What is your full name, occupation, and how long have you lived in the district? My full name is Brent Daniel Basquez, and I am the AVP of Consumer Lending at Stryv Bank in Park City. With the exception of my college years and early married years, I have lived in the district my entire life. My entire family is from the Augusta area and are responsible for building hundreds of homes and businesses in/around Augusta.

What professional, educational, or community experiences do you have that will support your role as a board member? (if you have spent time in our schools, please share) I received my B.S. in Business and Technology Management from Kansas State University. I have served on Augusta youth sports boards, I am the voice of Augusta Youth Football, and I currently serve as treasurer for the City of Bel Aire Chamber of Commerce. I am the spouse of a USD 402 teacher, so I have spent time with students and helping in the classrooms. I have two children, one of which has graduated from USD 402 and the other is currently a freshman at AHS. I am an involved parent that has loved to volunteer and serve in the activities at USD 402.

Why are you running for the Board of Education, and what are your top priorities for the district? I am running because I truly believe USD 402’s best days are right in front of us. We should be proud of our history and all of those who have contributed to getting us where we are today, but it is time to take the next big step in our story. When you look at the recent bond election, you can see there is some serious momentum and community buy-in right now. I want to be a part of the effort to capitalize on that momentum and take us to the next level. Not only with facilities, but with a renewed energy and culture that makes all students/staff say they are proud to be a part of USD 402!

My top priorities for the district would be:

• Student Success: providing strong curriculum and effective teaching to help prepare students for college, careers, and life.
• Fiscal Responsibility: we have to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, with transparency, and in ways that directly contribute to student success.
• Safe Schools: students deserve to come to a building that provides a physically, socially, and emotionally safe learning environment.
• Support for Teachers/Staff: our teachers and staff are the backbone of what we do. I want to invest in them and make sure they have all the resources and respect they need to thrive in their jobs.
• Strong Community Engagement: I want to see us build trust by listening to the community and keeping them informed about key decisions.

What do you see as the role of a school board member, and how will you work with others to make decisions? An effective school board member should be a representative of the community that listens to parents, students, teachers, and staff, keeping the long-term success of our schools at the center of every decision. They should have a strong conviction/desire to see our district succeed and the students/families in our building thrive. It would be my goal to approach every issue with a focus on respectful collaboration, an open mind, and a focus on facts. Perspectives can differ, but I believe we can achieve sound decisions through thoughtful dialogue and finding a common ground.

What do you believe are the district’s greatest strengths, and what do you see as opportunities for growth? I believe our biggest strength is the well-intentioned and thoughtful staff that we employ at our schools. Teaching is not an easy job today (not sure it ever really was), and yet we have some very talented and committed staff that do an amazing job, day in and day out. We need to do all we can to continue to pour into them and provide them the resources they need to be successful.

I care deeply about the mental health of our students/staff. I know student behaviors are an issue at each building in our district and I believe there is more we can do to support our staff in this area. I am also a strong advocate for strengthening the family unit as a whole, which begins at home. There are things that each building does to try to keep families engaged in their child’s education, but I do think there are some additional steps we could take to help.

Additionally, we are facing some significant financial challenges in the coming years that will require us to make difficult decisions. These are not totally unique to USD 402, but they include decreased enrollment numbers, a decrease in the birth rate, open enrollment with surrounding districts, and decreased state and federal funding.

What values would guide your decision-making as a board member? As I mentioned previously, I come from a family of builders. Going as far back as I can remember, I have helped with countless building projects with my dad, including building the home I grew up in from the ground up. Projects of this scale require meticulous planning, unwavering vision, the ability to make necessary changes when needed, and a strong commitment to the mission at hand. These are values that I carry with me in my professional life to this day and I will bring them with me as a USD 402 board member as well. I also believe it is important to constantly be learning new things for personal growth and yet to trust those around you that have more experience and knowledge than yourself. Lastly, I grew up in church and I know how important the power of prayer is as well as maintaining a high level of integrity in everything you do.