Candidate Profile: Ilana Spiegel, U Of C Board Of Regents

The 2020 election is heating up in Colorado and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of state representative, senate and judicial seats.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Ilana Spiegel is running for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 6.

Age: 51
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family: Dr. Jeff Spiegel, Max, Charlotte (CU Class of 2023), Jack, Ruthie
Occupation:Educator and Education Advocate for almost 30 years
Previous elected experience: Founder of a grassroots group of parents, educators and students committed to allowing local communities to refine district, state, and federal goals and objectives to meet the needs of all students. Organized lobby days, testimony, and civic engagement for a more reasonable approach to assessment and accountability.

• Board Member, Taxpayers for Public Education
• President of Cherry Creek Community Legislative Network
• Chair of Cherry Creek School District Accountability Committee
• Appointed to 2014 Colorado State Standards and Assessment Task Force by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
• SB 15 164 School Safety and Youth in Crisis Interim Committee panelist on student data privacy and FERPA
• Appointed to the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act Assessment Spoke at the Colorado Department of Education

Family members in government: No
Campaign website: https://www.ilana4regent.com/

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our state’s flagship university system, the University of Colorado, is affordability.

Today’s students are in a pinch: more jobs than ever require some kind of post secondary degree or credential and the cost of obtaining a degree has skyrocketed.

It is time for Colorado to provide younger generations with many of the same opportunities enjoyed by previous generations by fundamentally reforming financing higher education. Demand for high cost degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is a large driver of cost. As Regent, I will partner with business and industry to produce degrees in STEM through innovative apprenticeships and co-ops.

At CU, our ability to enroll low income students is key to the future financial stability of CU. The only populations of high school graduates expected to grow over the next decade are people of color and low income students which is why Colorado recently changed the higher education funding formula to incentivize serving students.

To provide the next generation with pathways to higher education, we also must fundamentally reform our system for financing higher education by partnering with our federal delegation to:

• Expand the scope and size of PELL grants
• Move federal financial aid means testing to tax filing
• Move away from debt financing to Income Sharing Agreements
• Create Promise programs that offer free tuition

We can also address this issue by cutting middle and higher administration positions that do not directly support academics, students, and research. These aren’t just the kinds of cuts that I talk about. They have been made in other education systems I advise in various capacities. At CU, however, we must be mindful of exactly how much of an impact these types of cuts would have financially. While some cost savings can be found, CU already runs a pretty lean administration. Additional cuts could be taken, but it's not nearly enough to make a significant impact.

CU can also encourage early retirements, by making that information easily available and acting on it, consider eliminating poorly performing units, and consolidating some units to remove duplication and unnecessary competition between them, none of which benefits students.

Under the current board majority there has been a complete lack of transparency around the CU budget and tuition costs have skyrocketed. As regent, I’ll make changes to bring transparency to the budget and go line by line to see how we can lower costs for hard working students and families. It’s time for change. It’s time for the CU board of regents to have new, bold leadership to prepare for the future.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Faculty, staff, students and our community are asking for change on the University of Colorado Board of Regents.I have devoted my life’s work to serving students, teachers, hard working families and our community. I will defend academic freedom, fight to lower tuition costs and put our students and educators first. My background as a public school teacher, with 20+ years of public service makes me uniquely qualified to understand the diverse backgrounds of our students and how to prioritize providing equitable and inclusive opportunities to ensure their success at CU. I will defend academic freedom, fight to lower tuition costs and put our students and educators first

We need a leader on the CU Board of Regents who understands and values our education system. I have a 360 degree view of a public education and can lead in a way that is responsive to Colorado’s hardworking families. I have a track record of fighting for policies to eliminate opportunity gaps for students of color, students with disabilities, and low income and first generation students.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

• B.A. – English and Economics – Wellesley College
• M.A. – Education – Columbia University
• 5+ Years as Classroom Educator
• 10+ Years as Staff developer, coach, and public education advocate and consultant
• Education columnist
• Grassroots public education advocate and organizer
• Appointed to the 2014 Colorado Standards and Assessment Task Force by the Speaker of the Colorado House
• Appointed to the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act Assessment Committee
• President of Cherry Creek Community Legislative Network
• Chair of Cherry Creek School District Accountability Committee
• Parent of 4 children in public school and University of Colorado
• 2015 Wendy DeBell Exceptional Volunteer of the Year award recipient
• 2018 recipient of the Colorado Education Association’s Coloradan award for outstanding service in support of public education
• 2019 Certificate of Special Recognition for service to the community from Congressman Jason Crow

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?

The University of Colorado needs a change in leadership to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Today’s students are in a pinch: more jobs than ever require some kind of post secondary degree or credential and the cost of obtaining a degree has skyrocketed. Higher education funding in Colorado and at CU never recovered from the 2008 recession and prior to COVID-19 Colorado funded higher education 48th in the country. To be a good neighbor for local businesses a new board of regents majority must work to address conflicting Colorado Constitutional amendments, drive down costs and create innovative pathways to post secondary and professional degrees.

CU can work with local businesses to ensure students can support them in a safe manner during the pandemic, and challenge students to work with local businesses to come up with creative ways to survive during these tough times. CU can work to provide less expensive pathways or students by including work and military experience, and increasing apprenticeships.

Healthcare costs are the number one driver of increased costs at CU. I will work to find viable solutions to drive these costs down and pass the savings along to students. Both CU and local businesses will benefit from being able to drive down healthcare costs. Demand for high cost degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) is another large driver of cost. As Regent, I will encourage partnerships between CU with business and industry to produce degrees in STEM through innovative apprenticeships and co-ops like the new Colorado Collegiate Apprenticeship Program. I’m honored to be endorsed by entrepreneurs and civic leaders like Noel and Leslie Ginsburg to further this work.

We can and should do more by strengthening partnerships with our local community including Community Colleges, K-12 districts, innovation campuses, and apprenticeships. This includes expanding opportunities for concurrent enrollment, and broadening the on-ramps from the Community College system to 4 year degrees offered at CU. We need new leadership on the CU Board of Regents with experience in these diverse education systems to full address tuition and affordability.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?

I will address calls for racial justice and police reform by listening to and respecting students, faculty, and staff.

A good place to start is with Regent Kroll’s June resolution which grew out of concerns of students, faculty and staff during a time of historic racial unrest. Suggestions include exploring alternatives to the ACT/SAT standardized tests both as a high school graduation and a higher education entrance requirement. We can encourage the state legislature and governor to rid K-12 and universities of this requirement permanently. In addition, CU can expand pre-collegiate outreach programs into more communities of color and provide additional support and services once students arrive on campus. This would also involve auditing policies for recruiting students and incentives for serving low income, first generation, underrepresented students and for degree attainment once on campus. Conducting pay equity analyses would expose differences in pay amongst diverse faculty and staff. Furthermore, a review of diversity-related training and professional development programs would determine their extent and effectiveness and lead to development of new mandatory training programs for faculty and staff that focus on anti-racism and anti-bias. Another challenge from CU students, faculty and staff to address diversifying campuses is to review procedures for naming buildings and recommend new names that honor the significance of civil rights challenges.

In addition, we can listen to and respect the calls from students, faculty and staff to add and follow a system-wide CU Anti Racist Creed, adding a 3 point anti racist pledge to the Colorado Creed, implement action items for the reduction of racial injustice from the Black Student Collective on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, and respond to challenges from the Black Student Collective and White Coats for Black Lives on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus to increase transparency and accountability in funding, recruitment, and grading policies. Diversify CU Now has challenged CU to engage all BIPOC led student, staff and faculty groups in every planning meeting, conversation, document and implementation of anti racism efforts across CU, and include accountability checks at every step of the way by providing timelines, metrics, and regular public reports.

I’m proud to have the endorsements of over 20 BIPOC leaders in CD6 and across Colorado including former Regent and current Congressman Joe Neguse, State Representative Janet Buckner, State Senator and Chair of the Colorado Joint Budget Committee Dominic Moreno, NAACP Aurora Branch President Omar Montgomery, and the Greater Denver Ministerial Alliance. They know we need a Regent from CD6 who has a history and track record of working as an ally and partner to our diverse students and families. It’s time to do more. It’s time to have representation in CD6 and a board majority that is responsive to these concerns.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

As a mother of a student attending the University of Colorado and educator I’m running to make CU a flagship for our nation and a place where young people from all different backgrounds can obtain a world class education. That’s why my platform is defined by 4 pillars:

• Affordability ~ We must control the costs of higher education
• Accessibility ~ The doors of higher education must be open to all Coloardans, regardless of background or wealth.
• Inclusivity ~ Empowering our next generation starts by ensuring everyone is involved.
• Opportunity ~ Public education should be applicable, cutting edge, and relevant to students and the next generation of jobs

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have heard your concerns. I understand the need for more affordable options to obtain a degree, the need to address diversity and inclusiveness on campuses, and the importance of academic freedom, where different views can be expressed and appreciated.

Great education comes from listening, collaborating and reflecting. I have spent over twenty years developing these skills. My background as an educator means I will always prioritize the needs of students first.