Josh Chilton

Taxes / Budget I will critically examine the current budget to get the most out of every dollar spent, while exploring community partnerships that can bring funding and/or support to the classroom. Education This is a misleading topic because CRT, as it’s known, is a college-level class that’s isn’t part of public school curriculum in Mesa - and I don’t believe it should be. But when some people talk about CRT, they’re not talking opposing nuanced studies on race. They’re talking about ignoring regrettable parts of American and world history entirely - such as slavery, racism, and discriminatory policies. I do not support that, either. Ignoring our mistakes risks us repeating them. That’s why I believe in historical curriculum that is based on well-established facts, and that the adoption of ANY curriculum requires reasonable, transparent and open conversations between the district, parents, community, and teachers. Education I support Career and College Readiness programs that give students the ability to find and hone the talents they are interested in. This includes supporting Career Technical Education (CTE) programming, extracurricular activities, clubs, and mentoring opportunities. By focusing on this, we will prepare students for fulfilling careers here in Mesa. Civil Rights I support the rights of every student in their personal journey of self-discovery. No organization should regulate what a person believes, nor how they see themselves. Reasonable accommodations should be considered to help all students feel supported on campus and able to focus on their studies. We should work to keep all schools free from bullying and harassment. Also, before any logistical changes are made to school policy or facilities, clear and open dialogue with parents, students and teachers must take place. I support solutions that carefully weigh the opinions of the community, and which protect the freedoms of our children.