Constitutional Conservatives of Utah County

Candidate Questionnaire School Board NEBO 1

1. What do you see as the

proper role of the school
board?

2. What is your stand on

common core?

3. Besides public schools,

what is your stand on
alternative forms of
education such as
Charter, Private, & Home
school? Please address
all of these.

Lisa Rowley

School Board has the responsibility to choose

and work with the Superintendent and other
key administrators in the District. Set and
review a yearly budget. Approve contracts
for teachers. Plan for growth or lack thereof.
Listen to community - their values and
concerns. Work together with other board
members. Set District goals and policies and
work together to achieve those goals,
accountability of all involved is crucial to
success.
My feelings on Common Core are multifaceted. I like the guide- lines and direction it
can give as teachers plan their curriculums. I
also understand that other states are using
curriculums not in harmony with my beliefs. I
know that government funding is a part of
this program and to this point in Utah it has
been a beneficial thing. Will it continue to be
a good fit for Utah in the future? I am not
sure.
I think there are a lot of great ways to receive
a good education. Within my extended
family I have seen how Public Schools,
Charter Schools and Home Schooling have
been successful. To me it is an individual
family decision. Parents have the right to
carefully determine their childs needs and
abilities and find the educational plan that
will help them. I believe that parental
involvement is the key factor in a childs
success.

Eric Hazlet

I feel the role of the school board is to assist

parents and teachers in providing the best
possible education for our children. I
always list parents first as it should be up to
the parents as to what material their
children are exposed to.

I am not a fan of common core, I believe

Utah is much more capable of taking care of
its residents than the federal government.
Im also happy that Sage testing is on the
legislatures agenda this coming spring.

Charter Schools I like the premise of the

charter school, but Im disappointed that
the grades of the charter schools havent
been higher. I think the parents of children
in the charter schools should look for ways
to have more input to how the school is run
and what coursework is taught there.
Private I spent K-7 in a private nondenominational Christian school. I feel it
was a good experience and there should be
no influence of the state on curriculum in a
private school.
Home school I support home schooling
even though we havent participated
ourselves. I always feel that its up to the

parents how their children are educated.

4. What are parents' rights

in their child's
education?

See above.

The parents have the right to decide how

their child is educated and the responsibility
to make sure their child is educated.

5. Everyone believes that

education is important
for our children, but
what do you believe is
the proper role of
government, with
regard to education?

I believe it is in our countrys best interest to

have educated and informed citizens. I dont
believe they have to dictate exactly how that
has to be done in every state. They should
give us parameters to work within and
funding to help us meet our goals.

6. Do you believe that the

Constitution was
inspired of God and
should be held sacred? If
so, what would you do
to encourage a greater
understanding in our
school system?

I believe that the Constitution is inspired of

God. These principles need to be taught to
our students.

The role of the government should be

limited in all aspects of life and education is
no different. The purpose of government is
to provide the physical infrastructure of the
school system and the citizens have the
right and responsibility to manage the
curriculum and other aspects of the
teaching of the children.
I do believe the constitution is a sacred
document and while it would be difficult to
teach about God in the school systems of
today, we could definitely do a better job of
teaching about the origins of America and
the heroic and inspired efforts of the
founding fathers. In my house I have a set
of books that we use to reinforce the
creation of this great nation and my
children study from those as well. The new
mandatory civics test required for high
school graduation is a step in the right
direction.

7. Do you believe that

state and municipality
governments should
protect and defend the
Constitution by rejecting
all federal programs
that are not
Constitutional based on
#5 above, even if it
means turning down
funds? Do you have the
courage to walk away
federal or state funds?
8. How important do feel
that it is that the
government assist in
providing and
maintaining benefits of
comfort and
entertainment to its
citizens? How do you
reconcile that with the
proper role of
government being to
defend the life, liberty
and property of citizens?
9. Do you believe that the
rights guaranteed by
government should
extend to the unborn?
To what extent?
10.
How do you define
religious liberty and how
would you defend it?

I believe we should protect and defend the

Constitution. I also believe we need to work
together to find ways to financially meet the
needs of our students. This requires
flexibility, compromise and the ability to walk
away when merited.

I feel strongly that we should not accept

federal funding and when I was mayor I
asked State and County authorities if our
budgets could manage without federal
funds in public meetings. However, they
were not willing to entertain that idea at the
time. Ironically, I know of more than one
state legislator that has asked the same
question in recent years.

I believe the governments role is to allow us

to work for our comforts, needs and
entertainment, not provide them for us.

You have already stated the proper role of

government in your second question, the
proper role of government is to defend the
life, liberty and property of citizens. As you
look at the few other responsibilities listed
in the Constitution, comfort and
entertainment are not and never should be
on the list, those should be left to the
private sector.

I believe in the sanctity of life and that

includes the life of the unborn.

11.
Do you believe in
keeping decision making
and funding as local as
possible?

Yes

As an unborn child would still be considered

a minor, then the rights extended to a
minor should apply to the unborn. I dont
believe in abortion as a form of birth
control.
People in general and students should be
allowed to live their religion without being
reprimanded or disciplined for doing so,
including praying. I wasnt raised in Utah,
but in our public high school graduation we
had a local minister give the invocation to
start the ceremony and that was acceptable
to everyone there and no one was offended.
Yes, I think there is ample evidence to show
that local control always produces a better
result, always.

This best defines my belief of religious liberty:

We claim the privilege of worshipping
Almighty God according to the dictates of our
own conscience, and allow all men the same
privilege, let them worship how, where, or
what they may. (11th Article of Faith LDS
Church)

12.
Do you believe
that a government
governs best that
governs least and will
you work to remove laws
that are outside of the
proper role of
government?
13.
As taxes come
from the citizens and
not from the
government, what would
you do to ensure that
funds are utilized
properly? Under what
conditions would you
push to raise taxes?

---I am not sure exactly what you are asking

here.

I feel that less government is best and I will

work to remove dependencies on the
federal government as far as the school
board is concerned.

One of the responsibilities that a school board

has is to set a budget and then work within
said budget. The board, along with the
superintendent work together, with able
administrators, to ensure that funds are being
spent as agreed upon. I would support
raising taxes when student growth
necessitates new buildings. Another time
would be if we chose to not accept
government funds and would need an
increase to continue with our curriculum and
programs.

The Nebo school board has done a pretty

good job of keeping taxes that are allocated
to them under control and they have a selfimposed bond ceiling that hasnt been
raised in many years. They typically wait
for a bond to be paid off before requesting a
new one for new buildings as student
population continues to grow. I have been
attending their board meetings since April,
including the truth in taxation meeting. Ive
also met with the superintendent when I
was mayor and more recently and I have
seen where they have imposed methods for
lowering costs of heating in the buildings
and in acquiring used buildings and
reconfiguring them to fit their purposes.
However, even though I think the board has
done a good job up to this point I know that
we have to be vigilant to keep costs down
and not to raise taxes. Property taxes were
not increased while I was mayor and I have
no intention to raise taxes while in his
position.