Information About Sandy Keans

Current Ward 2 Seat A School Board Member

Foster's 2021 Questionnaire Responses¹

What do you see as the top three issues facing the district, and how can the board address them?

1) Provide safe and healthy buildings so that students can remain in traditional classes. Remote learning is not anywhere near ideal. Kids like structure and routine. 

2) Teacher retention is desirable. It has been a stressful year and a half for them, requiring work over and above the normal school year and even looking toward retirement.   We trust them with our children several hours a day, more than some parents get to spend with them. We need to have meaningful compensation.

3) We need to take a look at the extra curriculum activities and make sure they are what kids want.  We have many sports programs, but every kid is not an athlete.  We must provide activities that draw them to the school and they want to be a part of.

How, if at all, would you work to strengthen the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts?

I know what diversity is.  I just don't know what is being asked. I'm a first generation American.  I understand the teasing that kids and harassment have to put up with who have accents or difficulty with English. Certainly gender identification is currently a major issue.  I would hope the Board and Administration would comply with all the laws and make all kids comfortable. 

How, if at all, would you work to strengthen the district’s mental health and wellness efforts for students?

After the last year and a half we all could use some respite. I would work to provide guidance councilors in every building at all levels. Some children are coming from homes with limited resources putting a strain on the best of families. This is not the best environment to get prepared for learning. The guidance councilors can offer a ear and suggestions to ease that burden.  My experience shows that when revenues are short the councilors are always the first to go.  I think we can do better. 

Resources to Learn More About Sandy Keans

Foster's Daily Democrat 2021 Questionnaire