Candidates on the issues: Teresa Landa and Bret Howell
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Do you agree with the mask mandate for children in schools?
- Bret Howell No. Masking is an option. The freedom to make choices regarding personal health is a God-given and Constitutional right. Parents know their child’s individual needs better than the state ever could.
- Teresa Landa I believe the school district should follow the mandates as required by our state for publicly funded institutions. Exceptions are allowed for special needs.
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Do you believe critical race theory is currently being taught in schools?
- Bret Howell I believe that Critical Race Theory is slowly creeping into our curriculum. Sometimes it is disguised with a different name and is justified with words such as “Social Justice” or “Equity” or “Inclusion” but CRT is by its own nature divisive.
- Teresa Landa No, but community members differ in their understanding of CRT. CRT is typically explored in higher education law and philosophy courses.
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What’s your stance on the state’s comprehensive sex education program?
- Bret Howell It should be managed on a local level. The state CSE program is divisive, questionable and age-inappropriate. Sex education should have a primary focus on health and natural biological processes.
- Teresa Landa To protect children from sexual predators and keep children safe, we have an obligation to include developmentally appropriate sexual health education with opt-out options.
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Should schools have armed security personnel in buildings?
- Bret Howell It may be good policy to have an officer there during school hours, especially at the high school level, to help reduce response times in the event of an emergency.
- Teresa Landa Security personnel are necessary in our public schools. Being armed is determined by their level of training and the needs of the district.