To assist voters to make informed choices in the June 2 municipal election (rescheduled from April) and to accommodate those who wish to cast absentee ballots, the Leader will present its Voters Guide on its website. Each day, a new contested race or ballot issue will be posted at myleaderpaper.com.
Absentee voting for the June 2 election is open now. Absentee voters can cast their ballots at the Jefferson County Administration Center, 729 Maple St., Hillsboro, or by mail. The deadline to request a mail-in absentee ballot is May 20. To request a mail-in ballot or for other information concerning the election, call the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office at 636-797-5486.
Today, we focus on candidates for the Fox C-6 Board of Education, with a separate story on Proposition P, the district's proposed bond issue extension. Tomorrow, profiles of candidates for the Northwest R-1 Board of Education.
Voters in the Fox C-6 School District will have lots of choices to make on June 2 when it comes to choosing three members of the Board of Education, with seven candidates on the ballot – the most of any entity this election.
At least two of those who will be sworn in after the returns are counted will be newcomers, as incumbents Dawn Mullins and Steve Holloway chose not to run for new three-year terms. Mullins bows out after serving two terms and Holloway after one.
The lone incumbent, Scott Stewart, is seeking his second term, so he brings three years of experience serving on the board. However, his challengers also offer varying resumes: Michelle Chamberlain is a teacher in the Windsor C-1 District; Robert (Bob) Gruenewald is a retired teacher and veteran administrator for Fox; Krystal Hargis also is retired after teaching 30 years in the district; James (Jim) Osia has been a volunteer at district schools; Colton A. Kruep has a background in banking and finance and Avery A. Fortenberry also has teaching experience at the college level.
The current board was in the center of a controversy earlier this year after it first voted in February to delay making a decision on whether to extend the contract of Superintendent Nisha Patel, then a month later voted unanimously to extend a one-year extension, through June 2023.
District voters also on June 2 will decide the fate of Proposition P, a $40 million bond issue extension that will be used to build a additions at Fox High School, Meramec Heights and Antonia elementary schools and Seckman Middle School, improve safety and security and pavement on all campuses, upgrade playgrounds at all elementary schools and complete other capital improvement projects throughout the district.
School board members are not paid.
CHAMBERLAIN, 45, lives at 301 Keystone Drive in Fenton. She and her husband, Eric, have three children. She teaches second grade at Windsor Elementary School.
She holds master’s degrees in administration and classroom teaching from Missouri Baptist University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Missouri- St. Louis.
Her sister, Denise Bowler, and sister-in-law, Cherie McGowan, are both teachers in the Fox district.
GRUENEWALD, 71, lives at 2834 E. Springview Drive in Imperial. He and his wife, Marilyn, have five children and five grandchildren.
Gruenewald is retired after working for the Fox district for 30 years, first as a history teacher and coach at Fox High School, then assistant principal and principal at Fox Junior High School. He then serves as assistant superintendent and business manager for 17 years, and twice was named interim superintendent. After retiring from the district, he worked as an investment broker for both Edward Jones and Fortune Investment Cos. He also was an adjunct professor at Missouri Baptist College, teaching finance courses to graduate students.
A 1967 graduate of Fox High, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history-secondary education from Southeast Missouri State University, a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and pursued a doctorate at St. Louis University.
His daughter, Heather Schwalbe, is a guidance counselor at Fox High School, his son-in-law, Patrick Schwalbe, is the principal at Ridgewood Junior High and another daughter, Lindsay Gruenewald, teaches at Clyde Hamrick Elementary School.
HARGIS, 58, lives at 4405 Western Pacific Road in Arnold. She and her husband, Gary, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.
Hargis taught for 30 years in the district, at Antonia and Rockport elementaries and then as lead teacher for the district’s gifted education program, before retiring in 2017. She also manages the office for her family’s business, Gary’s Custom Counters, Cabinets and More Inc.
A 1979 graduate of Fox High, she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in early childhood education in 1990, both from Webster University, and a gifted child specialist certification from Maryville University in 2000.
OSIA, 46, lives at 2022 Essex Drive in Arnold. He and his wife, Gina, have a daughter. He is a sheet metal and flex fab operator for True Manufacturing.
He attended St. Louis Community College in 1993 and 1994.
KRUEP, 25, lives at 622 Cedar Bay Drive in Imperial. He is single. He works in the internal audit department at U.S. Bank and previously was a banking risk and compliance examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from the University of Missouri in Columbia.
FORTENBERRY, 73, lives at 6604 Crimson Lane in Barnhart. He and his wife, Jann, have four children and six grandchildren. He retired as a global sales executive manager for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and taught computer and telephone technology at St. Louis Community College. He now works part time for Lowe’s and managed 16 home builds for Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity.
While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Faulkenberry earned a general-equivalency diploma and took several college courses. After his discharge, he took classes at St. Louis Community College earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in communication from Maryville University.
STEWART, 46, lives at 15 Windswept Drive in Arnold. He and his wife, Mary, have two children. He is a veterinarian at the Arnold Animal Hospital.
A 1992 graduate of Hannibal High School, he studied economics and pre-veterinary at Truman State University and ultimately earned a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine in 1998 at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
What experience do you have that might serve you well in this position?
Chamberlain: I have volunteered at the Arnold Food Pantry, Brendan’s Backpacks Program, Ride on St. Louis, Helping Hands and Horses, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and most recently at St. Elizabeth’s Adult Care Center. I typically help out when and where it is needed. I am also the type of person who doesn’t have to lead and can take direction. I am goal-oriented and will do whatever is needed to get the goal achieved.
Gruenewald: I served as president of the Arnold Rotary Club in 1992-93 and was president of the Arnold Chamber of Commerce in 2008. Currently, I am a member of the Fox C-6 Foundation Board. I also served as a board member and comptroller for the Manor Grove rehabilitation center in Kirkwood.
Hargis: I have served as a Jefferson College trustee for 19 years and am that board’s current vice president. During my tenure, I have served as president and participated on the board’s negotiation team, policy revision and budget committees. I’m a current trustee of the Wicks Station subdivision and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Gifted Association of Missouri and a retired member of the Jefferson County Missouri National Education Association.
Osia: I am a member of the University of Missouri Extension Council, the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Committee, Brendan’s Friday Backpacks, the Simpson Elementary PTO and the Seckman Middle PTO and WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students).
Kruep: I am involved in my church in many volunteer roles. My involvement with the church orchestra allows me to mentor several high school students. I have also been a part of service projects on our district campuses as a part of church missions. I also work with Focus on Missions, an organization that supplies free eyeglasses to low-income families
Fortenberry: I am on the boards of Public Water District C-1, the Jefferson County Rescue Mission and the Jefferson County Board of Zoning Adjustment, subdivision boards and the Jefferson County Republication Club. I am a past member of the Festus Special Road District board, the county Planning Commission, Judevine Center for Autism, Ride on St. Louis (an equestrian therapy organization) and Habitat for Humanity.
Stewart: I am an adult leader with Boy Scout Troop 469 and have been involved with Scouting for the past six years. I have been a trustee with the Enchanted Forest subdivision for two terms. I am currently serving as a board member for the Fox C-6 School District.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Chamberlain: Finances, buildings in need of repair, transparency and trust from the school board. I would collaborate with the board and administrators to have transparency on policies and encourage community involvement to ensure everyone has a voice. I fully support Proposition P and plan to advocate to ensure we are fiscally responsible in using those funds to promote progress. I want this district to always be growing and improving and evaluating each other to make sure this community is better than it was the day before.
Gruenewald: As with many school districts, lack of enough funding is always an issue. Fox has several needs, including funding for older buildings that need upgrades, lower class sizes to enhance learning opportunities and more technology and improvement of safety and security measures. Funding and a well-orchestrated plan are essential to accomplishing these goals over time. The board has plans to address many of these issues and cutting spending in some other areas may be necessary.
Hargis: State school funding is always the biggest problem and has a huge impact on the district’s budget. It is very difficult to provide our students with a quality education without adequate funds. Lack of resources influence expanding curriculum and programs, increasing technology, lowering class size, maintaining facilities and competitive salaries. I would like to look at the budget closely to determine where we can reduce cost and avoid negatively affecting students. I will advocate with the administration to emphasize to our legislators the critical nature of public school funding.
Osia: ■ Continuing to rebuild trust: By being as transparent in communication with parents, staff and the community without being guarded other than where law and/or policy dictates.
■ Our upkeep of schools: A better plan and allotment of dollars needs to be considered so we don’t continue our current path.
■ Safety: Not just from the outside but the inside of the buildings and the insides of our children’s hearts and minds.
■ Keeping great teachers and support staff. We are competing against other districts that have deeper tax bases.
Kruep: The biggest issue facing the district is Proposition P and ensuring that our facilities are a safe and effective environment for students and teachers. Students, teachers, parents and the community should be proud of buildings they enter and should not feel personally responsible for their upkeep. Passing Proposition P and implementing it appropriately is the first step in this process. Many other capital improvement and maintenance projects will still be required. The district needs to effectively manage these projects as well while providing necessary classroom resources.
Fortenberry: ■ Student safety: Each building needs continuous review to assure the safety of all personnel.
■ Teacher retention: Competitive wages for all teachers in the district.
■ Demographic changes: This will direct our funding and operational changes to the school district.
■ School maintenance: All buildings should be places of safety and learning, welcoming and clean to all who enter.
Stewart: Student achievement must get better. We must evaluate our district on multiple indicators such as the state tests, ACT scores and postsecondary placement rates. We have to listen better to teachers and others in the schools to find what is working in one spot and spread that success across the district. We have slowly declining enrollment. This is going to decrease state dollars we receive. We have to continually focus on efficient use of taxpayer dollars to make sure we properly support the teachers.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Chamberlain: I have been an active parent, volunteering on committees. Working on the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan committee and volunteering on the Prop S committee made me realize that I have a lot to offer in perspective and ideas. My goals:
■ Identify why state testing scores are dropping and collaborate with administrators to come up with a plan to improve them.
■ Improve morale and trust by having more open meetings and fewer closed doors.
■ If Prop P passes, oversee how bids are awarded and how projects are completed.
Gruenewald: I attended Fox schools and worked there as a teacher, school administrator and assistant superintendent I have a passion to see this district and its students succeed at the highest level. My goals include:
■ Develop a plan to improve and enhance buildings and a long-range plan to build schools or additions.
■ Prepare a demographic study to assess the growth patterns of housing in the district.
■ Continue to hire and train the best teacher and support staff.
■ Continue to increase safety and security in buildings.
■ Improve district student test scores.
Hargis: I have served this community as a teacher, small business owner, union member and Jefferson College trustee. I have experience with meeting protocols, budgeting, policy procedures and bid approvals. I am committed to working as a team to make decisions that always focus on the well-being and success of all our students. My goals:
■ Provide children with access to curriculum, instruction, innovation and technology that is targeted to improve performance.
■ Advocate for career and college readiness.
■ Promote fiscal transparency and maintain a balanced budget.
■ Foster open communication and build trust.
Osia: I am very open and honest and will have an open dialogue with parents, staff and the community. Being on the Extension Council has given me the experience of being in a decision-making position that includes budgets, staffing and knowing the community. My goals:
■ Improving dollars spent where needed.
■ Include as many opportunities not only during time in the district but after as well after they leave.
■ The safety and well-being of students, inside and outside the buildings. We have programs that are there to help with bullying, but I think we need to be even more proactive and aware of what goes on.
Kruep: My goal would be to work with the administration and specifically the new chief financial officer to ensure that the bond issue is effectively implemented and that further capital improvement projects are appropriately budgeted. I respect the many former teachers and administrators on the board, but the district needs someone with financial and audit experience on the board as we look to implement Proposition P. My background in banking and audit is unique in this race.
Fortenberry: Children are a parent’s greatest asset. We send our children to school so that they may learn, develop socially and become responsible adults. This teaching by the instructors, learning by the student, with a quality family life is what all parents strive for. My goal is for everyone to recognize this as the legacy and the immortality Fox C-6 will give to the world: Our great students.
Stewart: I have a history of providing oversight and transparency about the district. I am highly dedicated to Fox C-6. I live in the district, I work in the area, and I send my kids to its schools. Parents’ points of view are desperately needed on this board, and I will continue to put our students first as we help them become prosperous and productive citizens. My goals are to improve student achievement as measured by multiple tests and measurements and to continue to help the district use taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible.
What is your position on the board’s recent decision against extending the superintendent’s contract by a year?
Chamberlain: Dr. Patel has done a great job for our district. It is evident our community supports her and the current board did not make the right decision in choosing to not extend her contract originally. I am happy that the board voted to extend her contract to 2023 with a 7-0 vote on March 3. This community trusts Dr. Patel and the direction she is leading us.
Gruenewald: The board is ultimately charged with evaluating the superintendent. As I understand, the superintendent still has a contract in place for the next two years. It appears that some board members may have some questions and issues they would like to see worked out and resolved as the superintendent begins the next two years of her contract.
Hargis: Before I retired, I had an opportunity to work with Dr. Patel. I found her to be open to ideas, easy to talk with and concerned with the success of our students. I would support a contract extension for any superintendent who can contribute positively to student achievement and who has the support of the teachers, support staff and parents. However, I am able to see the issues from both sides because, as a college trustee, I understand that other factors sometimes affect these decisions.
Osia: When I found out from various sources on the vote to postpone voting, which in my mind was a vote to not extend and a possible vote of no confidence. I, and others did as well, had to get the conversation started, especially getting the board on record, as to their position on Dr. Patel’s running of the district. She has shown in a short time that she will achieve her goals. Has she been perfect? None of us are. I do have utmost confidence in her leadership.
Kruep: I fully support Dr. Patel as superintendent. As the district looks to implement Proposition P, we need strong, stable leadership at the top. Dr. Patel provides that leadership. The many teachers and parents I have spoken with, and I agree from my interactions with her, speak highly of the way she has changed the culture within the district. She cares deeply about every student and her main goal is providing a safe and effective learning environment for them. I look forward to working with Dr. Patel during my time on the board.
Fortenberry: Fox has wasted a lot of money on superintendents’ pay, legal action and buyouts in the past. It is wise to give Dr. Patel more time to prove herself. Therefore, I approve of the board’s decision on waiting until at least the fall review before taking any action.
Stewart: I voted against the original motion and firmly believe that Dr. Patel deserves the recent extension to her contract. I helped educate the public why this action not to extend was highly unusual.
The district is considering asking voters for a $40 million bond issue extension to make improvements to schools around the district. Do you support this issue? Why or why not?
Chamberlain: I support Prop P because our schools are not up to par with what our children deserve. They deserve safe and secure schools and an environment that is conducive to learning. Our community wants schools that they are proud of. We can do better.
Gruenewald: I do support this issue. To give our students the best possible education, the district must hire and retain the best possible teachers and have up-to-date facilities and equipment to prepare our students to compete in the workplace.
Hargis: I support the no-tax increase bond issue. Several of our aging buildings are in dire need of security upgrades, ADA updates, energy efficient improvements, renovations and maintenance. I have attended board meetings and listened to the discussions determining the distribution of the bond money. I understand the community’s apprehension about this request. The bond issue will provide an opportunity for the district to demonstrate to the community that its leaders are responsible stewards of money. It will also help free up money to be used for other school improvements.
Osia: I am not a fan on raising people’s taxes, whether an actual increase or extending bonds. However, in this case we are at a point that has been allowed to happen for decades and something needs to be done to stop the trend. One major issue is no third-party oversight like Prop S had. Whether I am elected or not, if this does pass, I will monitor the projects and the spending very closely. We may be getting money from taxpayers, but the money belongs to our kids and we need to be efficient in our spending.
Kruep: Proposition P is one of the reasons I am running. Our students desperately need the funding from this bond issue. I fully support passage of Proposition P and would be a strong asset on the board during the implementation process. Our No. 1 goal as a district and as a community should be to provide the best education to our students. Ensuring the buildings they enter everyday are in good condition is the first step in providing that education. Proposition P is in turn the first step in providing that safe and effective learning environment.
Fortenberry: I only support this if we elect board members who will make sure the money is spent on real needs and not frivolous junk.
Stewart: I absolutely support Prop P. It is a fiscally responsible use of taxpayer money to help our students. The proposition is not perfect, but it will help make our buildings and physical environment not be a limiting factor to our students’ learning. Students will be better off with these improvements.