Kathi Arocha
Non-Partisan | Texas
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Kathi Arocha
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2023
Election
School Board
Race
Arlington ISD Board of Trustees - Place 7
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, Bachelor's, 2016
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
SMU Cox School of Business, Rising Latinos Leadership Program, New Beginnings Church
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Board of Education, 2022
Race
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
- Appointment of Campaign Treasurer (Filed February 15)
- Campaign Finance Report- 8th day before election (period covered 3/28/2023-4/26/2023)
- Please note: this information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Please note: The following information was received by iVoterGuide after panel evaluations occurred and is for additional educational purposes only.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Disagree
Abortion providers are not the only providers that can instruct on topics such as safe sex, abstinence being a choice, STD education, the female anatomy/menstrual cycle, and birth control. Instructions, services, or any medical procedures offered to minor students should have their caretaker/parent(s) consent. Should an extenuating situation, such as abuse, emotional support, etc., arise, the district has processes/policies to address such cases.
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
There can be a medical reason to terminate when a confirmed health risk is involved, i.e., an ectopic pregnancy.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
School districts should be able to use taxpayer money for lobbying the state legislature.
Strongly Disagree
The taxpayers may have a different legislative interest than lobbyist activities. A contracted lobbyist can support agendas that may not be favorable to the taxpayers. Essentially, taxpayers will pay for legislation and have no say in such support. Therefore, the school district should refrain from using taxpayer money in that capacity. For any significant backing for state legislature changes, the taxpayers should have the opportunity to vote on the issue.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
Government funding is vital in public education. However, our lawmakers must ensure that the current funding allocations make sense. Some legislators are discussing equitable access to higher education and using the $30B+ budget surplus to help colleges and universities bring costs down. However, the legislators must first ensure the academic foundation is cared for at the K-12 level. Funding should also ensure that our teachers are compensated appropriately, including a consistent cost of living increase.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
It is clear in the First Amendment. No one has the right to silence free speech or religious beliefs. Students should learn that having their own opinion or choice of faith is a good thing. There is nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree civilly. No person or establishment should be given authority to silence speech or faith. It is unconstitutional.
School districts should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
School districts shouldn't make decisions or discriminate based on personal beliefs. Their role is academic learning, and they aren't accountable for upholding personal belief systems. We live in a diverse country where people can live by their beliefs, convictions, and opinions. Should a person believe in a one man/one woman union, that's their belief system for their life. The same is true if a person does not believe in that union.
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
They govern the district, set policies, and ensure they are effective. Ethically manage the budget with transparency. Hire Superintendent and evaluate performance. Ensure the community is engaged.
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
The state has the authority to set the academic requirements school districts should adhere to. The Board will determine policies, procedures, and resources ensuring all students receive the same level of education.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
It would be a violation of the Education Code sec. 26.007 under the Access to Board Meeting section, except for closed meetings. If a parent is passionate about an issue, they should have the right to address the Board. A parent has the right to voice praise or concerns on policies impacting their children and tax dollars.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): Mathematics, Information Technology, Science, Political Activism, Personal Finances, Gender Identity, Physical Fitness, American History, Critical Race Theory, Language Arts, Art & Music, Vocational Learning, Sexuality, Foreign Language, Social Emotional Learning
Language Arts, Math, Science, American History, Political Activism (Government), Art & Music, Information Technology, Personal Finances, Vocational Learning, and Foreign Language, Physical Fitness According to the Texas Education Code, the Parent(s)/Caretaker should be aware of teachings and materials presented to their child. If the parent(s)/caretaker disapproves, that decision must be honored without deviation. Some subjects could include; Social Emotional Learning, Gender Identity, CRT, and Sexuality.
Which more closely matches your view of America's founding principles? A) Liberty and equality. B) Slavery and racism.
Liberty and equality are the founding principles. Initially, enslaved people were included to partake in these principles. Still, due to fear that South Carolina and Georgia would refuse to be part of the union, the slave insertion was removed.
What does "equity in education" mean to you?
To provide equal educational and school facility opportunities to students who may experience economic hardship
Written parental consent (opt-in) must be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Strongly Agree
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Strongly Agree
Parents are the ultimate authority in their child’s education and should be able to freely pursue whatever educational options they deem best for their child.
Strongly Agree
Parents do have authority over their child's education. However, We must understand why a parent chooses to remove their child from public education. Once we understand clearly, we should determine if policy changes are warranted. Public education aims to provide academic excellence and a safe environment for all students in the community.
School boards are accountable to parents and taxpayers.
Strongly Agree
Do you believe students should have access to materials that graphically depict and describe sexual acts?
No
No, they are minors. Those materials do not promote academic excellence. There needs to be an understanding of the requirements which approve such materials to be part of the student's educational plan or available resource. Also, Such materials should be approved by the caretaker/parent before providing such material to the student.
All print and digital material available or presented to students should be easily accessible for public review.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Christian Christ Believer. I believe in treating all people with respect and without judgment. Integrity, transparency, and truth are my guiding principles. My passion is encouraging young people to strive for academic excellence. Honoring family and parental authority. I am passionate about inspiring young people to discover and awaken their talents in them.
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Disagree
Texas HB 25, now law, is in effect. The law prohibits non-biological sex (gender identified differently from their assigned sex at birth) from competing in a biological sex sport. Therefore, it is crucial that the school district aligns and is compliant with applicable laws.
No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Agree
A school official should refrain from assisting in transitioning a student. That is a matter between the child and their caretaker/parent(s). One of the district's core responsibilities is to provide academic guidance to help the student prepare for graduation and higher education.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Strongly Agree
Again, they are minors. It is the responsibility of the parent(s)/caretaker to provide consent on any medical/mental health assistance for their child.
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
The parent, however if the parent consents to Sex Ed at school, they can give authorization to the school before materials are given to their child.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- Physical and emotional health outcomes; contraceptive methods; consent; abstinence; sexual orientation and gender identity; human anatomy/the reproductive system; abortion methods and side effects; stages of pregnancy and fetal development; sex acts and pleasures of sex
Sex Ed is more explicit than previously taught. I see no academic reason to "educate on sex acts or pleasures of sex to minors. I don't support explicit material. Ultimately, parent consent must be honored in such teaching.
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
Many aspects of the Constitution was based on Judeo-Christian values
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Voting is one of the privileges in being an American Citizens
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
A candidate's personal moral values are relevant when considering a candidacy for elective office.
Strongly Agree
A candidate should be Transparent, truthful, have integrity, and be accountable
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
However, when it comes to business decisions or, in this case, if elected, my goal is to propose the best solution to resolve items from all sides.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I recently attended the Progressive Women of Arlington, and they recorded the event that has my stance.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
If elected, I will demonstrate transparency, truth and be ethical. I'm an Arlington resident and want to serve my community. I want to ensure that all students receive an excellent education. In addition, to manage the budget effectively and demonstrate transparency to the taxpayers.
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Neutral
That should be an issue for voters to decide. However, the better solution should be that we have trained school security which right sized for each school.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
Currently the law requires school vaccination for certain diseases. However, the law also allows exemptions in accordance to Texas Administrative Code (TAC).
I support mask mandates.
Disagree
I do not support mandate that infringe on a citizens constitutional or civil rights.
All official open meetings should be live streamed, recorded, and have transcripts available online for public access.
Strongly Agree
The voters elect their representatives and should be transparent to their constituents. They are elected to do the job and represent the community. The voters have entrusted their elected officials. Therefore all official open meeting information should be accessible
All votes should be roll call votes and recorded in meeting minutes.
Agree
Nomination and voting will occur in public sessions
