Four candidates are running for two Hillsboro R-3 School District Board of Education seats up for election on April 8. The candidates include Diane Scanga, Ryan Read, Justin Hudson and Bill Kaune. Each open seat is for a three-year term. The school board members are unpaid.
Scanga, 68, of Hillsboro is retired. She served 31 years in law enforcement, including working for the Kirkwood Police Department. She has worked at Jefferson College as an instructor, director of Public Safety and chief of the campus police department. She also worked as a support staff member and district safety trainer for the Hillsboro School District. She has an associate degree in criminal justice from St. Louis Community College, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia College and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She attended the FBI National Academy Leadership Session. She is married to John and has two children and seven grandchildren.
Read, 42, of Hillsboro is an optometrist at Regional Eyecare Associates. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Missouri State University and a doctor of optometry from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is married to Stephanie and has two children.
Hudson, 42, of rural De Soto owns Hudson Plumbing. He is a Ranken Technical College graduate. He is married to Kristy and has six children.
Kaune, 79, of Hillsboro is an HVAC professor at Jefferson College. He earned an associate degree from Jefferson College. He is married to Sheila and has five children and 15 grandchildren.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Scanga: I served on the Missouri POST Commission Board for eight years; the FBI National Academy Associates executive boards, both nationally (13 years) and locally (five years); and the Missouri Law Enforcement Leaders of Greater St. Louis Executive Board (four years). I volunteered as Jefferson County CIT Council chairperson (three years) and was on the St. Paul Lutheran school board (three years). I was the Missouri Police Olympics Board secretary and the Missouri Special Olympics representative.
Read: As a professional, I have the opportunity to interact with people of all ages and backgrounds. I feel I have a good understanding of the dynamics and needs of our community. In addition, I am the volunteer worship leader at the Raintree Church and have served on the church’s council since 2011. The council is responsible for developing and implementing programs and services for the church while maintaining good stewardship of resources.
Hudson: I have served on the board of Faith Community Church in House Springs and the board of the Missouri Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association. Most of all, I am a parent of six wonderful kids. I have volunteered coaching little league and basketball with these great students of Hillsboro.
Kaune: I was treasurer for the Dunklin school board from 1978-1981 and chairman of the board of trustees of the Village of Cedar Hill Lakes from 1973 to 1977. I founded a softball league for girls. I led the youth group at church for seven years and currently usher at GraceLife Chapel. I have been teaching HVAC classes at Jefferson College for 24 years and teach high school students every day.
What are the biggest problems facing the school district and how would you address them?
Scanga: The district is strong but must prepare for financial impacts associated with reduced student enrollment. Much of this is out of the board’s control, i.e., housing markets, birth rates and state funding. I would work with the board to recognize funding opportunities (grants, local partnerships, revenue-producing opportunities) that will continue to grow Hillsboro’s reputation as the gold standard for education. I believe this includes planning for facility maintenance, the ever-rising cost of utilities and staying abreast of state legislation, all while remaining aware of what our decisions mean to our community, the taxpayers.
Read: Like most employers, attracting and maintaining good employees in the district is always a concern. We have to ensure we can be competitive with our staff salaries while still being financially conservative. The district must also continue to make the safety of all students a top priority. An immediate need we have is to create a more secure entrance to our high school building.
Hudson: I think increasing opportunities for students to get involved in business and apprenticeships is most important.
Kaune: The growing student population due to construction in the district is a concern, despite class numbers in the lower grades being down compared to upper grades. New houses often mean new parents and young children. I would like to see more emphasis on the basics – reading, English, math and the sciences. Holding a student back a grade in elementary because they are not ready for the next grade may be the best thing you can do for them. If our district is good enough, private and charter schools will not be able to compete.
Why should voters elect you to this position?
Scanga: As a community member, grandmother of students enrolled and a former employee of both the Hillsboro district and Jefferson College, I have long admired the diverse educational opportunities for our students. As a potential board member, I would represent the Hillsboro community as a thoughtful and proactive voice on the board, asking questions; advocating for the students and residents; and ensuring that the Hillsboro School District remains a source of pride in our community.
Read: I care about our community and the students, staff and parents of the district. I will strive for continued transparency and good communication throughout the district. I want to ensure that students continue to receive a quality education, that they are safe on our campuses and that all students have the opportunity to get involved in a variety of extracurricular activities.
Hudson: Honesty and integrity are important values I hold and challenge myself to live by. I am not afraid to take a stand and understand how important it is to listen. I graduated from the district in 2001 and have my own children in the district. I’m heavily invested in where we are going. I’m traditional but not afraid to move with the times. Hillsboro does a lot of things well, and I know we can even do better. I understand that I would only be a single vote on the board but an important voice.
Kaune: I have held positions where hiring and firing were involved and have worked on school and village budgets. I only want what is best for the students, and that means instilling in them a desire to learn at an early stage.
List your goals, if elected.
Scanga: To work with the board as a representative of the community; to be a proactive and informed voice, asking questions and getting the best and most accurate information possible to make sound decisions that will benefit the students; and to make decisions that will advocate for the students, reflect the community and support our faculty and staff.
Read: I will work to ensure students are receiving an excellent education; to ensure continued transparency from leadership; to ensure the safety of students; and to ensure staff retention.
Hudson: I would work to continue and improve on individual education, safety and financial responsibility. I would be a single vote and a conservative voice on all issues.
Kaune: No answer provided.
