies to state law while balancing the inherent right of all students and relies on our wise and professional educators. We have set up a procedure to challenge any book under the sensitive materials definition and will take every challenge seriously and follow our policy and procedures to adopt it.

4. The school district has been involved in a number of controversies recently (mask mandates, child abuse, building permits, etc.). Do you think PCSD needs to change? If not, why not? If so, why?
   
   No, I stand behind how we managed the numerous challenges that have faced us. I think there inherently is always going to be challenges and it is not what happens to you but how you manage it. Does that mean we always get things right the first time, no, but we are willing to pivot and adjust as needed to serve this district and community.
   
5. What is one thing you will deliver if elected to the school board?
   
   I intend to focus on the elements of the position that may not grab the headlines but are necessary and foundational to create the best version of the Park City School District like salaries, retention, ensuring we have fiscal responsibility, facilities, etc. and I am looking forward to continuing to do the serious work my constituents have elected me to do and really try and avoid unnecessary and polarizing issues that are not necessary for the highest functioning district and have the potential to divide our community. You should and can expect that from me as a school board member.

6. What’s the most impactful memory you have of when you were in elementary school?
   
   Teachers…there are many of them from Elementary to High School that impacted me and am still so grateful for them today.