A pair of longtime members of the Windsor C-1 School District Board of Education are seeking new three-year terms in the April 2 election.
Michael Dubis is running for his sixth term while Tom Krupp is trying for his fourth. They have drawn a challenge from Kevin Stoffey, a former coach and administrator in the district.
A third seat is on the ballot. That seat is for the final two years of a seat originally held by Dan Shaul, who resigned because he said he was moving out of the district. The board appointed John DeWalle to serve until the April 2 election. He is being challenged for the rest of the unexpired term by Kyle Haubrich.
School board members are not paid.
THREE-YEAR TERM
Michael Dubis
DUBIS, 52, lives in Imperial. He and his wife, Patti, have seven children and five grandchildren. He is a power supply supervisor for Ameren Missouri. A 1989 graduate of McCluer North High School in St. Louis County, he attended Southeast Missouri University before joining the U.S. Army.
Tom Krupp
KRUPP, 64, lives in Barnhart. He has three sons. He is a partner in the P&C Insurance Agency.
Kevin Stoffey
STOFFEY, 66, lives in Imperial. He and his wife, Linda, have three children and four grandchildren. He worked as a teacher, counselor, coach, administrator and activities director for Windsor C-1 schools before fully retiring in 2022. He earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1982, a master’s degree in elementary and secondary education in 1987 and a master’s degree in elementary and secondary education administration in 1990, all from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
His son, Jeff, teaches English at Windsor High School and coaches track and basketball.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Dubis: I have served 15 years on the Windsor C-1 school board and was an alderman in Kimmswick for three years. I have been president of the St. Louis district Turners.
Krupp: I have been on the school board for nine years.
Stoffey: I have never held public office. I serve as a trustee for the Margaret West Wilk Scholarship fund, which awards six scholarships annually to Windsor graduates.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Dubis: Student achievement and the budget are our biggest challenges. These two go hand in hand because we need to be able to retain the best-qualified teachers in an economy that is out of control. We are always looking at every possibility to optimize our current budget.
Krupp: Budgets and staffing are very high priority in balancing how a school district operates with the funding it receives from taxpayers. The board has to do its due diligence to make decisions on where to spend the money received
Stoffey: The main concerns are improving student achievement and maintaining a sound financial balance while offering competitive salaries to keep and attract quality staff. We also need to offer a wide variety of quality programs to meet student needs. To accomplish these items, we should look at reducing or consolidating unnecessary spending. Collaboration among all stakeholders – staff, students, parents and the community – can target deficiencies and better identify the needs of the district.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Dubis: Windsor has proven to be a great school district, not only for our students and their families but to our community as a whole. We have created a great learning environment and I’m ready to take it to the next level as we explore the idea of a career and technical center.
Krupp: I have been a member of the school board for the last nine years, which gives me the experience and knowledge of how I contribute to the school to keep it a great place to work and attend classes.
Stoffey: Our goals should always focus on the students. In these difficult financial times, the priority should be to maintain and expand student achievement and programs where possible. Finding a balance and setting priorities to meet the needs of as many students as possible should be our goal. Our mission should be to graduate students who are well-rounded and have the skills to be productive and successful.
TWO-YEAR TERM
John DeWalle
DeWALLE, 45, lives in Imperial. He and his wife, Tabitha, have three sons. He is the director of college and career readiness for the Mehlville School District in St. Louis County. He earned a doctorate in educational leadership in 2021 from St. Louis University, a master’s degree in education leadership in 2009 and a master’s degree in education in 2011, both from Lindenwood University, and a bachelor’s degree in education in 2003 from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Kyle Haubrich
HAUBRICH, 43, lives in Imperial. He and his wife, Elena, have four children. He is an attorney with the law firm of Sandberg, Phoenix and von Gontard. He earned a law degree in 2012 from Michigan State University.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
DeWalle: I am employed by the Mehlville School District, serving the past 20 years as a teacher, coach, administrator and the current director of college and career readiness. I volunteered with the Windsor Band Parents Association, and served as its secretary and president and as a homeowners association trustee. I am a member of the St. Louis School Business Partnership and have been on the school board since my appointment in November 2023.
Haubrich: I have volunteered as a tutor for several school districts. I have been a student teacher, a support staff worker and have been working with teachers and students for years. My mother was a public school teacher for 45 years and I am dedicating my campaign to her as she has passed away.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
DeWalle: The biggest challenges are increasing student achievement and the recruitment and retainment of high-quality staff. Scores are not what we want them to be, and it will take a lot of focused work to raise them. Collective teacher efficacy is one of the strongest influences of student achievement, and we must recruit, retain and invest in the highest-quality candidates available. As our scores are not what we want compared with the rest of the county, the focus on investing in students and staff provides an opportunity for great celebration.
Haubrich: Due to the amount of construction, more teachers, more buildings and more support staff are going to be needed very soon. If the district isn’t careful, this cost could skyrocket and make it almost impossible to keep up with. The district should focus primarily on the students and teachers first every year when doing the budget and ensure they have all the resources and materials they need before anything else is approved.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
DeWalle: The skills and experience gained via my education and through my career allow me to contribute to the ongoing strengthening of Windsor, ensuring the district remains focused to benefit the students, families and the community. My top priorities are increasing student achievement, recruitment and retention of high-quality staff and ensuring sound financial stewardship. I believe Windsor will widely be viewed as a destination district, offering high-quality academic and non-academic programs and producing consistently high levels of student achievement; a place where families want to move, where people want to work and where students achieve results.
Haubrich: I would make sure that the students and teachers have the resources and materials they need before anything else in the budget is approved. I would work to make sure that the taxpayers know we were investing their money wisely. I would work with the teachers, parents, and students to make sure that the school continues to be the best in Missouri.
