NameEdward Weniger
What office are you running for?School Board
County, District/TownshipPapillion-LaVista
AddressPO Box 460981
Papillion, Nebraska 68046
Map It
Phone(402) 256-0128
EmailEmail hidden; Javascript is required.
Are you currently the officeholder and seeking re-election?No
Is this your first time running for office?Yes
Election Date11/05/2024
Websiteedwardweniger.com
Social Media Handles

https://www.facebook.com/wenigerforschoolboard

KEY ISSUES
1. Provide the top 2 reasons why you want to run for school board?

1) The current board does not accurately reflect the beliefs and politics of the entirety of the school district. There is a vocal, growing contingent of parents that I would like to represent and address their concerns and questions.
2) The current board generally votes unanimously on all issues. I would like to be the lone dissenting vote in order to give due consideration to issues and prompt serious conversations.

2. Name the top 2 issues with your current school board or district and how you will address each issue.

1) We have made multiple requests to remove explicit materials from the school libraries and they have gone unheeded.
2) Teachers are bogged down with behavioral issues and non-essential curriculum, resulting in standardized test scores that have plateaued, especially in the aftermath of Covid. We need to empower them to exhaust all disciplinary options and free up their teaching time to prepare our students for vocational success.

3. Do you support school choice? Why or why not?

Yes - the best way to raise all ships is via competition. Our current public education system is a monopoly. The school funding should follow the child, whether they attend a public or private school.

4. Who do you think is the ultimate authority in a child’s education and wellbeing?

The parents of the child.

5. Do you agree with the statement “America is inherently racist”? Why or why not?

No. The more we continue to the talk about racism the more of a spotlight we cast upon it and will never be able to move beyond it. Our laws and society are built upon the inherent value of human beings regardless of skin color or immutable characteristics. Corporations, non-profits, and government are undermining this concept with DEI, hiring quotas, cultural biases, and restrictions on who they engage with based on identity.

6. What are your thoughts on “Comprehensive Sex Education”, “Diversity Equity and Inclusion”, and “Social Emotional Learning”? Should these be a part of our public education curriculum or supplemental learning materials or left to parents to teach and why?

The job of the school is to teach unbiased, essential curriculum to prepare students professionally. Parents should be the primary source of moral and ethical values.

7. With declining academic achievement in reading, writing, math, and science in schools across the nation, how would you address these issues if elected?

While schools should not be teaching moral and religious values, the current reality is that they do. Underpinning our curriculum and counseling is a nihilistic, hedonistic ethics. This futile environment leads to behavioral issues and an inherent lack of purpose or motivation. We also are setting standards based on the lowest common denominator and pandering to mediocrity. We should raise expectations overall, even if it has a short-term impact on our graduation rate or grade promotion, in the long-term it is the right decision and will pay off.

8. Safety is a major concern for most families, how would you support and encourage safety measures for girls in their private spaces, if elected?

Biological boys should use private spaces dedicated for boys, biological girls should have exclusive access to their own private spaces. I would speak up and vote to protect and defend these principles.

9. Do you believe Title IX is in jeopardy in our public education system today?

My understanding of the intent of Title IX was to boost female participation and opportunities in education and athletics. The federal government deciding to allow men pretending to be women to qualify under the same regulations in sports, accessing bathrooms, etc would reverse decades of precedent and endanger female students. The federal government has an oversized influence in our local education.

10. Do you have any other endorsements? If so, please list them.

Nebraska Republican Liberty Caucus, Nebraska Freedom Coalition, Sarpy County Republican Party, Moms for Liberty