Five candidates are seeking three terms April 8 on the Fox C-6 Board of Education. Vernon Sullivan, incumbent John Laughlin, Mark Jones, Chris Hastings and Dawn Mullins will face off to see who wins the three-year terms.
Sullivan, 68, lives at 2881 Tommy Drive. He and his wife, Glenda, have three sons and seven grandchildren. He retired five years ago from the Fox district as its director of facilities and is a certified member of the Missouri Plant Managers Association and the St. Louis Plant Managers. He served on the Fox board (1977 to 1987), and was a Ward 3 Arnold councilman (1987 to 1997), during which he also served as the city’s mayor pro tem. His current community involvement includes serving as chair of the City of Arnold Public Facilities Corp. (since 2005); of the Arnold Police Board (since 2003); of the Friends of Fox (since 1994); of the Arnold/Jefferson County performing arts council (since 2009); of the University of Missouri Extension Board of Directors (since 2010); of the Jefferson County Library Foundation (since 2010); and of the Fox C-6 Scholarship Golf Tourney (since 1999). He is a member of the Arnold Food Pantry board of directors (since 2003); the Jefferson County Boy Scouts Advisory Committee (since 1999); the Arnold Tourism Concert Committee (since 2008); the Arnold Rotary Club (since 1995); the City of Arnold Economic Commission (since 2010) and the board of directors of the Fox C-6 Foundation (since 2011). He has been a trustee with the Webb Terrace Subdivision (since 1984). He is a past member of the East-West Gateway Council for Jefferson County; and the Drug Walk-A-Thon Committee in Arnold. He served as finance chairman for New Hope Methodist Church and helped start the YMCA youth basketball program in the Fox district in the 1980s. He served on the steering committee that worked to establish the Windsor Branch of the Jefferson County Library; the Strawberry Creek Park Reserve and the Arnold Recreational Center, and was active in campaigns to help pass the tax increase that built Seckman High School, a sales tax levy increase for the Rock Community Fire Protection District and several tax increase and bond issue measures in the Fox School District. He was named 1978 Arnold Jaycees Man of the Year; 1990 Meramec Arnold Elks Man of the Year; Grand Marshal of the Arnold Days Parade in 2007 and 2008; Jefferson County Teachers Association Man of the Year in 2008; and a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
One of his sons is an athletic director and assistant principal, and another is a classroom teacher in the Fox district.
Laughlin, 45, lives at 4037 Hidden Meadows in Arnold. He and his wife, Mary Laughlin, have two children. He took three years of college classes, focusing on economics, mathematics, computer science and accounting. He is president and CEO of Conference Technologies Inc. He is a current member of the school board, completing his first three-year term. Other activities include: Rockets Little League Baseball-head coach/manager (2004-2010); assistant wrestling coach for Fox Little League (2001-2006); assistant coach for Falcon’s Little League Football (2006-2007); assistant coach for St. David’s Girls Volleyball team (2008); manager for Stingers Girls Volleyball team (2010); co-head coach for Seckman 15U Blazers (2010-2011); Civic memberships: Shriners (since 2006); Masons (since 2006); American Legion (since 1990); RCGA (since 1997); Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce (since 1997).
Jones, 47, lives at 401 Winter Lake Circle in Fenton. He and his wife, Cherie Jones, have three sons. He is a graduate of Fox High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, St. Louis Community College at Meramec and American Sentinel University. He holds an associate degree in biblical studies from Christ to the World in St. Louis; chancellor's certificates in web design and web development from the University of Missouri in St. Louis; and several computer certifications. He is a senior consultant with Intervolve Inc. in Raleigh, N.C., and is the owner of Jones Creative in Fenton. He has been a volunteer since 1999 with the Twin Rivers Worship Center.
Hastings, 31, lives at 2428 Waterfront Drive in Imperial. He and his wife, Amanda Hastings, have two children. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College and is employed as a project director with ICS Construction Services.
Mullins, 46, lives at 2532 Spring Forest Road in Imperial. She and her husband, Doug Mullins, have three children. She has a diploma from the Baptist Medical Center School of Nursing, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Central Methodist University and a master’s degree in health care administration from Webster University. She is employed as a registered nurse, executive director of Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care of MO Inc., caring for terminally ill patients and their families. She was a hospice volunteer from 1999 to 2007, and was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America from 2008 to 2012.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Sullivan: Money to fund all the programs to provide a quality education for our students. We must look at our budget and trim all expenses possible; lobby with the state to get educational funding back to where it was; hire the best superintendent in July of 2015. There are 20 buildings in the Fox district that we must find the funds to maintain. We must keep pace with the ever-changing technology to make sure our students are ready to compete in the work world. Our enrollment must be examined to see when and where we need to build another school. Some of our schools are becoming very crowded; we need to keep our class size as low as possible.
Laughlin: The biggest problems facing our district are the decline in funding and resources for our children. These issues need to be addressed in a fair and balanced manner to maintain fiscal strength and ensure quality programs are emphasized to provide an environment of quality learning for our children. I will address the issues with an approach that reflects community input and judiciousness, as well as a through a position that places us securely for future growth through sound policies. I believe inspired and empowered parents, community leaders, teachers and administrators are imperative to our district’s success. Success breeds success. We need to improve morale among our students and teachers, which in turn will inspire everyone to strive for excellence.
Jones: We will be hiring a new superintendent, continue to address financial needs and new regulatory requirements. This will take a good deal of thought, gathering input from the community and other professionals before making decisions that we will have to live with for years to come.
Hastings: I will work to improve student achievement and community relations. I will work on districtwide policies that set a better standard for both mentioned above. The district needs more community events offering parent and community members to attend and interact. This will offer a better line of communication for the board members to interact with all teachers, children, and community members. If we set more policies to better student achievement and our teachers implement these, it will result in better districtwide scores, which in turn reflects our district's rating.
Mullins: One of the biggest opportunities facing board members will be to recruit qualified candidates for superintendent, and then to select the best candidate for our district. The board will also be tasked with funding and ensuring budget compliance while preserving special programs, ensuring that staff has the tools needed to do their jobs, and recruiting and retaining the best staff available. Finally, community confidence in the board is an area that needs to be continually addressed. Transparency on the part of board members is a necessity that can be achieved through open communication.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Sullivan: I would support directing money for great teachers, necessary materials, textbooks and improved technology. I would work to keep our children safe, our schools drug-free and class sizes low.
I do not support outsourcing of district support staff, but support funding for Parents as Teachers and Early Childhood Learning programs and programs to abolish bullying. I would be a smart caretaker of tax money. We should spend money on the students, and provide clean, well-maintained buildings and grounds. We need to hire a great superintendent who focuses on student education. I will bring valuable experience to the board. I know the people; I know what is needed to make buildings safe and the environment clean and conductive to learning.
Laughlin: As a board member, I examined district practices closely and developed key relationships to bring about change. I want to continue to apply my experience and foster relationships that inspire everyone to be involved in their district. Achieving success requires collaborative partnerships involving students, parents, teachers and administration. I bring a business perspective, with a goal to have fiscal responsibility and a fair, balanced budget. My main responsibility would be to create policies that are effective, enforceable, and beneficial to our students’ growth. Accountability is essential for every person involved with our school district. Our students require structure and policies to guide them. As a school board member I would be involved and informed, taking all viewpoints into account.
Jones: I am not owned by any special interest groups. I am not related to any district employees, or those wishing to get hired. I am running to further the interests of our students primarily, as well as enabling district employees to do their jobs with excellence.
Hastings: I ask for your vote on April 8 for one reason: to better the education of our children. I am a father, husband, volunteer, taxpayer and homeowner here, not a politician. I want to better advocate for our community, teachers, and students. As a new board member, I will bring sharp questions, innovative ideas, and fresh energy to the board. Every child deserves the right to a great education. With my passion for education and resources, I would be a great asset to the board.
Mullins: I understand the importance of the issues the board must address in order to make excellent education available to our children. I have more than 20 years’ experience in health care administration, which includes responsibilities related to policy-making, human resource management, budgeting, compliance with state and federal regulation, and service excellence. I am results-driven and eager to explore innovative ideas from students and the community. My primary goal is to champion efforts to maintain high standards while maintaining fiscal responsibility. In pursuit of this goal, I would like to facilitate more and better ways by which parents can contribute their ideas. Through collaboration with the community, the board can gain trust and additional perspectives as part of the decision-making process.