By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Republican Jean Clifford, candidate for Kansas Board of Education, District 5, which includes Hays, discussed her platform at an event on Wednesday at the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center in Hays.
“I support academic excellence in education,” Clifford said. “We need to make sure that our schools, every school, are focused on the academic improvement of our students.
“They need a solid academic education to lead them on to whatever is next for post-secondary for them, whether it's college or low-tech training, going into the workforce, whatever they choose to do, and we need that curriculum to be tied to the skills they're expected to have.”
Clifford said schools also need to protect students’ electronic data.
“They need a safe place and a safe learning environment. I don't want to see any electronic data follow them for the rest of their lives,” she said.
She said she supports parents’ rights.
“Parents need to be able to be involved in the schools in the curriculum that their students are receiving, and to have their questions answered and their voices heard. They have that right to be involved.”
She also said she supports fiscal responsibility.
“I believe that we need to treat taxpayer money like it's our money, because it is, and that schools cannot be a black hole for tax dollars,” Clifford said.
She said tax dollars should be tied to school improvement.
“Taxpayer money is an investment, like an investment, that needs to pay off for us,” Clifford said.
Clifford of Garden City has been a local school board member and a community college trustee.
She served in the Air Force, where she worked as a judge advocate. She has also worked as a certified teacher.
“I've spent a lot of years serving Kansas communities and students,” Clifford said, “and I understand rural schools are the heart of our communities. Strong schools attract families, support communities, support local businesses and make our whole state stronger.”
She added, “I bring the proven leadership and dedication to education to support that bright future that we want for Kansas.”
Clifford will face Republican Kelly Ancar of Hays in the primary. The winner of that race will face Democrat Lorie Wood in the General Election in November.