Parental Rights Take Center Stage in Poudre School Board Election

By: Kelly Lyell and Sarah Kyle | The Coloradoan

As you weigh which Poudre School District Board of Education candidates will get your vote this election, you might be wondering where each candidate stands on parental rights — and how they would define that term.

The Coloradoan sent identical questionnaires to all candidates running for seats on local school district boards of education in the Nov. 4, 2025, election.More: Are you ready for the 2025 election? Your guide to Larimer County-area candidates, issues

Below are their answers to this question: How do you define parental rights as it pertains to public education? What level of input should parents/guardians have in curriculum selection and content?

Note: Candidate responses were reviewed and, in some cases, lightly edited to adhere to Coloradoan style guidelines. School board members in Colorado must reside within the geographic boundaries of the specific district that they hope to represent but are elected by all voters within the boundaries of their school district.

Poudre School District Board of Education District C

Karla Baise 

“There is an underlying issue of trust in this complex question. Parents and guardians should be able to understand what their child is learning, the process through which our educators have been hired and the oversight to which they are beholden. This may be the result of a mature community.

“My intention is to ensure that families feel heard and seen and that more of this information is easily attainable. Opt-out opportunities are important, inspire trust and can lead to autonomy for families.”

Check out Baise’s full Q&A here.

Sabrina Herrick

“This was recently defined by the courts with the ruling that parents can claim religious exemption to education topics. But a public school district cannot reasonably be expected to tailor its curriculum to match religious morality and beliefs, because even within a single religion like Christianity, there is a wide range of contradicting beliefs.

“Colorado law says that parents have a ‘right and responsibility’ for decision making, and I think the word responsibility is just as important as right.

“The district must provide parents opportunity to view syllabi and coursework, but parents have the responsibility to review that and, if opting out, collaborate with staff on alternative coursework, up to and including choosing a school that better matches their religious beliefs.”

Check out Herrick’s full Q&A here.

Poudre School District Board of Education District D

Tom Griggs

“Parental rights are an integral part of any well-functioning public school system. My definition of the term entails both an understanding that the parent is a child’s first teacher and that schools and those that work in them recognize this. While it is hard to accomplish at the state and district levels, policies and practice should reflect this understanding through transparency and clear communication.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT THE COLORADOAN