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Duane Francis
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Duane Francis ran for election for an at-large seat of the Higley Unified School District in Arizona. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Francis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Duane Francis earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University. His career experience includes working as a manager and in aviation safety.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Higley Unified School District, Arizona, elections (2024)
General election
General election for Higley Unified School District, At-large (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Higley Unified School District, At-large on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Tiffany Shultz (Nonpartisan) | 18.4 | 16,307 | |
| ✔ |  | Sara Jarman (Nonpartisan) | 17.6 | 15,669 |
| ✔ |  | Scott Glover (Nonpartisan)  | 17.5 | 15,540 |
 | Kathleen Richards (Nonpartisan) | 17.2 | 15,244 | |
| Marc Garcia (Nonpartisan) | 16.9 | 14,980 | ||
 | Duane Francis (Nonpartisan) | 12.1 | 10,751 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 293 | ||
| Total votes: 88,784 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
To view Francis's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Francis in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Duane Francis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Francis' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Taylor Francis. My wife and I have two children currently enrolled in Higley public schools. We have been part of this district for three years, and our family roots run deep, having spent over 35 years in Gilbert and six generations in Arizona. My career is in Aviation Safety but I have demonstrated my commitment to our schools through volunteer work in classrooms, active participation in PTO meetings, and service on the district citizens committee and school site council. As a parent directly invested in the education system, I am dedicated to working tirelessly to ensure our children receive the highest quality education. As a devoted parent, engaged community member, and passionate advocate for our students, I am running for the Higley school board to put our children’s education first and ensure that every graduate is well-prepared for the future and a source of pride for our community.
- As a parent, my core belief is that students come first, with parents being crucial partners in their education. School safety is my top priority because if our children don’t come home at the end of the day, no other aspect of their education matters. I will work to enhance classroom safety by supporting the SRO program and holding principals accountable for maintaining discipline. Also, as a parent, I believe we share the responsibility for our student's academic success. Parents must be respected, informed, and actively involved in their child’s education because education begins in the classroom and is fulfilled at home.
- The fundamental purpose of the public school system is to provide the best education possible. We owe it to our students, their families, and the community to ensure that every child receives a rigorous and innovative education. I will prioritize academic excellence by setting high standards, holding the district accountable for performance, approving challenging and appropriate curricula, and measuring success through proficiency assessments.
- Building trust with parents and the community through open and honest communication is crucial. I will ensure that data and information are easily accessible and readily available and that every parent’s voice is heard. As a board member, I will take the time to listen to each parent and guarantee their concerns are heard, ensure parents receive answers to their questions, and ensure the community is kept up-to-date with district matters and events.
I am passionate about public education. I am running on putting students first and ensuring their safety, empowering parents to be informed and involved, academic achievement and rigor through robust and suitable curriculum, and ultimate transparency and accountability.
I am a conservative constitutionalist. "The Proper Role of Government" speech by Ezra Taft Benson, former Secretary of Agriculture, captures many of my feelings toward government.
Objectivity, accountability, and transparency. It is a critical part of an elected official's fiduciary duty that the official represent the will of those he represents, even if that means setting aside his own ideas. An elected official must be accountable for his actions. Proper accountability is taking ownership of one's actions, answering the tough questions, and facing situations head-on rather than deflecting responsibility. Finally, an elected official must be transparent. He must foster open and honest communication with all stakeholders and be willing to communicate the "why," even in unfavorable situations.
First and foremost, I am a parent. My wife and I have two children currently enrolled in Higley public schools. We have been part of this district for three years, and our family roots run deep, having spent over 35 years in Gilbert and six generations in Arizona. I have demonstrated my commitment to our schools through volunteer work in classrooms, active participation in PTO meetings, and service on the district citizens committee and school site council. As a parent directly invested in the education system, I am dedicated to working tirelessly to ensure our children receive the highest quality education.
The primary job of a school board is to govern and oversee the administration and operation of a public school district. The board establishes policy and guidelines, hires and manages the superintendent, sets educational goals and objectives, approves a budget and finances, and ensures compliance with policy and state and federal law.
I want to be known for my objectivity, adherence to the rule of law and the rule of policy, and dedication to fighting for students. Ezra Taft Benson, former Secretary of Agriculture, said, "Unlike the political opportunist, a true statesman values principle above popularity and works to create popularity for those political principles which are wise and just." For me, I would rather be rich in principles than rich in popularity. While popularity isn't always bad, I would rather be popular because of my principles.
Above all, the board serves as an advocate for and represents students and parents, acts as a check-and-balance in the district, and answers to and represents the community's interests. They do this by ensuring the academic success and safety of students, governing and overseeing the administration and operation of the district, establishing policy and guidelines, overseeing curriculum, setting educational goals and objectives, approving a budget and finances, ensuring compliance with policy and state law, recruiting and retaining top educators and administrators, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the district, and fostering open and honest communication between the district, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders. Arizona Revised Statues state that, in general, governing boards establish governing policies, oversee the district’s budget and assets, hire superintendents, approve curriculum and educational programs, represent the interests of the local community, and ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
The students, parents, community members, taxpayers, and businesses within the ~24 square miles of the Higley School District in Gilbert, Arizona—east of Greenfield Rd, north of Ocotillo Rd, west of Sossaman Rd, and south of Warner Rd.
The board oversees the education of students who attend Higley's public schools but is accountable to everyone who lives and operates within Higley's boundaries, whether they have students who attend Higley schools or not.
The board oversees the education of students who attend Higley's public schools but is accountable to everyone who lives and operates within Higley's boundaries, whether they have students who attend Higley schools or not.
Students are the top priority and are the reason public education exists. Every decision made, vote cast, program enacted, or dollar spent by a school board member should be with an eye to "how will this benefit the student?"
At the same time, it is impossible to expect teachers to deliver top-level instruction to students if those teachers do not have the tools they need to do so.
I believe that maintaining trust is critical to building relationships with community members, and this is done primarily through transparency and open and honest communication. When the board explains the "why" behind decisions and actions to community members, the board can receive both buy-in and feedback from the community as follow-up. Parents, teachers, staff, taxpayers, legislators, policymakers, and other stakeholders all want to be informed, heard, and involved, and it is the school board's duty to ensure this happens.
The first group I would specifically target is parents. A lot is going on in the world regarding public education. Parents want to be heard, respected, and included. Though a school board's primary duty is to the student, parents are inextricably tied to their students and must be involved at all stages. I would include parents by reaching out to them via direct communication, social media, and in-person events rather than waiting for parents to reach out to me on the board.
The second group I would target is teachers. A school board can only understand or fulfill the needs of teachers if they hear from those teachers directly. Our students will never receive a top education if teachers are worried for their jobs, feel unsupported and alone, or are left without the tools to deliver top-level instruction. As a board member, I would encourage communication, visit schools, and get in the classrooms to see for myself what is working, what isn't, and what challenges our teachers are facing.
What constitutes good teaching is the ability of a teacher to deliver fact-based curriculum, without biased perspective, that reaches each student individually. A good teacher is one who recognizes the learning needs of their students, delivers manageable and easily understood instruction to the majority, and then tailors particular portions to individuals who need extra help on a one-on-one basis.
I will measure this through test scores in various forms and from a variety of sources. Teachers need to teach students fundamentals and prepare them for post-secondary success, whether that is a college entrance exam, a board assessment for a trade, or something else.
Higley School District currently has one STEM-style school. I would like to expand the curriculum by exploring non-traditional offerings such as magnet programs, advanced gifted programs, and additional STEM programs. Our world is rapidly changing, and technology is growing. Additionally, we are finding that children are, even earlier than expected, able to absorb and excel when exposed to these technological advances. I believe we owe it to our students to provide them with these opportunities as early as feasible.
Since the state controls funding, there are generally only two areas where a school district can utilize these funds. The first is through attendance—not just regular and 100-day measured attendance but also recruitment. Because Arizona is an Open Enrollment state, Higley Unified can recruit students who live both within and outside of the district boundaries. By providing highly sought-after teachers, programs, and schools that attract students, the district can secure more funds from the state as enrollment increases.
The second strategy I would employ to secure school funding is financial prudence. While school funding issues in Arizona need to be fixed at the state level, I recognize that overrides and bonds are sometimes necessary for districts to operate. It is both easier and more fiscally responsible to effectively utilize the funds already allocated to the district than to secure additional funds. I would propose an examination and audit of administrative and overhead costs to identify areas where the district could reallocate money better to serve students, the classroom, and teachers directly before going to taxpayers for additional funds. Though not ideal, bonds and overrides can provide essential funding under our current state structure, and I am grateful voters get to determine when these measures are warranted.
The second strategy I would employ to secure school funding is financial prudence. While school funding issues in Arizona need to be fixed at the state level, I recognize that overrides and bonds are sometimes necessary for districts to operate. It is both easier and more fiscally responsible to effectively utilize the funds already allocated to the district than to secure additional funds. I would propose an examination and audit of administrative and overhead costs to identify areas where the district could reallocate money better to serve students, the classroom, and teachers directly before going to taxpayers for additional funds. Though not ideal, bonds and overrides can provide essential funding under our current state structure, and I am grateful voters get to determine when these measures are warranted.
The primary principle that drives my policies for safety in schools is my children. No one loves my children more than I do, and I will never love any student more than my own children. At the same time, if it is good enough for my children, you can rest assured that it is also good enough for their peers. That is to say, I want the safest environment possible for my children. And that desire for my children's safety naturally extends to their peers.
How could we ever hope for a child to thrive, let alone learn, in an environment of fear, intimidation, or persecution? Our children must be secured from physical threats, as well as non-physical. Too many parents have shared with me stories of violence, drugs, and sexual acts in our schools. Bullying, especially, must be rooted out. I would bring in hall monitors, ensure site administrators are accountable for and uphold discipline, increase the number of SROs, and build the relationship further with the Gilbert Police Department.
The challenges our youth face are complex. I believe that any mental and behavioral health needs must be directed and overseen by the parents, and treatment should performed by professionals outside of the school environment.
Faculty and staff of Higley Unified need to be educated on the services available to them through district-provided benefits. I believe in the power and value of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). To support a higher quality of life, I would require annual training on EAP benefits and work-life balance for faculty and staff.
Faculty and staff of Higley Unified need to be educated on the services available to them through district-provided benefits. I believe in the power and value of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). To support a higher quality of life, I would require annual training on EAP benefits and work-life balance for faculty and staff.
I am not running to overhaul the Higley School District. Higley is a good district with many great qualities. At the same time, I would speak with the Superintendent and review the possibility and feasibility of some policy changes. The first of these changes would be reinstituting the dress code, which was eliminated in the Summer of 2023. I would also look at instituting hall monitors, tracking parent complaints and responses, cell phone use, and increasing communication with parents and the community.
Shane Krauser, Josh Lyons, Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, Christine Accurso, 1776 Project, Mark Stewart, Jedidiah Lyons, Friends of the Coalition, Monte Lyons, LD14 GOP, LD15 GOP, Arizona Tea Party, Stand for Health Freedom, Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Moms for Liberty, Republican Liberty Caucus
My ideal learning environment is one where children feel safe. How can we ever expect children to learn if they come to school feeling fear, intimidation, or persecution? Children must have an environment that fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and open and constructive dialogue. I believe the classroom should include a range of sources and viewpoints, ideological neutrality, and curriculum free of bias or favoritism. As appropriate, students, taught by teachers and supplemented by parents at home, should reach their own conclusions. Students should be taught how to think rather than what to think.
Higley Unified handled the coronavirus pandemic as well as can be expected. Should something like COVID-19 arise in the future, I would oppose mask and vaccine mandates while allowing parents to make choices for their own children's well-being as they see fit. Additionally, I would oppose the closing of schools and would explore remote learning options for families who desire such accommodation.
The number one way to build a relationship with parents is through communication. I would seek out parents through direct communication, social media, and in-person events. Parents need to understand their role and importance within the school district. Parents also need to feel heard, respected, informed, and involved.
I hear too many stories of parents' phone calls, emails, and questions going unanswered or being punted onto someone else in the district. I would demand from the top down and bottom up that questions and inquiries from parents be answered in a timely fashion, or that parents be kept in the loop and updated while the answer is investigated. We have a fiduciary duty to parents who entrust us with their children's instruction, care, safety, and overall well-being. The welfare and education of the student are the school board's first priority, and the parents' satisfaction is a very close, very intertwined second.
I hear too many stories of parents' phone calls, emails, and questions going unanswered or being punted onto someone else in the district. I would demand from the top down and bottom up that questions and inquiries from parents be answered in a timely fashion, or that parents be kept in the loop and updated while the answer is investigated. We have a fiduciary duty to parents who entrust us with their children's instruction, care, safety, and overall well-being. The welfare and education of the student are the school board's first priority, and the parents' satisfaction is a very close, very intertwined second.
I believe that three factors are essential to recruiting top faculty, staff, and administrators: pay, benefits, and culture. Higley School District is one of the top-paying districts in the state, and top pay, along with great benefits, is essential to attract top-level certified and classified staff members.
However, it does the district no good to recruit top teachers, staff, and administrators if those individuals turn around and leave Higley district for another. While recruitment is important, retention is vital. I believe that the school board should reward top-quality employees and replace those who underperform. Likewise, I believe that the school board must make an effort to sustain a gratifying culture—where employees thrive and are eager to engage with one another—by replacing bad actors or those who disrupt the harmony.
However, it does the district no good to recruit top teachers, staff, and administrators if those individuals turn around and leave Higley district for another. While recruitment is important, retention is vital. I believe that the school board should reward top-quality employees and replace those who underperform. Likewise, I believe that the school board must make an effort to sustain a gratifying culture—where employees thrive and are eager to engage with one another—by replacing bad actors or those who disrupt the harmony.
Financial transparency and accountability are critical to good governance. Trust with constituents is founded upon the principles of transparency and accountability, which are fostered through open and honest communication, taking ownership, making tough decisions, answering difficult questions, and accepting responsibility when warranted.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Higley Unified School District, At-large |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 28, 2024
