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Joplin Schools Board of Education {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

According to the Missouri School Board Association, the school board:Establishes the goals and vision of the district, with input from the community, and evaluates the results.Develops and approves rules to help schools operate for student success.[The Superintendent is] The only employee the board supervises and evaluates. Day-to-day school operations are delegated to this position.Approves the budget proposed by the Superintendent and ensures funding supports district goals.Shares district information with local legislators and the community to secure resources necessary for student success.Voters can choose two (2) board members to serve as members of the Joplin Schools Board of Education for a term of three (3) years each.

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    Derek Gander
    (NON)

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    Rylee Hartwell
    (NON)

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    John Hird
    (NON)

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    Victor Sly
    (NON)

Biographical Information

What specific issue or motive inspired you to run for school board of education, and what are your qualifications?

What are your budget priorities to improve the school system?

As a board member, where would you look to make budget cuts? Are there any areas you would not consider cutting? How would you determine your budget priorities?

How would you balance students’ access to books and literature that some, but not all, parents might find objectionable? Who do you consider responsible for what students are encouraged or allowed to read in school: the teachers, librarians, parents or the students themselves?

Approximately ten bills teed up in the Missouri General Assembly would allow open enrollment between school districts and/or expand tax-credit scholarships for private schools if passed. What is your position on open enrollment between school districts? What is your position on state sponsored tax-credit scholarships for private schools, children who are home-schooled?

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Campaign Mailing Address 11 Quail Ridge Drive
Joplin, MO 64804
Campaign Phone 9522508351
I believe in giving back to the community in which you live, growing up I was active in our church and scouting where I attained the rank of Eagle Scout. My qualifications are first and foremost my wife and I are parents of four daughters who are between 18 and 35 years old so we have been parenting for quite a number of years. Additionally, being a leader in operating many large fortune 500 businesses over the years I have a keen insight into how to manage a budget and align the educational goals of our 7,500 students within our school district while balancing and maintaining fiscal responsibility toward are taxpaying community in managing an annual budget of over $125 million.
Teacher retention is an issue and increasing levels of teacher retirement has made the issue all the more pressing, we have been able to fill all positions this past year but I believe Joplin needs to be the proactive leader in Southwest Missouri to attract and retain the best Teachers, many times I have shared with the school administration that our goal must be "the employer of choice for teachers in SW Missouri". I was a leading voice in addressing the shortfall in stipend that what we were paying teachers to be coaches and leaders of the various extracurricular activities throughout the district, we were losing some of the best adult leaders in the area due to the inequity in pay. We are now very competitive with all the other districts in the area. With the best teachers along with the administration leadership and our great facilities, Joplin is in the unique position to be the leader in Education in our area.
Joplin had been in a budget surplus with strong reserves. As we look ahead into 2024-2025 we will be in a deficit spending where we will be drawing down reserves. I am a believer in investing in our Teachers with additional training and support to improve the quality of education for our 7,500 students. If we ever get into the position of having to make budget cuts I would look at the non-essential job functions that do not impact the learning environment for our students and teachers in the class room. For example we could look to defer some maintenance capital spend such as replacing buses or parking lots.
The school environment should be always a place for our children to learn the basics of Math, reading, writing, and science. I am conservative and do not support the pressure of personal, social, or political ideology upon children. As a board member I have been very clear in my comments to keep the social and political issues of the day away from children and just let them be children and learn. When an issue regarding a book or curriculum comes up we have dealt with it immediately. We also ask the administration to pre-read any new textbook or book to ensure that politized agendas do not infect our environment of education.
On the surface it is a great idea but when you look at cause and effect what I believe will happen is the best students will gravitate towards particular schools so the schools that lose students are now challenged with a student body of greater need to educate with reduced funds, awareness of the number of students that do not have a stable home and financial situation which is contributing to educational challenges and financial disproportional cost to the district. So as long as there is a plan to address the issue of how to fund and support this part of the student body then I am in favor of competition between schools to drive positive change.
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