Casey Day: Yes - Civic engagement is an important part of preparing students to be informed and active members of their communities. Students should have opportunities to participate in meaningful civic activities while maintaining academic responsibility.

Nathan Foltz: Yes - I believe students can protest lawfully.

Sam Rosenbloom: Yes - I would support this program if it were part of  a specific classroom activity. The House Bill requires a county policy and I believe the policy should be interpreted narrowly.  

Maria A. Carrasco: Yes - It is important to be civically engaged. Starting civic engagement in public schools can only strengthen it in adult age.

Rae Gallagher: Yes - I believe the current FCPS attendance policy would cover this type of excused absence but I would not oppose the efforts of HB0575 to implement statewide. 

Jess Douglass: Yes - Civics education has three key components: understanding First Amendment rights, learning about current events, and direct instruction in civic engagement.

Chad King Wilson Sr.: Yes - Civic engagement is essential to learning and democracy. Excused absences for testifying or meeting officials let students participate in public life. This bill values student voices, encourages active citizenship, and helps develop future leaders

Geoffrey Seidel: No - Students belong in the classroom unless there is a school-sponsored fieldtrip. 

Dean Rose: Yes - Providing students the opportunity to participate in our governing process is critical to their social and academic development. 

Casey Day: Yes - I support Policy 443 because every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported at school. The policy aligns with legal protections and helps ensure schools provide inclusive learning environments while respecting student privacy and dignity.

Nathan Foltz: Yes - I support the Gay and minority communities.

Sam Rosenbloom: No - Children who cannot legally buy cigarettes should not decide how they are conditioned or educated. Parents who delegate this responsibility and fund the system—are the true clients. Ensuring students have food they’re comfortable with, including vegetarian or Halal, is a more meaningful priority.

Maria A. Carrasco: Yes - Absolutely. The measure of a just society is how much it protects the most vulnerable. Students who are gender diverse face many barriers and need protection.

Rae Gallagher: Yes - As a current Board of Education member, I voted to uphold Policy 443 and have been an advocate for LGBTQ+ students and staff through the duration of my tenure on the Board. I believe ALL students, regardless of their gender identity, deserve to be safe, welcome, and supported in our school system. 

Jess Douglass: Yes - Policy 443 protects transgender and gender-nonconforming students from discrimination and bullying and is reviewed regularly to reflect law and community input. I will oppose efforts to politicize this process and continue defending every student’s right to feel safe, respected, and welcome in FCPS.

Chad King Wilson Sr.: Yes - I support Policy 443 because every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and protected from bullying and harassment.

Geoffrey Seidel: No - Boys do not belong in girls bathrooms, girls do not belong in boys bathrooms, neither belong sharing a room on school trips, and no secrets from parents are allowed. Student safety is essential for ALL students.

Dean Rose: Yes - I have been a strong proponent for Policy 443 since its inception in 2017. During this latest review I served as the chair of the Policy Committee and successfully navigated it through the review process. 

Casey Day: No - I believe students should have access to diverse, age-appropriate materials that reflect a wide range of experiences and perspectives. FCPS already has review procedures and parent controls within the library checkout system to address concerns about materials appropriately.

Nathan Foltz: No - Books should never be censored.

Sam Rosenbloom: No - This issue seems more emotional than widespread. The board sets policy, not book bans. Any disputed titles should be reviewed by three volunteer psychologists. Schools must stay focused on fundamentals—literacy, math, and core academics—without distractions from their primary mission.

Maria A. Carrasco: No - No. If parents have concerns about books in school libraries there is a process to bring that up and address concerns.  Blanket banning can be a slippery slope and I opose it. 

Rae Gallagher: No - I am vehemently opposed to efforts to ban books in our schools. FCPS implemented a checks/balances system in our media centers for parents to opt out of certain book FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN. I do not believe parents should have a role in opting other students or an entire school out of access.  

Jess Douglass: No - School libraries and curricula should be diverse and inclusive so all students feel represented. I oppose book bans. Parents guide their own children’s reading choices, and nonfiction should be removed only when factually false. I support policies that allow community input without censorship.

Chad King Wilson Sr.: No - Students deserve access to diverse perspectives, challenging ideas, and stories reflecting different experiences. Education should encourage critical thinking, empathy, and informed discussion, not fear or censorship. Parents can guide their children’s reading without restricting others.

Geoffrey Seidel: Yes - Sexually explicit material (pornography) is not permitted in FCPS per Policy 115. Yet the BOE allows these in the school libraries. A consistent position grounded in science and research, not shifting standards, feelings, or agendas is needed. 

Dean Rose: No - All students and families deserve access to books that offer a wide range of world views and perspectives. FCPS did initiate a process in which parents can limit their students access to certain media materials. 

Casey Day: Yes - Students learning English deserve the support and resources needed to fully access instruction and succeed academically. Investing in strong ELL programs helps students, families, and schools build stronger connections and long-term success.

Nathan Foltz: Yes - Our International students are part of school system.

Sam Rosenbloom: Yes - I have seen many children in my neighborhood where they do not speak English in their home environment.  This needs to be addressed. 

Maria A. Carrasco: Yes - I was an English Language Learner when I came to study college in the United States many moons ago.  I understand what it is to be in an environment where one feels "dumb" because you have no idea what people are saying.  ELL students need support to catch up and be able to fully engage in school.

Rae Gallagher: Yes - I firmly support all efforts to ensure that our multilingual learners have access to resources and supports to meet their unique learning needs. 

Jess Douglass: Yes - FCPS’s multilingual learner population has grown 50% in the past decade. Along with increased staffing and ongoing DEI training to support these students, FCPS should better recognize Latino and Hispanic contributions to national, state, and local history and politics.

Chad King Wilson Sr.: Yes - It is about equity. We need to ensure we invest into students who need more supports to access curriculum.

Geoffrey Seidel: Yes - In general, I am seeking FCPS accountability to provide excellence in student achievement. If a program is shown to positively impact student achievement, it stays and vice versa. Establishing metrics (KPIs) is key to this process.

Dean Rose: Yes - ELL students are a growing population that needs more robust educational programs and supports. 

Casey Day: Yes - Protecting the rights of students with disabilities is essential. I will continue advocating for strong special education services, legal protections, adequate staffing, and access to the supports and materials students need to learn safely and successfully.

Nathan Foltz: Yes - I have a MA degree in SPED and will defend IEP students

Sam Rosenbloom: Yes - I am the only candidate that has addressed the issue of changing the procurement regulations to give preference to Frederick businesses and to those that hire employees with disabilities. Student rights must be protected and must continue beyond being a student ! 

Maria A. Carrasco: Yes - The dismantling is a tragedy. I used to work at USAID and I understand that there are things that the public does not realize we have lost. I want to advocate so that the Federal Government gives FCPS what it agreed to provide for special education. 

Rae Gallagher: Yes - As a Board member, I believe it is our role and duty to ensure that students with disabilities get access to the appropriate services and education that they deserve. 

Jess Douglass: Yes - As a special education teacher, I see how challenging post-school transitions are for students with IEPs and their families. Transition Support Specialist at every FCPS high school and expanding parent workshops to better prepare students with disabilities for work, education, and adult life.

Chad King Wilson Sr.: Yes - After nearly twenty years in education, I will always fight to protect the rights, services, dignity, and opportunities of students with disabilities. Every child deserves support, inclusion, safety, and access to a high-quality public education.

Geoffrey Seidel: Yes - The DOE is an ineffective Federal bureaucracy that has not been shown to positively impact student academics. The rights of students with disabilities continues as a priority.  

Dean Rose: Yes - It is imperative that we as board members ensure that all students are provided with a safe and secure learning environment. It is especially vital that we protect our most vulnerable students. 

Casey Day: Yes - Students should learn accurate, honest, and age-appropriate local history, including Frederick County’s history of racial violence and lynching. Teaching this history helps students understand the lasting impact of racism and the importance of justice, civic responsibility, and community healing.

Nathan Foltz: Yes - I caught WV bussing out minority students in 2018 and lost my home 20 years. 

Sam Rosenbloom: Yes - Curriculum must address racially motivated violence and hatred. This naturally includes the experiences of African Americans, along with other racial, ethnic, and religious groups, to ensure students understand history and the importance of respect.

Maria A. Carrasco: Yes - History must be taught as it happened. Sugar coating oppression perpetuates oppression because it does not allow all to fully realize where we have come from.

Rae Gallagher: Yes - I believe that our history lessons should reflect the truth in history, and especially highlighting the importance of local history. 

Jess Douglass: Yes - An honest history curriculum is the only history curriculum appropriate for our students.

Chad King Wilson Sr.: Yes - I teach AP African American history and US History. We teach about these in our curriculum in MCPS, I believe it is essential for students to learn accurate history.

Geoffrey Seidel: Yes - History is history.....we need to teach it and learn from it, regardless of how painful it may be. Lessons were learned. 

Dean Rose: Yes - Our students deserve to be exposed to all of our history. To not be exposed to the mistakes of our past, makes us more vulnerable to repeating many of those same mistakes that led to violence.