Madden, Nathan

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Buckeye Union High School District
Age:
27
Occupation:
Risk and Threat Specialist
Religion:
Christian
Biographical Info:

I made Buckeye my home in 2016. I’ve served on the BUHSD Governing Board since January 2023, and in that time our district has earned an A rating three consecutive years. I brought public access to detailed spending documents because I believe if you can’t see where your money goes, governance isn’t working. I led our board to unanimously reject the Arizona School Board Association’s push to eliminate ESAs and STOs because families deserve choices. I champion career and technical education, I question what’s put in front of me by admin to ensure every taxpayer dollar is spent like it belongs to you, because it does.

Statement:

I work with anyone who has a good idea regardless of party because I believe in common sense governance, and I show up prepared, ask the hard questions, and take responsibility for my votes. I’m asking for your support again because this work matters to the future of our community, and I’m willing to serve.

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupports
  • OOpposes
  • *Comment
  • −Declined to respond
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation
Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Requiring district and charter school officials, including teachers, to inform parents about their child’s social, mental, emotional, or physical health. S* I despise the concept of in loco parentis (to legally act in place of a parent). Children are not wards of the state and parents must be informed of their children's heath and well-being.
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons that offend their personal, moral, or religious beliefs. S* I believe that the primary people responsible for a child's education is their parents. Schools and institutions exist as service providers that a parent chooses to send their children to. That means Parents ultimate should control what their children learn.
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects. O* If you set a consistent primary rate, then as the property values increase there's no reason to raise rates at all. Bonds approved by the public affect the secondary rate, but that is a decision ultimately in the voters hands.
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs. S* Same answer as question 2
5. Allowing all parents to use tax credits and publicly funded empowerment scholarship accounts to enable their children to attend any private, homeschool, or online academy of their choice. S* Again same answer as question 2, but I'll expand that public school districts need to be competitive to survive in a good school choice environment. For example, My district cost per student per year is appx $6,000 which shows more spending efficiency than the value of the ESAs.
6. Making available books and instructional materials that include sexually explicit images and themes in school classrooms and libraries. O* The purpose of an education institution is to educate. Unless its something like a Sex Ed class that a parent gives a consent form for it's simply not the job of the district to put this kind of thing in front of students.
7. Acquiring parental consent for school faculty and staff to refer to students by pronouns that do not align with the student’s birth sex. S* I continue to refer to my answer to question 2
8. Allocating teacher pay raises based upon merit rather than providing uniform salary schedule increases based upon years of teaching or additional credentialing (e.g. master’s degrees). −* Merit pay should be in addition to base salary just like any other industry's bonuses are calculated. This shouldn't be an [either, or] question. Personally I believe this is an over politicized issue.
9. Implementing policies to allow students and faculty to use the restroom, locker room, and shower room based on self-identification rather than biological sex. O
10. Teaching what is known as diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI); social, emotional learning (SEL); or critical race theory (CRT) in public schools. O
11. Requiring each district and charter school to post online a list of all curriculum and instructional materials being used in the classroom. S* Yes, for parents to make informed decisions about where to send their children the information has to be readily available. A syllabus if nothing else must always be available.