Katrina Filiatrault is a Democrat running for CBSD School Board Region 3.
Why do you think you are qualified to effectively represent your community on the school board?
My education and professional background as well as passion for working with others to improve our community for everyone and my commitment to strengthening public education make me qualified to effectively represent my community on the school board. I have a B.S. in Elementary Education and a law degree. Professionally, I have always focused on education and advocacy. I have 14 years of teaching experience, including teaching School Law and Labor Relations at the graduate level. My advocacy work has included practicing school law, professional advocacy for students with disabilities, and grant writing for nonprofit organizations and higher education.
Over the past few years we have seen attempts by some school boards across Bucks County, as well as Pennsylvania and the country, to either unilaterally ban books or make it easier for community members to challenge and have books banned, often by usurping the authority of librarians and administrative leadership. What is your position on book banning and how will you implement policies to support faculty and students?
There is a time and a place for every book; book bans are not ok. Particularly with the current pervasiveness of social media that has reduced general interest in reading, we need to provide students with more options to find books they want to read, not less.
READ: On the ‘expressway to unconstitutional censorship’ in Central Bucks School District
While parents should be given the option to restrict access to certain books for their children, individual parents should not be given control over what books are available to all students. I will support faculty, staff and students by enforcing clear and concise policies that provide objective and peer-reviewed standards for book selection and placement, as well as guidance for parents who wish to restrict access for their individual children. I will also consistently recognize the importance of reading and the value of professional training and expertise.
Decreasing teacher and staff retention is also a growing issue school districts are facing. What is your role in the recruiting, interviewing and hiring process and what role can a school board do to reverse this trend?
School Boards can significantly impact teacher and staff recruitment and retention. School Boards are responsible for the standards and expectations for teachers, staff, and students that set the tone and culture of the district. They also hire the school leaders, establish priorities for improving recruitment and retention, and create opportunities for flexible incentives and compensation packages.
I will work collaboratively and transparently with all board members and administrators to achieve the goal of providing an excellent education to all CBSD students.
What are the school board’s biggest challenges in the coming months; the next four years?
In the next few months, the district will need to focus on managing unexpected changes in revenue due to budget delays in Harrisburg and abrupt cuts to federal programs, keeping grade realignment and full-day kindergarten on track, and strengthening its leadership team. Over the next four years, the school district will need to prioritize long-range budget forecasting, developing a collaborative work and school environment and culture of belonging, and ensuring that CBSD continues to offer a robust, rigorous and full curriculum that prepares all its students for the current needs of employers and expectations of higher education as well as addressing the complex needs of today’s students. For example, many students have executive functioning challenges. I would like to see the School Board add courses that directly teach executive functioning skills to all students at the elementary and middle school level.
How will you work with administrators and fellow board members to address the district’s biggest challenges?
I will work collaboratively and transparently with all board members and administrators to achieve the goal of providing an excellent education to all CBSD students. I will set expectations and benchmarks and positively support others while also holding them accountable.
