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Dear Editor:
I enthusiastically support Brake, Brown and Sharp to serve on the CCS School Board! I not only support them because of their qualifications, but because of their stated priorities.
They emphasize academic excellence, transparency, and parents’ rights.
Academic excellence should be the goal of all, but can it be undermined by divisive programs and agendas? I think so.
It is beyond bold for any group to use the PUBLIC schools as a vehicle for their propaganda. If this is being attempted, who might be advocating for these programs and what are their motives? Parents and the public at large have the right to know.
It is the responsibility of the school board to identify those who push their agendas on vulnerable students and put a “brake” on their activities. In my opinion, Brake, Brown and Sharp have the desire, courage, and skills to maintain the outstanding reputation the Carmel Clay Schools enjoy!
Brenda Polson
Carmel
I agree that qualifications are important. Brenda, can you tell us specifically what qualifications Jenny Brake brings to the table? Specifically, what experiences or items in her background make her the most qualified person for the school board?
It is clear that Brake, Brown, And Sharp and their non-local national backing have a clear clear agenda that also targets the vulnerable with divisive programs and propaganda.
My vote will likely go to Kristan L. Kouka,Jennifer Nelson-Williams, Jake Nichols.
In response to Dave – As a previous post suggested, go to ccsboardcandidates.com which references Jenny Brake’s, as well as Brown’s and Sharp’s, qualifications – specifically!
Carmel Clay Schools is amongst the top-performing districts in Indiana and our nation. Most of our school community is focused on our students, teachers, mental health, safety, and policies. There is a difference between national politics and the realities of our community. Vote for Sheldon Barnes.
I could not disagree more with the Ms. Polson. CCS is an incredible school district, and the changes Brake, Brown and Sharp support are neither what is best for our children not our community. They propose politically motivated policies that have no place in our children’s schools. I am troubled by the lack of support for the CCS administration, when it’s track record has been nothing less than stellar.
CCS is on the right track and we should continue to elect and support candidates such as Jennifer Nelson Williams, who want to build on and expand the excellence that the Carmel school system already enjoys.
Transparency is not part of the Brake, Brown and Sharp campaign. They have repeatedly shared misinformation under the guise of truth (that has been proven to be false). They don’t have facts and statistics to back their claims. If we want our community to continue to thrive we must maintain our high educational standards that include an environment of inclusion. It goes beyond our children’s education and impacts economic development for our community. If we want to continue to attract companies, add jobs and attract more families to Carmel we must remain tolerant, inclusive and welcoming. I’m with our Carmel Clay teachers and I’m not voting for Brake, Brown or Sharp. I encourage you to educate yourself on the facts and do your own research. You will find that the “transparency” Brake, Brown and Sharp claim is just falsehoods. Whether they are misinformed or intentionally misleading voters, they are not who I want making decisions for our schools, teachers or children.
Academic excellence is achieved by letting teachers teach, helping students feel safe, and incorporating programs that are tailored to diverse backgrounds of students. Kouka, Nelson-Williams and Nichols are exemplary role models who fully understand what this generation needs. Brake, Brown and Sharp want to strip our public schools of any progress that has been made towards including everyone. Their “toughen up or go home” rhetoric along with suggesting chaplains to help students navigate their mental well-being shows their desire to have kids from all different backgrounds conform to white, middle class, Christian values. This is not how the world works.
Transparency seems to be a goal of all nine candidates. Kouka, Nelson-Williams and Nichols know where to find information. They have or recently had kids in school, know how to use the CCS Website and they join thousands of other Carmel residents who communicate well with CCS. They pledge to improve the way information is presented so all stakeholders can find what they need easier. They already have an open line of communication while Brake, Brown & Sharp rarely speak for themselves, don’t allow comments on social media and delete any trace of disagreement.
Parents are a part of every step along a kid’s education. We can see everything on multiple school apps and get answers from anyone we ask. Brake, Brown and Sharp seem to define their parental rights as superior to others’ rights. Their parental right to not allow their kids to read LGBTQ books does not trump my parental right to a well-rounded education for my kids. I want my kids to learn about other lifestyles and cultures from peers and teachers in addition to what we teach at home. Public schools are literally for everyone.
Kouka, Nelson-Williams and Nichols understand what parents need in this current world. They put students first, not personal ideologies. They are level-headed, experienced at dealing with difficult situations and they are the right candidates to build on CCS’s success.
This claim “It is beyond bold for any group to use the PUBLIC schools as a vehicle for their propaganda.” is made without any supporting detail or evidence.
Please tell us what “group” is promoting “propaganda”.
Is it propaganda to promote diversity, a reality that our students must be prepared to negotiate in the real world?
Is is propaganda to promote inclusion, to ensure that all differently-abled students are able to reach their potential?
Is is propaganda to promote equity, to acknowledge that not all students come to school with the same level of family resources and support (even in Carmel)?
Or is it propaganda to use misleading charts comparing different test results as if they were scored the same? Propaganda to lie about the number of families taking their children out of the public schools? Propaganda to fly the “transparency” flag while carefully avoiding making specific statements on specific issues?
Sorry, I missed you, Greg, you knocked on my door today. You have my vote, you are the best 3 candidates running & the most qualified to help improve our schools in this 2022 election cycle. Good luck & God Bless all three of you. ??