Candidate: Anil Pesaramelli
Office: Boulder Valley School District Board of Education District G
Website: http://anil4bvsd.com/
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES (200 words maximum for each response):
Are you the parent of a current or former BVSD student? Please let us know when your child attended BVSD.
“My daughter is a sophomore at Peak to Peak High school.”
What motivated you to run for BVSD Board of Education?
“I believe that every student has unique talents and passions waiting to be discovered, and I am committed to fostering an educational environment that helps them find and pursue their interests from an early age.
As a candidate for the school board, I am committed to:
Revisiting Curriculum: I believe in revisiting and reimagining our curriculum to make it more engaging and relevant to the interests of our students. Education should not be a one-size-fits-all approach; it should cater to the diverse talents and passions of each child.
Expanding Career-Oriented Programs: I am dedicated to expanding programs that introduce students to various career opportunities from a young age. By connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences, we can inspire our youth and prepare them for future success.
Fostering a Love for Learning: I want to create an educational environment where curiosity is encouraged, questions are valued, and students are excited to learn. When we ignite a passion for learning, we empower our children to thrive academically and personally.”
What do you see as the major issue(s) facing the school district? Please list five issues in order of priority, and give a brief explanation of why the issue matters.
“1) Achievement gaps in specific demographics: BVSD is a high performing school district but there are some achievement gaps in Black and Latinx groups. The gap is even wider when we bring the economic situation into picture. No matter how we slice and dice it, more work needs to be done to reduce this gap. 2) Students with Special needs: There is a scarcity of resources who can take care of students with special needs. I was at a Board meeting when a parent complained that they have to homeschool the kids due to the lack of resources. We need to increase the funding and training to handle this issue.3) Declining Enrollment: Aging population, high cost of living, declining overall birth rate, lack of special needs resources have all caused the decline in enrollment. We need to plan to expand our open enrollment boundaries, make combo classes, allow income housing, and use our resources effectively to tackle this problem. This needs community leaders, parents and teachers to all come together and make some tough decisions.4) Overcrowding in District G: This is an interesting problem to have. Since cities like Erie, Lafayette, Louisville and Broomfield are growing rapidly the growth is inevitable. We need to access the data and make decisions accordingly. If this growth is temporary, we will see the same decline in enrollment in a few years. Our investments will have to be responsibly made.5) Fiscal responsibility: We got a $350 million community bond approved by taxpayers in 2022. We got $576.5 million in 2014. We need to be fiscally stringent and make sure our dollars are spent in the right place so that we don’t need to go for another bond in 2030.”
Do you agree with BVSD’s decision to make a $32,500 settlement with a family who alleged that the district’s equitable discipline policies constitute discrimination against white students? Please explain why or why not.
“I do not agree. This will set a wrong precedent going forward. BVSD has been working on Equity, Inclusion and Diversity for quite some time and all of that will go to waste.”
Emergency department visits for sexual violence among Boulder County teens doubled from 2020 to 2021, then again in 2022, according to data from Boulder County Public Health and reported in Boulder Weekly — do you agree with how BVSD has responded? Please explain why or why not.
“I do not agree with how BVSD responded. Most of the time the victims are in a helpless state and traumatized. They need a wide range of services and support. Victims need to feel safe as crime often leaves them feeling vulnerable and frightened. Oftentimes victims have feelings of self-blame, anger, shame, sadness or even denial. They want to get over it or have little to no exposure so that they can cope. There are some statistics about flawed reports but this should not deter us from providing a safe environment for victims to report the violence. Judging a victim is the worst thing we can do.”
What BVSD policies would you change, and why?
“Non discrimination policy needs to be revisited. The selective treatment for the family which got the $32500 settlement serves as an example. The Curriculum development and revision policy can be revised. The current generation are learning in a very different way. The policy was created in 1985 with revisions in 1993, 2005 and 2015. Covid changed the way we think and do things in every area. I believe learning should be more focused towards career streams and not geared towards a college admission.”
What BVSD policies do you support, and why?
“I support the Equity policy of BVSD. The policy is working towards removing institutional barriers and embracing and respecting the dignity and diversity of each individual within our community. We should start questioning assumptions and examining our own biases. We should commit to building our own and others’ capacity for culturally responsive teaching, learning, and leading.”
How will you engage with community members?
“I will engage more with PTSA of each school. This is where I can get more direct information from the parents and teachers who are on the ground dealing with issues on a daily basis. Since I am also a member of the Community Bond Oversight Committee, I also get feedback from a Fiscal responsibility aspect.”
What makes you the best candidate to serve on the BVSD Board of Education? Put simply: How do you stand out against other candidates?
“I do not have any experience in politics or any experience in public administration. I have an Engineering Degree and an MBA and have worked for multi national companies like Oracle. I am going to bring my skills and leadership from my education and work experience. I have a passion for Learning and I believe every student has different interests and passions. I am committed to developing a love for lifelong learning which will enable the students to fulfill their dreams. I believe every problem will have a solution if we all think rationally. I will bring the centrist thought process that the Board needs now.”
