Nine candidates seek school board seats in Area A

There’s fierce competition for the three four-year seats available in Area A. Candidates range from the head of the local Democratic party to some of the most vocal right-wing activists in Laramie.

Welcome to the Laramie Reporter’s 2022 Elections newsletter. This newsletter seeks to introduce Albany County and Laramie residents to the candidates who have filed to run and to explore the issues surrounding what promises to be an interesting, impactful local election.

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Seven of Albany County School Board’s nine total seats are up for election this year. Those electoral contests are spread across four separate races. And if you’re a registered voter in Albany County, you can vote in all four — no matter where you live.

The largest of these races is the contest for Area A’s three available seats. The winners of this race will serve on the board for the next four years.

Nine candidates have filed to run for the Area A four-year terms:

• Beth Bear, aquatic invasive species coordinator for Wyoming Game and Fish who has served on the school board since first winning election in 2018.

• Dan Bleak, vice president at Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance who is also a former teacher and coach.

• Gwen Clark, officer manager for Snowfly Incentives, a consultant company that helps gamify business goals, who has previously worked for the UW Foundation

• Terri Jo Gillum, who runs a bookkeeping business that keeps, among others, the books for Albany County Fire District No. 1.

• Steve Gosar, financial advisor with Edward Jones who was appointed to the board last year to fill a vacancy left by a resignation.

• Thomas Martin, former executive director of Laramie Interfaith who ran the nonprofit organization for 17 years.

• Carrie Murthy, chair of the Albany County Democrats and education researcher for Westat.

• Sandi Rees, substitute teacher and local right-wing activist.

• Mike Schilt, facilities and shop manager for the University of Wyoming’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.

On Election Day, voters can choose three of the names above.

The candidates agree on some issues. Every single candidate who responded to the Laramie Reporter’s questions cited budget cuts as the greatest challenge facing the school district. They were also united in the belief that public education is meant to prepare students for a diverse range of possible futures.

But on the topic of COVID-19, the candidates range from those who voted for the original mask mandate to those who were actively engaged in disrupting a 2021 school board meeting to stop the mask mandate from passing.

On the topic of book bans and course curricula, the candidates range from those who highlight the existing procedures available to concerned parents to those who hammer on the importance of books being age-appropriate to those whose names appear flyers taking aim at “critical race theory.”

Five of the candidates for this race answered a series of questions from the Laramie Reporter about their backgrounds, opinions and hopes for the 2022 general election. Four candidates did not answer.

Martin agreed to answer the questionnaire but did not submit answers and did not respond to follow-up requests.

Terri Jo Gillum refused.

“I am not interested in answering your questions at this time as I am not a fan of your work,” Gillum writes in an email.

Neither Schilt nor Rees responded to multiple calls and emails. Both are running on a conservative ticket, alongside a slate of other conservative and right-wing candidates for the school board’s other races.

Topic: COVID-19

The campaigns of both Schilt and Rees are animated by opposition to the mask mandate originally passed by the current board in 2021 (which ended in December).

During a League of Women Voters forum two weeks ago, Schilt shared misinformation about the effectiveness of masks and encouraged people to do their own research. Trustee Nate Martin pushed back, labeling Schilt’s claim “not true” and decrying the habit of “learning ‘facts’ off of social media and repeating them as gospel truth.”

Rees took a less confrontational approach with her own answer. As she has done throughout this campaign, she stressed civility.

In September 2021, Rees spent a brief intermission shouting at the school board — an outburst that preceded such chaotic and disruptive behavior from anti-mask activists that the meeting had to be adjourned.

“There is a lot of differing information out there,” Rees said at the LWV forum. “And to (say) that some of the information that your constituents have is wrong is inappropriate. Because I’ll tell you what: it’s the parents’ decision and their medical providers to make those decisions.”

Bear, Gosar and Murthy said they supported the mask mandate when it was in place. Trustee Bear voted for it.

“Masking helped avoid quarantines of large groups of students and once vaccinations for all students became available, I supported lifting the mask mandate as quarantine was not required for vaccinated students,” Bear said. “As I consistently stated, the issue to me was not about masks. It was about following guidelines to avoid quarantines and to keep students in school.”

Topic: LGBTQ rights

Schilt and Rees, as well as their allied slate of conservative candidates, are also unified on other right-wing causes. During the same forum, Schilt likened gender-affirming surgery to castrating a bull. Rees gave a less visceral answer to the same question, but proudly stated “biology matters” — a common refrain in anti-transgender circles that inaccurately implies defenders of trans rights ignore biological differences between men and women.

“All students, regardless of whatever they choose to be or identify as, is deserving of being treated with courtesy and respect — as I would treat any other individual,” Rees said. “By the same token, biology matters and recognizing it is not bigotry.”

By contrast, candidate Carrie Murthy answered the same LWV forum question by affirming the need for all students to feel safe and welcome.

“I’m deeply committed to every child in Albany County having access to a high quality education in a safe learning environment,” she said. “To me, that means an environment in which that student is supported and cared for and seen and valued for who they are.”

Off to the races

The race for Area A’s four-year terms is just one of four races for open school board seats. Every voter in Albany County votes in every school board race, so voters participating in the 2022 general election will be able to select their favorite candidates in each of the four races.

In addition to picking three candidates for Area A’s four-year terms, voters will also choose:

• Two candidates for unexpired two-year terms, also in Area A

• One candidate for a four-year term in Area B

• One candidate for a four-year term from the at-large candidates

“Area A,” “Area B” and “At-Large” refer to the residency requirements for candidates, not voters. Area A is the city of Laramie, while Area B encompasses the rest of Albany County. At-Large candidates can reside anywhere in the county.

Previous Laramie Reporter features highlighted the two candidates for the at-large district and the six candidates running for Area A’s unexpired terms. A future feature will highlight the three candidates for Area B’s four-year term.

Laramie Reporter: Tell me about your background and profession. Do you have experience in schools?

Beth Bear: I’ve been an ACSD1 trustee since 2018. I have 5 children in our district and am familiar with our district from the parent and student perspective. I’ve worked for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for the last 17 years and currently supervise a statewide aquatics crew. Through my job I have experience with budgeting, personnel, data management and analysis and report writing, which has been helpful to my work on the school board.

Dan Bleak: I taught high school math and coached for 10 years, seven in Laramie. I have a bachelor’s and master’s in math education and master’s in business administration. I have 15-plus years of experience in planning, budgeting and decision-making at the enterprise level. My wife Nicole and I have raised our four kids in Laramie. Three have graduated from LHS and one is a freshman there.

Gwen Clark: I have a BS in Accounting from UW. I have worked in private industry as well as for the UW Foundation. My experience in schools is that I have six children who all went through ACSD schools. I was on PTA boards several times.

Steve Gosar: I am a native of Wyoming, born and raised in Pinedale and I graduated from UW. After college I pursued a basketball coaching career but decided, after having kids of my own, that I needed to find a career that afforded more time with my family. In our community, I am a financial advisor with Edward Jones. Having three boys at three different schools currently in the ACSD1 system, along with having been a substitute teacher at Pinedale HS, has given me insight and experience in the school system.

Carrie Murthy: Over the course of my 16-year career in education research, I've observed classrooms, held focus groups with teachers and school leaders, visited afterschool programs, documented school lunch practices, studied best practices in teacher preparation, recruitment and retention, and advised the Wyoming State Legislature's Education Committee. In my volunteer work and personal life, I have worked directly with migrant students, children in the foster care system, students without housing, English learners, LGBTQ+ youth and student athletes.

Reporter: What does Albany County District No. 1 do well? What does it need to improve upon?

Bear: Offering diverse learning and extracurricular opportunities to students, caring for student’s academic, social and emotional wellbeing, and preparing students for success after graduation. ACSD1 supports employees through resources and competitive pay and benefits, even during current budget reductions. Moving forward, we should work to increase proficiency scores across grades and the high school graduation rate, increase communication within the district and with the community, and increase school safety including caring for student mental health.

Bleak: I believe, overall, that we have employees and staff who genuinely care about kids. We provide college-level academic opportunities through partnerships with LCCC and UW. The district can do better about emphasizing teacher performance. This means helping low performers be better teachers (or replacing them), but also clearing the obstacles and providing the necessary resources for them to focus upon the students.

Clark: ACSD schools provide a good education for students. The district’s schools offer a wide variety of choices of curriculum from technical courses to fine arts to basic classes. What does it need to improve upon? The school board needs to listen to parents more.

Gosar: ACSD1 provides our communities with a quality education. We have some amazing teachers and administrators that truly care about the students in our district and have gone above and beyond. As with any industry, we can always do better and I believe our district has been diligently working to reach those goals. Our focus needs to remain on keeping kids in school and giving opportunities for those wanting to succeed in their next step of higher education. However, it is important to provide guidance, opportunities and life skills for those that have an alternative post-high school plan.

Murthy: ACSD1 offers wonderful, diverse learning opportunities, which are incredibly important in a top-notch education. I have testified to the State Legislature on this very issue, conveying the importance of art, music, PE, guidance, library, world languages, and more — those are essential, supporting the academic growth of our kids as well as their personal and social growth. ACSD1 can improve its transparency and communication to families and the community.

Reporter: What are the biggest challenges facing Albany County schools?

Bear: Continuing to offer high quality education and retain and recruit employees with current budget reductions. ACSD1 recently had a $1.5 million budget reduction and were not provided a cost of living adjustment, so funding a needed pay increase for employees came from our already diminished budget. We also have several schools in need of rebuilding. Our students have a right to a fully-funded education in safe and functional schools.

Bleak: Adequate funding (budgeting) is one of the largest. Inherent in this is paying our best employees a competitive compensation package to reward top performance. The largest challenge may be how do we properly prepare our students for the world they will enter as adults. To do this, families must be more willing to let students experience hard things, within an environment where they learn that failure can be a stepping stone to success.

Clark: Funding is always a challenge. ACSD1 needs to provide competitive compensation for faculty and staff and it isn’t easy to cover all costs.

Gosar: ACSD1, along with other schools across our state, have and will continue to face budget issues. We will need to work hard to make sure that we can continue to provide all of the opportunities to our students, including sports, the arts and clubs, as well as retaining our hard working teachers and administrators. I believe that my experience in finance will be invaluable as we maneuver through these challenges.

Murthy: Supporting our teachers in the face of budget cuts. Experts who have worked in education for decades say they have never before seen the kinds of stress levels among teachers that they have in the past two years. I care deeply about taking care of our teachers so they can best take care of our kids — after all, teachers are the most important school-based factor that influence student success. Our kids deserve the best supported teachers in the nation.

Reporter: What specifically should be done to support the mental health and wellbeing of students?

Bear: Continue to create a culture and climate where all students are welcome, supported, included and celebrated. Our certified support staff are critical in helping address the mental health crisis we are seeing. Our district has counselors at every level and school psychologists to help support our students academically, socially and emotionally. We should continue to make this a priority in our budgeting and to use alternative funding to enhance the services we can provide.

Bleak: I would want to hear the opinions of our staff before centering on a solution. What do they see as the largest risks and the best viable solutions? Families should have a voice in this as well. Providing a safe, uplifting environment while allowing students to interact with positive role models in their school experience is a major ingredient.

Clark: This issue, mental health, is more in the public view as a result of the masking and shutdowns of schools and activities during COVID. ACSD1 should provide counseling for students who have issues but the school district cannot be the only source of treatment for students with mental health issues. Families need to contribute to the solution, as well.

Gosar: Mental health support has been important to our district and will continue to be a priority. In addition to the importance of having staff, counselors and social workers, the school also addresses bullying and provides opportunities to participate in sports, clubs and extracurricular activities. There are many contributing factors to the mental health struggles facing our students and staff. It is my opinion that as a board we will continue to work to provide avenues of support for our students and staff.

Murthy: Wyoming has a mental health crisis with one of the highest suicide rates in the country. This was an issue before the pandemic and was exacerbated by the pandemic. Our school system must support mental health and emotional wellbeing. Anti-bullying measures are components of that, and another component is our certified support staff, including counselors and social workers, who provide critical mental health supports. I am committed to prioritizing these essential services.

Reporter: What specifically should the district do to protect children and the wider community from COVID-19?

Bear: We recommend that CDC guidelines are followed for isolation after a positive test, masking at school after returning from a positive case, and testing if symptoms appear after exposure. If students are sick, we recommend they stay home until symptoms improve. We have increased sanitation and ventilation in our buildings. Our school nurses were amazing throughout the last two years of the pandemic and continue to help our students be healthy and safe every day.

Bleak: Students and the district have no greater responsibility than any other community members. Our district chose to take a harsher approach through the last two years than most districts in Wyoming, with similar results. The district should abide by health guidelines, but also allow students and families a choice in how they protect themselves.

Clark: The brunt of the pandemic is over so the school district does not need to protect the community from COVID. It is known that COVID has little effect on children so no out-of-the-ordinary measures need to be taken.

Gosar: Based on the current CDC and Wyoming Department of Health guidelines, the district currently asks that students stay home if they are sick with COVID-19 or any non-COVID-19 illness. If they have a positive COVID-19 test, it is recommended that they stay home for 5 days and then mask for 5 days at school.

Murthy: We have the benefit of having public health officials who are experts in keeping communities safe. Our district should follow the guidance and recommendations of our public health officials.

Reporter: Did you support the mask mandate when it was in place? Would you support that or similar measures if Albany County experiences another spike?

Bear: Yes, because it kept our students in school, the best place for their academic, social and emotional wellbeing. Masking helped avoid quarantines of large groups of students and once vaccinations for all students became available, I supported lifting the mask mandate as quarantine was not required for vaccinated students. As I consistently stated, the issue to me was not about masks. It was about following guidelines to avoid quarantines and to keep students in school.

Bleak: I did not. The age of students was the lowest at-risk population for COVID. Mandating masks introduced other academic and emotional risks which were greater than the health risk. I presented statistical data showing the low health risk to the board on multiple occasions during the pandemic. If future data were presented that showed preventative measures are applicable to and needed by students, I would listen while also considering the other risks this introduces. Bottom line — I strongly believe families should have a choice in decisions that affect their students.

Clark: No, I did not support the mask mandate. It was known early in the progression of the virus that children did not really get sick beyond what other common viruses inflicted. Would you support that or other preventative measures if Albany County experiences another spike? No, I would not support masking for COVID at any time as it does not sicken children beyond other viruses that we do not take drastic steps for.

Gosar: When the COVID pandemic hit our country full force in March of 2020, I, along with many in our community, was willing to do whatever it took to stop the spread, prevent our hospitals from being overwhelmed and more importantly, get our kids back into the classroom. We were doing the best we could at the time and while I was not on the board, I did support our children wearing masks to school. It is my opinion that we follow the guidance from our state/local public health officials but do believe that we should be open to hearing from all stakeholders.

Murthy: In many districts across the country, schools remained virtual for the full 2021-22 school year. Here in Albany County, thanks to following safety protocols in our schools, our kids thrived with all the academic, social-emotional and mental health benefits of in-person learning. I absolutely support following public health guidance to keep our school staff, kids, families and community safe — and to keep our schools open.

Reporter: What is the goal of public education?

Bear: To prepare students for life after high school, whether that’s trade school, the workforce or college. We support the whole child by offering diverse resources and opportunities to engage all students in school and help students find their individual path to success. Public education gives students the knowledge and ability to be productive and engaged members of their community, and is critical to lifelong success and to the welfare of our society as a whole.

Bleak: To prepare students to successfully function in our society in adulthood. This means having the skills necessary for college, trade schools, straight into the workforce, etc. They should develop a work ethic, have healthy relationships with others and have a respect for our country and its laws. Helping students learn self-discipline and problem-solving is key. Giving them opportunities to face adversity and how to work through that is also important.

Clark: The goal of public education is to produce a population that functions well. Individual students should be able to be adults that contribute to society. Students have many opportunities to make themselves better and to take advantage of the offerings of the schools.

Gosar: The goal of public education is to prepare all of our youth to be well-equipped to handle their next step. That will look different for each student, whether it is that they are just ready for the next grade level, being a good teammate or leader. Attending college/university or a trade school or wherever life takes them. Teaching them to critically think or understand principles of engineering as well as navigate personal finance are all important to life after high school.

Murthy: Public education should offer an equitable and safe learning environment for all students while both fostering a love of learning and preparing them for life after graduation. Accordingly, a high-quality education should be well-rounded and incorporate a diversity of learning opportunities, and should support the whole child, including the academic, physical, social, and emotional development of each child.

Reporter: How should the district handle challenges to its educational curriculum or attempts to ban/remove books from the school library?

Bear: We have policies and regulations to handle challenges to curriculum, including library materials, which allow for concerns to be heard while maintaining the integrity of our curriculum and libraries. We have experienced, knowledgeable teachers and library specialists who ensure materials and topics are age appropriate, while teaching students to be engaged, critical thinkers and help students expand their knowledge and worldview. All materials are vetted and available to be viewed by parents and the community.

Bleak: Transparency and communication are key. There is a process to approve curriculum and content. Interested stakeholders should be allowed a voice in that process. Teachers and staff that use approved resources and curriculum should be supported by the district if parents or others become upset. I also believe that books should be age-appropriate and serve an academic purpose. One person should not decide what is and is not approved.

Clark: Not all books are appropriate for school libraries. Just because a book is published, it doesn’t mean it should necessarily be in a library. If a challenge is made to a book, it should be looked into and if it is deemed that it does not cause harm and it is beneficial to students, it should remain in the library.

Gosar: It is my opinion that all stakeholders should have input as to the books to which students have access. I do not believe that any one educator or parent will have ultimate say in the addition or removal of books. It is my opinion that there are books/curriculum that are not appropriate for all ages and we have a responsibility, as a board, to our community to make sure that our students are not exposed to inappropriate material. With that being said, we have many highly qualified librarians as well as an oversight committee who are committed to making sure that our students are protected.

Murthy: ACSD1 literacy and library specialists are experts in ensuring age-appropriate text selection in our classrooms and libraries. Parents who do not want their children to read a specific book or to receive a certain portion of curriculum instruction can and should notify teachers accordingly. Curriculum goes through a thorough vetting process, and there is a chain of command for complaints and challenges. The district should follow those established processes and chains of command so challenges can be addressed appropriately.

Reporter: What’s your opinion on Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs in schools?

Bear: My understanding is that GSA clubs serve to create a safe, welcoming and accepting place for all students and federal law protects the creation of such clubs. My opinion is that our schools should be welcoming, inclusive places for all students and extracurricular clubs serve important roles in our schools by engaging students in the school experience, broadening their social experience, and often play a critical role in students having a positive school experience.

Bleak: I think students should be able to form clubs that support their interests if they abide by district policies and are not detrimental to the culture of the school (i.e., intentionally attempt to create conflict or belittle the beliefs of others). The funding and support provided to clubs should be proportionate to the number of students they serve.

Clark: If students want to have this club, it’s fine with me. I don’t know that it is the purview of the school board to decide what clubs are in existence.

Gosar: In schools that have GSA clubs, it has been found to be beneficial to the mental health and safety of LGBTQ+ students. Our students’ and staff’s mental health and safety are a priority to our school board and our community. All students deserve the opportunity to learn in a safe, welcoming environment.

Murthy: Safe and inclusive spaces where all kids are welcome? Yes, I support that.

Reporter: Finally, why are you running for school board?

Bear: It has been an honor to serve as an ACSD1 trustee for the last four years. We have worked collaboratively and with respect to navigate through some of the most difficult and unprecedented times in public education. I am incredibly grateful for this experience and hope to be re-elected to the board to continue working hard for our district and community with understanding, respect and enthusiasm.

Bleak: As a teacher, I saw the impact that education can have for students. I want all our students to have a good education. I could bring multiple perspectives to the board — previous high school teacher, parent of current and former students, businessperson in the community. I would be committed to listening to diverse viewpoints on issues to give the best representation to our stakeholders.

Clark: The current board has lost credibility in the eyes of many parents and other citizens of Albany County. Although the board did a good job on innumerable issues before them, they failed the students during COVID. Many students were harmed in significant and material ways by being forced to wear masks. I am running to provide another choice to parents and other voters. I hope to be a voice of reason on the board and a listening ear to the many and varied opinions we have in Albany County.

Gosar: My decision to run for the board came as our family watched the DLI (dual language immersion) program debated by the school board and I realized the importance of involvement. I bring integrity and thoughtfulness to the board. I respect and value the opinions and input from all stakeholders. As a parent and community member I am aware of the importance of educating and supporting our youth and preparing them for the future. As a board member I will continue to work to support and retain our teachers/staff/administrators and provide quality education and opportunities for our students.

Murthy: I am deeply committed to ensuring every child in Albany County has access to a high-quality education in a safe learning environment. I am running to offer both a parent's perspective and an evidence-based lens informed by 16 years of professional experience in education research and support. I believe my experiences and expertise make me uniquely poised to add significant value to the school board and advocate for all kids.