Welcome to our campaign platform for the upcoming local school board elections! Are you passionate about education and committed to shaping the future of our community? If so, consider joining us in our journey to secure a seat on the local school board.
YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Welcome to our campaign platform for the upcoming local school board elections! Are you passionate about education and committed to shaping the future of our community? If so, consider joining us in our journey to secure a seat on the local school board.
Why the Local School Board Matters
The local school board plays a crucial role in guiding the direction of our educational system. It’s the bridge between the community and the schools, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of students, parents, teachers, and residents are represented and acted upon. As a school board member, you’ll have a direct impact on important decisions such as curriculum development, budget allocation, policy implementation, and more.
About Allen Vonderschmidt
We live in a time where people want to know things immediately. So I’ll cut to the chase—I’m Allen Vonderschmidt. I’m a father, grandfather, retired military officer, long-time resident of Gardner, and a candidate for USD231 School Board.
Many have asked me the question, “WHY ARE YOU running”. It’s probably the most basic but important question you can ask a person seeking public office. I have always had a desire to serve my community, specifically my local community. That is what drove me to stay in the Kansas National Guard for 33 years. In a time when the education of our children across the country is lacking, I want to take a role in fixing it, instead of sitting around and wondering who will. That begins with proven leadership, dedication and experience to work on the problems that local government officials are elected to solve
Why Vote for Me?
The question of “Why should I vote for you?” ties into my motivation. The events of the past years, particularly due to COVID, have highlighted the need for greater parental involvement in education. We’ve navigated through mask mandates, remote learning, and divisive concepts like CRT. It’s time to refocus on preparing our children for success, and that means harnessing the momentum created by our school board and building on it.
Embracing Positive Change for Gardner's Bright Future
A Balanced Approach to Change
In the realm of political campaigns, the term “change” is frequently invoked. While change is necessary in some aspects, Gardner is fortunate to stand as a secure and flourishing community. With its youthful energy and exceptional quality of life, Gardner’s median income surpasses that of the entire United States. Radical transformation isn’t what we seek, but rather a focus on continuous improvement.
Gardner: Young, Vibrant, and Prosperous
Gardner embodies youthfulness and vibrancy. Our community’s remarkable quality of life is a testament to its potential. We understand that our progress depends on our ability to harness the strengths that make us unique. Our goal is to build upon the solid foundation that Gardner has laid, embracing positive change that aligns with our values and aspirations.
A Future of Excellence and Betterment
The current landscape of our school board has undeniably contributed to the progress we’ve enjoyed thus far. Our mission is clear: to sustain and enhance this momentum for the betterment of our community. We are committed to identifying areas where improvement is possible and working tirelessly to overcome obstacles. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that every decision we make serves the best interests of Gardner’s students, families, and residents.
A Stand Against Obstruction
Progress is the cornerstone of our vision, and we are steadfast in our determination to keep it moving forward. Anyone who seeks to obstruct our community’s growth will find no place in our mission. We understand that true progress requires unity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to a brighter future.
Welcome to Our Commitment to Change
As I step into the role you’ve entrusted me with, I’m excited to outline the key areas I’ll be focusing on during my term. These priorities reflect our shared vision for a thriving community that stands as a beacon of progress and excellence.
Education First
Parents are the first educators of our children and our school district has the revered privilege of assisting parents with this important responsibility. That means our schools need to focus on academics first. We need to ensure all of our children can read at or above grade level. To accomplish this for all of our children our Special Education programs must be fully staffed. Children who have an IEP need that additional time for a reason and that time can only be fulfilled appropriately when our SPED program is fully staffed.
Parent/Teacher Partnership
The old adage “more is caught than taught” holds true for numerous reasons. Our children may enjoy spending time with their friends more, but they spend the most time with their teachers and parents. This mandates that our Parents and Teachers need to be in alignment with what our children are learning each day. Our school system is a vital part of our community and needs to reflect that community, not dictate what the community should be, and not ebb to the flow of the most vocal part.
Transparency & Accountability
Many parents are concerned with drug use in our schools, but most of those parents have no idea that our administration has brought police drug dogs in to help keep drugs out of our schools. Our district has a problem with hiring and retaining teachers and other staff, yet most do not realize the district has hired over 70 teachers during the summer recess. We need to be vocal in championing our successes and acknowledging our faults through openly discussing what we are doing to correct them.
True advocate of school safety & inclusivity
A student can not be expected to focus and learn when they are spending mental cycles trying to decide what bathroom they can use safely. They can not focus and learn when the whole class is being disrupted because one student has chosen to gather all attention by destroying his property in the middle of class. Seemingly small behavioral issues can build and build until they become a major problem, affecting a whole class. No child should be bullied, or feel excluded. Our staff has to balance including all of our children while not distracting from the primary role of education.
Welcome to a Vision of Leadership
As I embark on this journey to serve our community, I am driven by a desire to set an example not only for my family but also for the generations of Kansans and Americans to come. This commitment is rooted in the belief that our actions today shape the future of our county, our state, and our city.
