Jillian King – CMS School Board – District 4
LPMeck Alignment |
Summary of Responses |
|---|---|
| 68% 🟡 |
Supports decentralizing CMS into smaller, autonomous districts, reducing consultant reliance, and ensuring transparency and merit-based hiring. She praises transportation efforts but acknowledges inefficiencies, emphasizing equitable, safe education for all students. |
Full Answers Provided by the Candidate:
1. Should CMS remain county-wide or be split into smaller districts?
I do actually think that CMS should be split into smaller districts. It is, currently, split into 6 “districts” each with their own representation on the board, but the reality is that individual members of the board have little to no autonomy to do anything for those smaller regions that they represent. I would love to see CMS either split into those districts as their own individually governed school systems, or to allow the district representatives to have more responsibilities and autonomy over the districts they represent.
2. Is the superintendent hiring too many from outside the system?
I don’t have an issue with hiring from anywhere one deems fit. Our modern world has afforded us the amazing opportunity to meet and engage with people all over the world. That allows anyone hiring others to find the most qualified individuals from the broadest reaches. So long as the individuals being hired are the best person for the job, I don’t mind where they’re from.
3. Is CMS relying too heavily on consultants?
The consultant issue is a complicated one. I do believe that the best people to advise or coach organizations are experts in the field they’re consulting on; however, CMS has over 400 various partners and consultants. These types of jobs tend to overcharge for their services when compared to hiring a full-time person into the organization to do the same job. School budgets are extremely limited, so the money going to consulting is concerning. Additionally, EVERY SINGLE PERSON AND BUSINESS relies on the education system! Everyone CMS partners with should feel motivated to assist in educating our youth to the highest standard achievable. With that in mind, these partnerships should not be draining our coffers. If anything, these large companies and wealthy partners should be donating money, time, and expertise to the school system whenever possible to ensure a better future for our entire society.
4. Is the current transportation/shuttle stop system effective?
5. What is your most Libertarian stance on education, and how would you implement it?
My most libertarian stance on education is basically that ALL of our students deserve safe, high-quality schools. It shouldn’t be political that every single person, at all ages, no matter their citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, primary language, skin color, religion, etc. should ever be denied the right to get an education in an environment that welcomes them and allows them to fully express themselves authentically without fear of judgement, violence, or disciplinary action. I plan to oppose legislation that allows government agents to terrorize our students and families on our campuses or denies our LGBTQIA+ students the same rights as anyone else. I also plan to re-evaluate the ways that CMS responds to disciplinary incidents involving students to help ensure that we are not inadvertently using biased processes and that we’re following up those incidents with initiatives that prevent future ones like it.