Candidate: Lalenia Quinlan Aweida
Office: Boulder Valley School District Board of Education District D
Website: https://www.lqaforbvsd.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.
“I have two children who currently attend BVSD schools and one recent BVSD graduate. My husband and I are also proud products of BVSD, having graduated from Fairview and Boulder High, respectively.”
What motivated you to run for BVSD Board of Education?
“When I graduated from BVSD, I was grateful to have the skills needed to launch into adulthood. As a result, I am passionate about equipping the current generation for post-graduate success. An excellent education is imperative, but we must recognize that times are not as simple now and give students some additional tools. Our children have weathered a pandemic and live in a culture obsessed with social media, both of which long-term effects are still unknown. Students still need academic and critical thinking skills, but also problem solving acumen and the emotional intelligence to navigate a changed world.”
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.
“-Our biggest challenge will be addressing declining enrollment in BVSD. It’s crucial that the Board of Education uses all practical and strategic levers at its disposal to address this. With the 2020 census in hand, the ability to examine attendance boundaries provides one such tool. Understanding how school choice impacts declining enrollment is also important. Data analysis will be key in the decision-making process, as well as transparency and strong community outreach.
-Budgeting is the next challenge. BVSD is already below the national average in per-pupil funding, and declining enrollment will exacerbate negative budget impacts. Combined with the fact that Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding expires this year, this will require the Board of Education to wisely allocate financial resources.
-While Title IX compliance in BVSD has recently been taken more seriously, I believe that compliance is only the beginning of our work. The challenge of preventing sexual violence in our schools is multifaceted. Continued engagement with community partner agencies, strong leadership on policy, and implementation of best practices will result in a safer environment for all BVSD kids.
-The mental health of our student population is a concern. The 2021 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) revealed that almost 40% of Colorado youth reported feeling depressed in the previous year, and 17% seriously considered suicide. This same survey shows that 7% of Colorado youth attempted suicide in the previous year. The 2023 HKCS results will be available in summer of 2024, which will give the Board of Education further information. Wide and deep support for students weathering mental health crisis will be a budget and staffing challenge for BVSD.
-Continued examination of the achievement gap for minority students and students who qualify for free and reduced lunch is necessary. The persistent disparities can be mitigated using differentiated funding, which will allocate resources to schools based on their percentage of high-needs students. The continued use of resources above and beyond regular funding has shown great promise.”
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.
“Neither party admitted wrongdoing in the settlement agreement pertaining to this lawsuit. I find the information to be limited, most likely due to privacy requirements. As a member of the public, it’s difficult to know if the correct decision was reached. That being said, JDHB, BVSD’s anti-bullying policy, states that learning environments should be free of bullying behavior. I believe this policy should be rigorously enforced to ensure a safe environment for all BVSD students.”
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.
“Serving on the Title IX Council in BVSD and working as a sexual violence prevention advocate for both Blue Sky Bridge and Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA), I have worked extensively in BVSD classrooms on this topic. I believe we need additional educational resources to further this work. Sexual violence should never be normalized or trivialized, and our priority as a School Board should be a safe environment for all BVSD students. In response to the increased reporting of sexual violence in our community, BVSD has made several positive changes to comply with Title IX. Title IX states that our institutions must not discriminate based on sex. These protections include sexual orientation and gender identity. BVSD has Title IX obligations when it pertains to sex-based harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual violence. BVSD’s hiring of a Title IX compliance officer and its approval of a Title IX Advisory Board have signaled a willingness to address sexual violence in our schools These changes need to be part of a larger strategy to address rape culture in BVSD.”
What BVSD policies would you change, and why?
“The spirit of BVSD’s JDHB policy is well-intentioned: learning environments should be free of bullying behavior. However, I would like to reexamine the accompanying policy JDHB-E, which gives guidance on the investigation and response to bullying complaints. We should also review BVSD’s Instructional Materials Selection and Adoption (IJ) policy, last revised in 2018. These book-selection guidelines and any related reconsideration policies should be informed by the American Libraries Association (ALA) and the Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF). The Freedom to Read movement is essential to our students. The ALA and OIF can offer BVSD support to ensure these policies are airtight to prevent book banning.”
What BVSD policies do you support, and why?
“I support BVSD Policy AC, which prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, or need for special education services. We are not immune to discrimination here in Boulder County, and must remain vigilant in our protections of all students and staff in BVSD.
I support BVSD Policy AC-E3 which gives guidelines for supporting students and staff who are gender
nonconforming. It is a progressive policy which provides guidance on restroom and locker room accessibility, as well as outlines BVSD’s responsibilities to provide a safe environment free of discrimination.”
How will you engage with community members?
“I will provide an open-door policy. I am available and willing to both listen to concerns AND celebrate wins with my community.”
What makes you the best candidate to serve on the BVSD Board of Education? Put simply: How do you stand out against other candidates?
“My community work, passion for student safety, and the trust of fellow community members speak to my strong candidacy. I grew up in BVSD and want our schools to continue to be an asset to our community. I have worked in BVSD classrooms for six years as a sexual assault prevention educator for both Blue Sky Bridge and Moving to End Sexual Assault. I currently serve on the BVSD Title IX Advisory Council, chairing the Best Practices Subcommittee. As a Restorative Justice Facilitator for the Boulder District Attorney’s Office, I support a restorative approach to reduce the disparities in BVSD discipline. I will utilize my strong community relationships to promote mental health, safety, and equity for our students. I am proud to be endorsed by BVSD’s Teachers Union (BVEA) and two former Presidents of the BVSD Board of Education, Linda Shoemaker and Laurie Albright. I’ve earned the support of District Attorney Michael Dougherty, as well as former and current Colorado State Representatives Edie Hooton, Kyle Brown, Judy Amabile, and Junie Joseph. These community leaders have openly declared their confidence in my ability to represent the best interests of the Boulder Valley School District community.”
