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JAI RAJAGOPAL DISTRICT A

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in political science and history, University of Colorado.

EMPLOYMENT/VOLUNTEER: Intern at Colorado Common Cause Interned New Era Colorado, Staff member with Joe Neguse’s campaign for Congress, Field organizer for Rep. Matt Gray’s campaign, Worked as a legislative aide to Rep. Tom Sullivan.

EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES: Providing accessible mental health resources Closing the achievement gap for low-income and students of color.

LISA SWEENEY-MARIN District A

EDUCATION: Degrees in law, ethics, and philosophy. Has a background in youth and families, compliance, research, and policy.

EMPLOYMENT/VOLUNTEER: Executive director of Mother House, Taught in Egypt and Kurdistan and at Boulder’s September School, a private high school, and worked as a director for after-school programs. Volunteered with Boulder Reads.

FAMILY: Three children, the two oldest attending a BVSD elementary school.

EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES: Inclusive schools that challenge students to improve academically and socially.

KATHY GEBHARDT District C

EDUCATION:  Law degree from the University of Denver College of Law, BA from Lewis and Clark College.

EMPLOYMENT/VOLUNTEER:  Executive director of Children’s Voices, a nonprofit law firm. Co-lead counsel on Dwyer v. State of Colorado, a case pending in the Supreme Court, Adjunct professor of education law at the Sturm College of Law University of Denver, A fellow with the National Education Policy Center, Consultant for the Education in the Public Interest Center. Kathy is vice president and education lawyer for BVSD school board, sits on the Board of Directors for Great Education Colorado, Rural and Community Trust, and Colorado Lawyers Committee. Past board member of the Alliance for Quality Teaching. President-elect of the Colorado Association of School Boards.

FAMILY:  Married, five children and one granddaughter

EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES: Improving education for all students; focused on children of poverty, children of color, children with disabilities, English language learners, and children identified as gifted and talented.

RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION

STACEY ZIS District D

EDUCATION: Ed.S Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Virginia Polytech Institute, MEd, GAGS Counseling and Student Personnel, Springfield College, Binghamton BS Management and Finance, State University of New York,

EMPLOYMENT/VOLUNTEER:  Senior consultant with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Served on the State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education, Co-Chair of District Parent Council, Project Coordinator and Quality Control for Measuring Up 2006 — The State-by-State Report Card on Higher Education. FAMILY: Has a child in BVSD schools  

EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES: Advocating for family and school partnerships

Richard Garcia District G

EDUCATION:  Political Science degree, University of Colorado.  Master in Education, and his Administrator License.

EMPLOYMENT/VOLUNTEER: U.S. Navy, Founded the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition, Director of bilingual education BVSD, Director of the Colorado Migrant Education Resource Center.  Member of Multi Ethnic Action Community Committee, Past chairman of the board for the Community Foundation. Helps the EL PASO — Engaged Latino Parents Advancing School Outcomes — program, run by his wife. He also is helping his daughter, now the director of the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition, with her U.S. Senate campaign.

FAMILY: Sent six children through Boulder Valley Schools and that was his beginning of a long journey and significant passion for Parent Involvement.

EDUCATIONAL PRIORITIES:  Advocating for equity in education and encouraging parent involvement.

RUNNING UNOPPOSED FOR RE-ELECTION

STAY INFORMED HB 19-1257

Voter Approval to Retain Revenue for Education & Transportation Pending Voter approval Nov. 5, 2019

HB 19-1257, Proposition CC, allows the state to retain all revenue collected in excess of the state TABOR limit and to spend this revenue for public schools, higher education, and transportation projects. HB 19-1257 eliminates future TABOR refund obligations. The elimination of partial refundability of the tax credit is estimated to increase state income tax revenue in future years by $3.0 million per tax year. Per approved HB 19-1258 (signed into law on June 3, 2019 by the Governor), the retained funds will be designated as part of the general fund exempt account. The General Assembly must appropriate 1/3 of the funds to public schools and 1/3 of the funds to higher education. The state treasurer must transfer 1/3 of the funds for transportation. HB 19-1258 further defines how funds may be used by the public schools and the Highway User Tax Fund (HUFT). Read More