Klootwyk, Nichole

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
School Board
District:
Paradise Valley Unified School District
Phone:
(602) 855-0434
Age:
49
Occupation:
Controller, Finance
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Northern Arizona University
Family:
Married 24 years, three sons
Religion:
Non-denominational Christian
Biographical Info:

Nichole is a dedicated mother to three sons, a loving wife, and a respected professional who started her career as a CPA. All three of her children have attended PV Schools; two recently graduated, and one is still in a district school. Over the years, she has actively observed countless PVUSD board meetings and volunteered extensively within the district at various levels.

Nichole was an auditor for KPMG, a prestigious Big Four public accounting firm. She then worked for The Dial Corporation, focusing on financial reporting, interpreting accounting guidelines to form company policies, and serving as a liaison with human resources.

Beyond her professional achievements, Nichole is firmly committed to her community and her Christian faith. Nichole is data-driven and researches state statutes, bylaws, and policies to make informed decisions. She is a critical thinker and an eternal optimist.

Statement:

I’m running for the school board to advance the success of Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) and better serve our students and community. My key goals are:

Academic Improvement: With only half of the students at our top-performing high school proficient in math and reading, we need immediate action to close this gap and enhance educational outcomes.

Fiscal Responsibility: I aim to direct more current spending into the classroom and boost teacher pay. My auditing and corporate accounting background equips me to ensure that current funding is used effectively and transparently.

Parental Engagement: Parents are crucial to educational success. I am committed to strengthening parent involvement, which will positively influence students’ academics, behavior, and overall well-being.

Student Safety: I will prioritize policies and practices that protect students and foster a secure learning environment.

My goal is to make positive improvements to our schools, moving beyond the status quo to ensure a brighter future for all students and the community.

Endorsements:

AZ Women of Action

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
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons that offend their personal, moral, or religious beliefs. S
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects. O* Over the past eight years, Paradise Valley Unified School District has consistently increased its general fund balance, demonstrating a surplus of revenues over expenditures each year. This trend of annual surpluses and a growing reserve fund indicates that our district is currently well-funded and does not require additional financial resources.For example, the most recent audited financial statement showed a $20 million increase in the general fund, bringing its total general fund balance to $126.6 million—equivalent to 30% of the district’s total revenues for that fiscal year.
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs. S
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
6. Making available books and instructional materials that include sexually explicit images and themes in school classrooms and libraries. O* Books provided by schools should be (1) educationally suitable and (2) free of pervasive vulgarity. Any books that are not in keeping with those standards, which the U.S. Supreme Court set in "Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico", should not be in school classrooms or libraries.
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
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) S
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