{"id":2450019,"date":"2019-10-17T21:52:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-18T03:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/aspen-school-board-candidates-put-to-the-test\/"},"modified":"2019-10-18T05:38:42","modified_gmt":"2019-10-18T11:38:42","slug":"aspen-school-board-candidates-put-to-the-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/aspen-school-board-candidates-put-to-the-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Aspen school board candidates put to the test"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.9443765281174\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-314606-112\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Patsy Kurkulis, left, talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Patsy Kurkulis, left, talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Patsy Kurkulis, left, talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Jim Pomeroy, left, talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Jim Pomeroy, left, talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-1.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Jim Pomeroy, left, talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Katy Frisch talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Katy Frisch talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-2.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Katy Frisch talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Bettina Slusar talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Bettina Slusar talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-3.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Bettina Slusar talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Jonathan Nickell, right, talks as Bettina Slusar listens during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Jonathan Nickell, right, talks as Bettina Slusar listens during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-4.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Jonathan Nickell, right, talks as Bettina Slusar listens during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | John Galambos laughs during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>John Galambos laughs during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-5.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"John Galambos laughs during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Patsy Kurkulis takes part in the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Patsy Kurkulis takes part in the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-6.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Patsy Kurkulis takes part in the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | The Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>The Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-7.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-8.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Jim Pomeroy laughs during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Jim Pomeroy laughs during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-8.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Jim Pomeroy laughs during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-9.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | John Galambos talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>John Galambos talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-9.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"John Galambos talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-10.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Katy Frisch talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Katy Frisch talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-10.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Katy Frisch talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-11-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-11.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Jonathan Nickell talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Jonathan Nickell talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-11.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Jonathan Nickell talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-12-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-12.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Patsy Kurkulis talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"12\">\n<p><strong>Patsy Kurkulis talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-12.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Patsy Kurkulis talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-13-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-13.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Patsy Kurkulis, left, talks with Bettina Slusar during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Patsy Kurkulis, left, talks with Bettina Slusar during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/boeforum-atd-101819-9-13.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Patsy Kurkulis, left, talks with Bettina Slusar during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspen-school-board-candidates-put-to-the-test\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspen-school-board-candidates-put-to-the-test\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Recently released data showing 41% of third-graders in Aspen Elementary School met or exceeded state reading standards have education board candidates expressing varying degrees of concern about the issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Unveiled at a Sept. 7 school board meeting and a topic of discussion at a candidate forum Thursday, the data are based on results from the state\u2019s CMAS standardized tests and the STAR Reading Assessment from 2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Candidates Katy Frisch, John Galambos, Patsy Kurkulis, Jonathan Nickell, Jim Pomeroy and Bettina Slusar are running for the two open seats on the Aspen School District Board of Education. Sandra Peirce and Sheila Wills, both nearing the end of their second four-year terms, are stepping down because of term limits. Ballots were mailed out this week; the election is Nov. 5.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Thursday\u2019s forum, broadcast by GrassRoots TV and moderated by David Krause and Curtis Wackerle, the respective editors of The Aspen Times and Aspen Daily News, capped a whirlwind week for the candidates, who also participated in the district-sponsored forum Tuesday and the Aspen Education Foundation\u2019s debate Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The candidates have tackled such issues as hiring a new superintendent, mental health at the schools, climate and culture at the district, teacher compensation and housing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And how the district\u2019s younger students are faring academically provoked a range of responses Thursday from the candidates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIn my opinion, given that statistic, we need to do some SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) in the classroom right now, because those kids are in the classroom right now, and not have this be a long process and discussion but just get on the ground and figure it out,\u201d Slusar said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Yet Galambos, the father of three children who graduated from Aspen schools and now attend college, offered that standardized tests results tell an incomplete story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI do take a 12-year look at achievement,\u201d he said. \u201cMy son had one bad year. He turned out to be a great kid and do really well overall, so we need to not say one bad test is terrible, or two bad tests. We do need to dive into why.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">One reason why, Nickell said, is the State Board of Education\u2019s adoption of the common core state standards in 2010, which took effect in 2014, \u201chas been especially acute at the elementary school\u201d because curriculum has not been aligned with the tests.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMy personal opinion on what the problem is has a lot to do with curriculum alignment in terms of making sure that what we\u2019re teaching is aligned with what the common core standards are,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause that\u2019s what the test is testing on, and I think we\u2019ve been hearing a lot about how that\u2019s been a priority for the board for a long time, but we\u2019re still not there yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Slusar, however, countered other Colorado schools were dealt the same hand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat same situation applies to everybody,\u201d Slusar said. \u201cThe standards were changed across the board, so something\u2019s not happening, and now that we have that information, I think we need to figure out what that is.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Like the other candidates, Frisch said there are varying reasons for the low performance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI suspect there are curriculum alignment issues,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s no one teacher. It\u2019s no one kid. It\u2019s no one bad day. Almost 60% of the kids can\u2019t read at the right level. It\u2019s just completely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Standardized tests, Kurkulis said, aren\u2019t necessarily a barometer for overall student achievement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cI think one of the questions we\u2019re not asking is: \u2018What are our children learning?\u2019 And I\u2019m not sure that standardized testing always shows that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Kurkulis, however, added that previous school boards haven\u2019t given the test results the scrutiny they demand, while Pomeroy said the board needs to deliver precise academic expectations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWhat we need to do is lay out clear goals, and this would be an obvious goal \u2014 to raise those test scores,\u201d he said. \u201cBut then once it\u2019s been given to the superintendent and staff, what has happened in the past is that they have simply said, \u2018We did this.\u2019 They haven\u2019t shown statistics. They haven\u2019t shown numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He added, \u201cI want someone to show me a graph that says this is how we\u2019ve done it and here\u2019s the evidence that it\u2019s happened. That hasn\u2019t happened in the past, and that\u2019s the board\u2019s job. Set the goal, and then staff says how they have met that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Frisch and Slusar said the issue can\u2019t fester.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cMy reaction is this is a state-of-emergency-type thing,\u201d Frisch said, adding that Aspen Elementary \u201cis not an inner-city school. We do not have a tremendously large ESL population. This is horrific. This is something we need to fix right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The community can use such academic resources as Room to Read to help address the deficiency, Galambos said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe can solve this problem,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can tap some of the resources in the community. \u2026 It\u2019s not just on the teachers. Let\u2019s get the community in here to help the kids read a little better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Nickell said, \u201cIt\u2019s not something that our kids all of the sudden got less smart. They\u2019re the same kids. A lot of times it was just the same curriculum that\u2019s being taught and it\u2019s not matched to the standards that are there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:rcarroll@aspentimes.com\">rcarroll@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/aspen-school-board-candidates-put-to-the-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patsy Kurkulis, left, talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at the Pitkin County building in Aspen. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times Jim Pomeroy, left, talks during the Aspen School District Board of Education candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2450019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-19 13:30:33","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2450019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2450019"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2450019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2450035,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2450019\/revisions\/2450035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2450019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2450019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2450019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}