The Watchman sent questionnaires to all four candidates running for two open seats on the Mat-Su School Board. The purpose was to give each candidate a chance to lay out where they stand on key issues like parental rights, library book controversies, abortion and contraception referrals at school, transgender sports and bathrooms, mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training, sex-education curriculum, gender pronoun policies, political activism among teachers and more.
Sydney Zuyus is running against incumbent Kathy McCollum for the District 3 seat, and Dianne Shibe is running against incumbent Ole Larson in District 6. While Zuyus and Shibe refused to respond to the survey, McCollum and Larson offered extensive answers that reflected their established conservative record.
Both Zuyus and Shibe are union-backed with support from leading left-leaning political figures (see article here).
The school board currently enjoys a 6-1 conservative majority, but if Zuyus and Shibe are elected, that conservative majority could shrink to a narrow 4-3 edge.
CANDIDATE SURVEY RESPONSES
Do you support a parent’s right to withdraw their child from any activity or class which the parent believes to be harmful?
OLE LARSON: Yes. Parents are cornerstones of a child’s education, and they have the right to direct their children’s education. Parental rights are paramount in students’ education, and they need to be able to work hand in with educational professionals.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: I absolutely support a parent’s right to withdraw their child from any activity or class which the parent believes to be harmful. Parents should have complete authority over their child’s upbringing and education.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
The Mat-Su School district has come under fire for having certain books that deal with sexual themes in school libraries. Do you support the current process of having a Citizens’ Library Advisory Committee recommend the removal of certain books from school libraries?
OLE LARSON: Yes. I was part of the decision to develop the Citizen Library Advisory Committee. The committee will determine the age appropriateness for books under the State and Federal legal guidelines centered around pornography, then forward the recommendations.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: I support the current Citizen’s Library Advisory Committee. I believe it is important to hear the community’s views. The sexualization of children needs to stop.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
Would you support the use of school district resources (time or staff) to refer students for abortion and/or to distribute contraception to students?
OLE LARSON: No. Parental rights come into play in the health and wellbeing of their children. The school district should always consult parents/guardians in major health decisions.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: No. The schools should not intervene in a family’s health decisions or beliefs.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
Do you support the Mat-Su School District’s current policy of prohibiting biological males from competing on sports teams that are designated for females?
OLE LARSON: Yes. I was a member of the policy committee that developed the Fair Playing Field policy. The protection of title IX is paramount, as biology has proven that male-bodied athletes have a 30% advantage over female-body athletes.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: Yes, I support the Mat-Su School District’s current policy of prohibiting biological males from competing on sports teams that are designated for females. Female athletes deserve fair competition in sports. Male bodies have an unfair advantage over females.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
Do you think schools should be allowed to let biologically male students who identify as female (and vice versa) to use bathrooms and locker rooms that comport with their gender identity?
OLE LARSON: No. I was a member of the policy committee that developed the bathroom/locker room policy that states that students can use only the bathrooms and locker rooms of the sex they were born. Single-stalled bathrooms are available.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: I absolutely believe that male and female bathrooms should be exclusive to biological sex. Females have a right to feel safe in their bathrooms and locker rooms.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
Do you support mandatory Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) trainings for school administrators, teachers and staff?
OLE LARSON: No. The school district is a service organization that educates all students equally. This training is available outside of the Mat-Su Borough School District if an employee wants to attend DEI training on their own time.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: I am against mandatory DEI trainings for school staff.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
Do you support the school board’s recent decision to require that the school board approve any curriculum, literature or materials related to sex education, human reproduction education or human sexuality education before these are used in a class or program or distributed in a school?
OLE LARSON: Yes. It is paramount for staff, parents, the community, and the school board know what the curriculum, literature or material is related to sex education. Parents may choose to opt into a sex education if the see that the curriculum is appropriate.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: Yes.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
Do you support the school board’s recent decision to require written permission from a parent before a name or pronoun that does not conform to a child’s biological sex is used by a school to address or refer to a child in person, on school identification or in school records?
OLE LARSON: Yes. Parents are the cornerstone of their child’s education as well as their child’s wellbeing. The school district is a service organization with a mission of educating youth and needs parental permission for student identification and records.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: Yes, I support this decision and strongly believe that parents have the right to know if a different name or pronoun is being used at school.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
Do you support the school board’s recent decision to prohibit district employees from utilizing school time, materials or facilities to engage in political activism?
OLE LARSON: Yes. The mission of the school district is to educate youth fair, balanced and without individual bias. Educators present material that must show both sides of an issue to ensure that civil discourse occurs.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: Yes, I support the decision to prohibit political activism by teachers in the classroom.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Do you support the school board’s recent decision to require that school counselors focus on academic issues and not personal or gender related concerns?
OLE LARSON: Yes. It takes a community to raise a child, and a solid relationship in sharing all information between support staff, teachers, counselors, and parents is paramount. A bond between adults ensures a solid direction in education.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: Yes. School counselors should focus on academic success and the skills needed to achieve that goal. Parental permission should be obtained.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
Do you support the school board’s decision to opt out of the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)?
OLE LARSON: Yes. The school district hasn’t participated in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey for three years because of its content. Any surveys outside the school district must be approved by the school board. The public has a right to know what students are being asked.
DIANNE SHIBE: No response.
KATHY MCCOLLUM: Yes, I support the decision to opt out of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
SYDNEY ZUYUS: No response.
TAKING ACTION
— Mat-Su residents will vote on school board candidates during the Nov. 7 elections. Early voting begins Oct. 23. For more information about voting locations, balloting options and registration, click here.
11 Comments
Seems odd to me that the one side didn’t answer the survey. On their website they talk about transparency and being open and honest but yet they didn’t answer.
Did you know recycling efforts are also considered “Political Activism”? It’s a shame such a term has come to be and impact so many wonderful forms of activism.
Did you know these questions are silly b/c it’s the exact topics Larson and McCullom and the entire board voted on. Watch a board meeting!
Did you know MSEA conducted surveys as well and guess who didn’t respond? Larson and McCullom……. How about that Boris?!?
Please please home school if you are so appalled by this. Stay out of something that you really don’t want to be a part of anyway. Editor recommends Raven.
MSEA did a survey too. Guess who didn’t respond to that one? Larson and McCullom!
Watch a board meeting!All these questions didn’t have to be asked, it’s what’s been voted on the past several months.
Frustrated, please provide a link to the MatSu Teachers union survey. Thanks.
Cat got the commies tongues!
Kathy and Ole both listen to the community, they care about our children and the future of this world. When they vote, their vote reflects what the majority of the local community feels is most important. We all need to make sure that we are voting this November for Kathy and Ole!
Yes tell all your friends about Kathy and Ole.
Also inform your friends about theses other candidates running for a board seat, DIANNE SHIBE and SYDNEY ZUYUS
These people are disguising themselves, there a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Very intelligent commentary
Dianne and Sydney might stay awake during a board meeting though.
Watchman-If you moderate posts you’re struggling to fully understand your platform of raising awareness. Don’t be one-sided
Some of these leftist politicians are going after the Watchman online and on social media – twisting his intent and reporting. Do not let someone who claims to be a believer or who is “faith based” trick you into voting them into a position of power. Read all of the comments, see how they respond to others. Some of these candidates are “all for” some really nasty stuff, but are hiding it under the flag of God. Education should be pretty straight forward and black and white, unfortunately some of those wearing that particular hairstyle are making education interests rainbow colored.