Hertzer, a candidate representing District 6 on the Nebraska Board of Education, answered questions from the media and the public at a forum held at the YWCA in Adams County on Friday.

The forum was organized by the Hastings League of Women Voters and sponsored by the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hastings Public Access Channel and the YWCA of Adams County.

Hertzer’s opponent for District 6, Grand Island’s Sherry Jones, was also invited to the forum, but due to other commitments, did not attend.

A friend of Jones’s, Shirley Wahlgren, attended the forum and read written statements from candidates.

“After 35 years of teaching, I understand the needs of both teachers and students,” Jones wrote. Finding ways to recruit and retain teachers is paramount to keeping the Nebraska school system healthy.”

Herzer also cited teachers as an important aspect in his opening statement.

“As the school district’s state representative, I am committed to identifying and removing obstacles to recruiting and retaining teachers in Nebraska,” she said. I strongly support continued access to mental and behavioral health support, and I will ensure equitable access for all students to quality education, including early childhood education.”

Jones wrote that she supports all forms of education: public, private, parochial, and homeschooling. She opposes comprehensive sex education and supports local control of school districts.

“I am an advocate for local decision-making because I believe that together parents and community members know best the needs of children within their communities,” she wrote. I’m here.

Helzer said local control is a key strength of Nebraska.

“Our local schools know what’s best for their students,” she said. “We absolutely have to keep it and keep it in Nebraska.”

Herzer sees the job of state boards of education as creating standards and allowing local school districts to interpret how they meet or exceed those standards. State boards make a variety of resources available to schools, but it’s up to each district to decide what to use.

Hertzer said he also holds qualifications as a former teacher at the community college and university level, as well as rural, suburban and urban schools.

“That experience gave me a broad perspective on education in Nebraska,” she said. “I’m very interested in the policy side. We need to ensure that all voices are included in the policy-making process so that all students can be represented in public schools.”

When asked about school choices, Herzer said Nebraska is a very strong school choice with a variety of options available to students. We do not want public funds to go to private schools that can refuse to admit students.

She said the adoption of the voucher and charter school system would have a negative impact on public education.

“Public school budgets are starting to run out,” she said. “We are effectively starting to stop funding our public schools.