In this race, the incumbent, Kina Chadwick, is most prepared to serve. From their years on the school board, Chadwick has a clear vision of the challenges ahead: funding cutbacks, a need for more early childhood literacy, engaging students and chronic absenteeism among them. They should have a chance to continue their work.
Chadwick’s opponent, Justin Van Patten, has his heart in the right place — expressing a desire for students to feel seen and safe at school, and ensuring they have a purpose while they’re there — but his perspectives on how to best achieve that vision were less informed than Chadwick’s.
We also feel it’s important to point out the leadership that Chadwick has brought.
We are living in a time of a lot of fear — when we’re seeing the chilling effects that can come from rejecting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; when undocumented students and trans youth are targeted for their identities. We mention these things not to dig into some “woke” ideology — but because right now, students with these various identities — students with disabilities, BIPOC and queer students among them — are being targeted and maligned, and that affects their ability to not just thrive in school, but to show up at all. It is not “woke” to care about all students. It’s simply humane.
It is commendable that the entire Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors, along with the District as a whole, has pushed back against the federal efforts to dismantle DEI programs with threats of funding cutbacks. Americans need brave leadership in the face of attacks that affect some of the most vulnerable of our students. Chadwick was among those brave leaders when they advocated for a District statement that signaled support for transgender youth in the community, on the heels of another District resolution supporting undocumented students. It should not have to be labeled “brave” to do these things, but unfortunately, in these times, it is. That’s the type of leadership we want to see across the political spectrum in these times. Still, given that stands like these come with a potential economic fallout that impact things like school lunch programs, which support those with the most difficult socioeconomic circumstances, another challenge for leaders at this time is finding ways to ensure those students’ support networks stay in place.
Vote Chadwick for Bend-La Pine Schools Board of Directors Zone 7.
This article appears in Source Weekly May 1st, 2025.
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Yawn. The Bend Source endorses a liberal. And in other news water is wet and dog bites man.