Public School Advocacy Group Announces Launch, Candidate Slate for USD 497 School Board
Lawrence, Kan. – On Monday morning, Kansans United for Public Schools (KUPS) announced its official launch alongside a slate of candidates for school board that the group will support in USD 497. KUPS is a grassroots movement of parents, students and school staff working to win substantial investments in our public schools and reimagine public education as the cornerstone of democracy and racial and economic justice in our state. KUPS is advocating for:
More funding for public education, including fully funding our special education programs and keeping public dollars in public schools
Support for teacher and school staff unions, living wages for hourly school staff, and initiatives to reduce teacher workload
Resources to transform our schools into “Community Schools” that support our children, their families, and the broader community by providing access to social services, mental health workers, after-school programs, and other services for families
Student-centered, democratic classrooms where every student receives the support they need to thrive, particularly our Black students, Native students and students of color, our LGBTQIA Students, our students with disabilities, and our poor and working class students
Democracy and transparency in the operation of our school districts, led by our elected school board members and in consultation with students, families, school staff, and community members
Kansans United for Public Schools is excited to support a slate of four outstanding candidates for USD 497 School Board that share our values:
Carol Cadue-Blackwood is an incumbent member of the USD 497 school board and social worker. She serves on both the Kansas Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and The Kansas Association for Native American Education as appointed by current Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. Cadue-Blackwood, who is running for re-election, said: “Giving back to the community has always motivated me. Racial and social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in our schools and communities has always been my priority for everyone. When students see themselves in the academic realm, their confidence and self-esteem increases. Every student should receive nothing less than the highest quality education.”
Kevin Coronado is a pastor in Lawrence, with four young children either currently attending or set to attend Lawrence Public schools when the time comes. Coronado, who is running for the school board to improve his own childrens’ and others’ experiences and futures, said: “When I look back at my childrens’ experience so far in Lawrence Public Schools, it is a good experience but I know that it could be better. Not just for my kids, but for every single student – all of our kids deserve the best education possible, and we can only achieve that together.”
Yolanda Franklin is a former library aide within USD 497 with grandchildren attending three different Lawrence Public Schools. She runs a local non-profit that feeds the homeless and low income families, as well as a second-chance felons program. Franklin is running for the school board in hopes for change, saying: “I want to see a change in the way our schools are managed. I want to give not only my grandkids, but also everyone else’s kids, a school board that is truly for the children.”
Ariel Miner is a product of the Kansas public school system, an alumna of the Kansas University and Kansas State University, and a substitute teacher in USD 497. Miner began substitute-teaching with intentions to become a teacher; after her first-hand experience within Lawrence Public Schools, she made the decision to run for school board. “I’m running for school board,” said Miner, “to stand up for the number one priority of our public school district-the children. Integrity, democracy, and transparency are essential to getting our district back on track. It’s time for a change.”
More information on Kansans United for Public Schools can be found at kansansunitedforpublicschools.com.