Jalon Peters

Office sought: LPOSD School Board, Zone 2

Education: High school diploma

Occupation: I own a handyman business

Family: Married for 20 years, I have three sons

Website: jalonapeters.wixsite.com/jalonforschoolboard

1. A few things inspired me. 1 – I felt there was a need for greater parental oversight of the district and schools. 2 – I feel that the my opponent is supporting taxation of the public with almost no limits. 3 – I also feel as though I have a lot to offer to the board in the way of budgeting, leadership skills, and student/parent relations.

2. I have worked with students my entire adult life, so I am well-aware of how they operate and how to listen to them. In working with students, I have also worked closely with parents. I have also overseen countless missions and projects that require major amounts of delegation and fiscal responsibility. I own my own business and know what it takes to work within the constraints of budgets.

3. 1 – There is lack of parental oversight of the classroom and extra-curricular activities. 2 – There is too much compliance and adoption of national mandates and requirements for curriculums, testing, and even infringement on personal liberties. 3 – the permanent levy being in place and the receiving of too many federal funds that have strings attached.

4. 1 – I will immediately work with the board to adopt greater measures for parental involvement and accountability in the schools. All the way from lunch programs to seat belts in busses, to what’s being taught in the classroom. 2 – Have more frequent teacher questionnaires/surveys that will result in hearing from each individual teacher what is working and what is not in the classroom. I will work with teachers and rely on what they (and the parents) feel is needed to be taught, not only national or state mandates. 3 – I will work toward removing the permanent levy and stop blindly receiving endless amounts of federal funds. This type of spending will almost always lead to needing more and more. Federal funds almost always have requirements attached to them. I would like to focus on not just increasing funds but also removing or restructuring programs and events that are no longer needed.

5. I would thank those who voted for me and those that volunteered in my campaign. I would then thank Mr. Suppiger for his commitment and service to LPOSD. Then I would love to talk to as many parents and teachers as I can in our school district and hear their thoughts on how they think things are going. I would also love to talk to ANY taxpayer in our district and allow for accountability to them; as they are the ones that are being asked to pay for the majority of the budget.

6. Critical Race Theory. CRT claims many things that I believe are false and not based in facts but more in feelings that lead to dangerous behavior. A few things CRT claims: 1 – Certain races of people are inherently racist just by being that race. 2 – The legal system is improper because it as founded on white supremacy and is therefore racist. 3 – It claims that America was founded on racism and that there should be reparation made to minorities. 4 – It even goes as far as to segregate races so that they can have safe spaces to be themselves (seems like we would be moving backward). There is more, but I do not have time…

7. I believe in the family first model to how we educate our children. I would want to work hard to partner with parents and families in educating their children. This would mean increased parental monitoring and accountability- which I would welcome.

8. I don’t believe it is, no. I believe that the government (federal, state, and even local at times) has grown too large. The government has become the entity that too many people rely on for subsidies, support, and provision. They have legislated too many restrictions that harm small businesses and also personal liberties. I also feel that many politicians have become corrupt in their desire for power, money, and control.

9. Do you believe in the capitalist form of society or the socialist form of governance ? I believe in capitalism. I believe that when people are given the opportunity to work hard and achieve what they can from the product of their own hands, there is greater incentive for more quality products and dedication to their work. The idea that people can CHOOSE what business is better suited for their needs causes all businesses to work hard to be better and more relevant. Socialism would strive to bring all businesses and people to the same level through redistribution and subsidies which would drive prices up and quality down due to lack of incentive for great products while demanding equal pay for different quality of work.  We see this battle even with ideas and debated issues. Where cancel culture has become the norm and there is no discussion or free thought or a free marketplace for ideas. People can just be cancelled until all people think the same (socialism for ideas). The free marketplace of ideas is under attack.

10. I would tell business owners that I would not interfere with how they run their business. I would not enforce any national or state unconstitutional mandates on them. I would allow them to operate as they see fit. I believe that if businesses were free to stay open as they needed, hire/fire the personnel as they needed, and pay their employees what they have properly earned, then the businesses would grow or shrink as needed to fit within the capitalist model. If employers could market themselves freely without governmental overreach I believe they would not only attract employees, but be able to support them and their cost of living needs.

11. I’d be interested to know how many people in the area rent as opposed to own. Maybe if landlords weren’t overtaxed they could afford to lower rent. Or if businesses owners weren’t overtaxed and heavily regulated they could afford to pay employees more and have more employees. Maybe if people weren’t overtaxed and free to earn money that drives them to the American dream they could afford their mortgages and rent payments.

12. I would send frequent surveys and questionnaires for input and feedback to parents, teachers, administrators, and taxpayers. I would welcome public comment at all board meetings with the guideline being 3 minutes but not causing people to feel like we are forcing them to be quiet if they go over (within reason). That time of public comment before the board meeting would be for any topic or concern that is NOT agenda related. I would also welcome public comment after each agenda item that is discussed so that the public can have clarity on concerns relating to the boards’ discussion as well as maybe share data or feedback relating to the discussion. Too many times after public comment, there are board discussions and then there is no time afforded to the public for feedback or perspective after they have heard views and discussions from the board.