hyperbole has obtained the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee’s 2025 School Board Candidate Questionnaire for those seeking the party’s endorsement this November.
The contents of this questionnaire was never intended to be shared with the public, and instead were distributed internally to FDC members, who were instructed not to share the questions or the responses with non-members.
In the interest of transparency, an informed public and to provide background for forthcoming reporting, hyperbole has made them available below:
🔴 Question 1: Briefly describe your professional and community background.
🔴 Question 2: Why did you choose to run for this office in 2025?
🔴 Question 3: What do you consider to be your most important professional or public service achievement to date?
🔴 Question 4: Fredericksburg’s Systems is diverse in many ways, which provides opportunities for growth as well as challenges in making sure all voices feel heard. How do you see the role of the school board in addressing issues of systematic challenges facing our students?
What steps should Fredericksburg take to make schools more inclusive and welcoming for all students and their families?
🔴 Question 5: What a school teaches can be just as important as how a school teaches. It’s imperative that school boards support the culture of their communities and their teachers.
What is your position on how topics such as race, gender and US history should be taught in schools?
What are your thoughts on the adoption of culturally responsive standards?
Do you support comprehensive sex education? Why or why not?
🔴 Question 6: Deciding how to spend the limited resources available to a school district is a significant part of a school board member’s job.
How will you approach budget decisions, especially in times of financial constraint?
What are your top three funding priorities for our schools?
🔴 Question 7: We live in an intensely competitive area for teacher and staff pay, with larger salares available to our north, and lower costs of living just outside of the city. It makes staffing of all positions hard, to say the least.
🔴 Do you support efforts to increase pay and benefits for FPS employees?
How would you rate the current working conditions for school employees, including cafeteria staff, janitorial staff, and other paraprofessionals?
What is your approach to negotiating with teachers, administrators and other staff?
🔴 Question 8: Every day, parents entrust schools with their children, and with that trust comes great responsibility for the well-being of those students. Do you believe schools have appropriate security measures in place to protect students and staff?
Do you support or oppose efforts to increase security protocols at schools? What action would you advocate for to address this?
How should our schools support the mental health needs of students and staff?
Do we have adequate staffing to address these needs?
🔴 Question 9: Fredericksburg endeavors to be a Climate Forward City that prioritizes its “Environmental Sustainability Program,” which is “dedicated to environmental compliance, public education, pollution prevention and environmental sustainability and stewardship.”
What actions are the Schools and School Board currently taking to assist the City in achieving its goals? Do you agree with these practices? What additional or different actions can the School Board and schools take to assist the city in achieving its goals?
🔴 Question 10: There has been a national push to use public funds to support private schools, as well as a movement to outsource employee jobs to outside contractors.
How do you feel about the privatization of public education (e.g., outsourcing services, voucher programs)?
🔴 Question 11: Parents are vital partners in their children’s education. It’s improtant that they feel informed and that their concerns are heard, but it’s equally important for the school system to make choices that benefit the entire student body.
Do you feel there is currently good communication and transparency between the school system and the public?
Do you believe that parents and caregivers should be involved in decision-making at the school board level?
🔴 Question 12: How do your values align with your understanding of the Democratic Party’s platform and the Fredericksburg Democratic Committee?
🔴 Question 13: If endorsed, will you participate in Committee activities when appropriate and you are able?
🔴 Question 14: Have you sought or received any other endorsements? If so, please list those below.
🔴 Question 15: Will you attend our meeting at 7:00 PM on July 9th to speak briefly to our membership?
