

Matt Alonzo
Non-Partisan | Missouri
Candidate Profile
Leans Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Matt Alonzo
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2023
Election
School Board
Race
Lindbergh Schools Board of Education – At Large
Incumbent
Yes
EDUCATION
University of Missouri St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, BS, 2001
University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO, MA, 2011
Webster University, Webster Groves, MO, MA, 2017
WORK & MILITARY
Parkway Schools, Teacher, 20
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Lindbergh Schools Board Director, 6
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (3)
National Education Association
Missouri Equity Education Partnership
Lindbergh Equity and Diversity (LEAD)
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Lindbergh NEA
Missouri Equity Education Partnership
Lindbergh Equity and Diversity (LEAD)
SELECTED FINANCIAL SOURCE DOCUMENTS
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Neutral
I'm uncertain about the reason for this question, but I strongly believe that women have the right to access all available options for their healthcare. This requires that all information, including services provided by organizations like Planned Parenthood, be easily accessible. As an educator, I firmly believe that providing students with all necessary information is essential to their education. Concealing information from students goes against my core values and beliefs.
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Neutral
I am uncertain of the purpose of this question, but I want to emphasize that my personal beliefs about when life begins will not play a role in any decisions I make as a Director of the Lindbergh Schools Board of Education. It is important to me that School Board Elections remain focused on the betterment of education and not become politicized. Any attempt to inject political agendas into the election process is something that I strongly oppose.
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
As a school district, it is our responsibility to inform the legislature of the needs of our district, which may involve advocating for or against proposed legislation that affects student learning. This advocacy is conducted without utilizing taxpayer funds.
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I firmly believe that public education, from Pre-K through college, should be funded by the government. Education is a fundamental right and should be readily available to all members of our society.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
At school, students should be able to speak freely and civilly about matters of conscience and faith, including Christianity.
Strongly Agree
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
I strongly oppose discrimination based on an individual's beliefs, even if those beliefs do not align with my own. It is important to respect diverse viewpoints and foster an inclusive environment that encourages open dialogue and understanding.
EDUCATION
What is the function of the local school board?
The primary function of the local school board is to create and enforce policies that promote student success and enable schools to operate efficiently. This includes tasks such as hiring and evaluating the superintendent, approving budgets that align with district goals, and advocating for the district's needs with local legislators.
Who should have the authority to set curriculum and determine resources used in those curricula?
It is the responsibility of the district administration to establish and implement the curriculum, as well as determine the resources required, in accordance with the policies established by the board of education.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
School board meetings serve as a public forum, and it is critical that parents and community members maintain their freedom of speech during these meetings. All attendees should be able to express their opinions and concerns without fear of censorship or retribution.
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
While I believe that all educational experiences hold value in schools, I want to clarify that I do not support the inclusion of Critical Race Theory in the curriculum. However, aside from that exception, I firmly believe that all priorities mentioned have a place in the school setting. It is important to recognize the unique needs and interests of students and provide them with a well-rounded education that fosters growth and success. Therefore, it is not productive to rank the priorities.
Which more closely matches your view of America's founding principles? A) Liberty and equality. B) Slavery and racism.
America's founding principles of liberty and equality are fundamental to our society, but it is essential to acknowledge our nation's history of slavery and racism. Despite our ugly past, we must continue to work towards a future that is inclusive, just, and equitable for all.
What does "equity in education" mean to you?
Equity in education involves providing each student with the support and resources necessary to achieve success. This approach recognizes that different students have different needs and requires tailoring educational experiences to meet those unique needs, rather than providing all students with the same resources and support regardless of their individual circumstances.
Written parental consent (opt-in) must be obtained before students are taught courses such as Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) or Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Disagree
In Lindbergh Schools, the current model allows parents the option to opt-out of certain programs or activities.
The loss of local control in education is too high a price to pay in exchange for federal dollars.
Neutral
The budget of Lindbergh Schools is mainly supported by local taxes, which ensures that our local taxpayers retain control over their funding.
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
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
In Missouri, Senate Bill 775 prohibits schools from maintaining books that contain graphic depictions of sexual acts.
All print and digital material available or presented to students should be easily accessible for public review.
Neutral
This depends on the definition of easily accessible. In Lindbergh Schools, parents have the right to request any materials being used in the classroom.
VALUES
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised in a Christian household and my wife and I are also raising our children with the same values. We attend church regularly and strongly believe that religious beliefs come in many different forms. As members of society, it is our responsibility to show love and respect for all individuals, regardless of their religious views. It is our duty to ensure that all students feel welcomed and valued in our schools, regardless of their religious beliefs or backgrounds.
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Agree
No school official should be involved in the sexual transitioning of a student, including the use of alternative names and pronouns.
Strongly Disagree
As an educator, I believe it is essential to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students that supports their educational experience. This may involve respecting students' preferred names and pronouns, among other measures.
Therapy to help children turn from unwanted same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria should be banned.
Choose not to answer
I do not see the relevance of this question for a school board election.
No healthcare diagnosis or treatment, whether mental, reproductive, or otherwise, should be given to a child without first receiving written consent from the parent.
Choose not to answer
There is no healthcare diagnosis that occurs in Lindbergh Schools. This is the job of a medical care professional.
Who is responsible for teaching sexual education to children, and what is the appropriate age when it should be taught?
The responsibility of providing sex education is shared between parents and schools. In Missouri, school districts have the option to offer sex education, and if they do, it must be medically accurate and age-appropriate. Parents or guardians have the right to review the curriculum and choose to opt their child out of the program. In my opinion, it would be beneficial for students to have access to sex education by at least fifth grade.
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
As a parent, I believe that it is important for my children to learn about all of the aforementioned topics. While I would feel comfortable with my child receiving information on these topics from their teacher, I also believe that parents should be informed of each topic ahead of time and have the option to opt their child out if they wish.
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Disagree
Making decisions based solely on personal moral beliefs can be challenging. As a school board member, it is essential to consider all perspectives when making decisions.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
A photo ID is not explicitly required to cast a ballot in Missouri, but acceptable forms of ID include those with a photo. Therefore, voters may need to show a photo ID to vote. However, if a voter is unable to obtain an acceptable form of ID, they can still cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted if they provide the necessary identification within three days of the election.
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.
Neutral
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?
Lean Liberal
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Did not answer
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
School Board elections are intended to be non-partisan and focused on the betterment of education. Although there may be a common stereotype that suggests the far left has a stronghold on school systems, I firmly believe that political leanings have no place on the school board. I prioritize the needs of students above all else. During my time on the board, I hope that voters have been able to see that every decision made has been guided by what is best for our students
2ND AMENDMENT
Teachers who are licensed to carry should be allowed to carry guns at school.
Strongly Disagree
Speaking as an educator, I hold the firm belief that bringing a gun into the classroom does not create a safer environment for anyone involved. As a parent myself, the idea of my child being in a classroom with a teacher who carries a weapon is a deeply concerning and unsettling thought.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Under what circumstances (if any) should schools be allowed to require vaccinations?
In Missouri, there are required vaccinations for students (Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP or Tdap), Polio (IPV or OPV), Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B (HBV), Varicella (chickenpox), meningococcal vaccine prior to 12th grade). Exceptions can be made for medical or religious reasons with documentation. Beyond that, the school district can not mandate any other vaccinations.
I support mask mandates.
Strongly Disagree
Wearing a mask is the choice of an individual.
All official open meetings should be live streamed, recorded, and have transcripts available online for public access.
Agree
All votes should be roll call votes and recorded in meeting minutes.
Disagree
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