MATT ON THE ISSUES
Putting Kids First
Matt is a proven leader on the Anoka-Hennepin school board. He fights to prioritize the education and well-being of our kids over the radical political agendas of Education Minnesota, the MN Department of Education, and others who aim to indoctrinate children. Simply put, he believes the needs of children always outweigh the wants and desires of the adults in the system. Most importantly among those needs is the right to an excellent education in a safe learning environment that is free from distractions of any form.
Matt is a voice for parents who want a say in what is taught to their children, who oppose the sexualization of our kids, and who expect to take the lead on matters of politics, faith, and morality. He understands the need for our public schools to provide the space parents need to be able to do that. Schools should focus on academics and American values, leaving parents and families with the ability and the responsibility to teach their children their own closely held beliefs and morals.
Student & Teacher Safety
Matt puts the safety of students and staff front and center, fighting to change district policy and advocating for changes to state laws that tie the hands of school leaders who want to maintain discipline in our schools.
Matt has called for changes to district policies and practices that would support and indemnify teachers and school staff who act to curb violence or disruptive behavior in our schools. We cannot continue to maintain an environment where the adults in our schools are powerless in the face of violent or disruptive student behavior. Teachers must be allowed to take action with confidence that the school district will support them in doing so.
Matt stood with local law enforcement, including the Anoka County Sheriff and local police chiefs, to ensure we had Student Resource Officers (SROs) in our schools when the Minnesota legislature irresponsibly passed law that forced them to leave.
Curriculum & Community Values
Matt is at the forefront in the fight to remove divisive content from our schools. He knows our children need a strong academic foundation so they can become successful in life. He believes the public school system should provide a solid academic curriculum that is reflective of our community’s values. This should include an understanding of American history, civics, and citizenship.
He believes schools must prioritize excellence, which inspires people from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential. Academic standards should be rigorous, teaching should center on the direct instruction method, and grading systems must be easy to understand so that parents can accurately assess how their children are doing in school.
Matt opposes Critical Race Theory (CRT) because it teaches children that they are defined by their race instead of as individuals. Time and again, he leads the public fight against school administration, other school board members, the MN Department of Education, and anyone else seeking to continue to push CRT and its divisiveness on our children.
Our district is not being transparent with the community about CRT. They know it is unpopular and have tried to distract or confuse the public about its presence in the district. The goal must be diversity without division.
Extracurricular Activities
The value of extracurricular activities for children is well-documented. Kids who participate learn the value of teamwork, benefit from increased physical activity level and social interactions, and develop the skills they need to prioritize their time. Participation in clubs and teams provides opportunities to excel in areas other than academics, so that our children become well-rounded adults.
Families in our community invest significant time and resources in these activities for our children each year. Matt understands your investment in your kids and the value our community places on extracurriculars. He supported recent efforts to add boys volleyball as a varsity sport. He voted against the closure of the Oak View Middle School pool. He will continue to ensure the community’s interests in extracurricular activities is represented well on the school board.