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 Jefferson R-7 Board of Education. Tomorrow, profiles of candidates for the Rock Township Ambulance District's board.
The election for three seats on the Jefferson R-7 School District’s Board of Education on June 2 promises to be a spirited one.
That’s a direct result of what’s gone on with the board over the last year or so.
In April 2019, the board voted to place Superintendent Clint Johnston on paid administrative leave, and gave no reason for the action.
An outgoing member at the time termed relations on the seven-member school board “contentious” and said four members generally lined up on one side and the other three in opposition.
The action against Johnston led to a group of residents that called itself the Concerned Citizens of R-7 trying to file recall petitions against three board members to remove them from office, only to find out that there is no state law that allows such recalls.
As many as 200 people attended school board meetings to request answers to their concerns about why the action was taken against Johnston. Social media was abuzz with speculation about the issue.
The board reinstated Johnston to his job 55 days later.
Soon after, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office started an investigation into allegations that one of the board members who voted to place Johnson on leave, Tracey Perry, had a conflict of interest because she also is a member of the Jefferson County Council. The case filed against Perry alleged that once she was elected to the County Council, she forfeited her school board seat.
While the case was being litigated, Perry was prohibited from participating in school board meetings, but after a circuit judge dismissed the case on Sept. 30, she rejoined the board.
Fast-forward to the June 2 election, as the field of candidates include incumbents Perry (who is seeking a second three-year term) and Jimmy Jackson (running for his third), as well as former board member James “Pete” McPeters, who was one of the leaders of the Concerned Citizens of R-7 group.
Others in the race include Justin Neel, Tammy Grayum and Chris Hastings.
The third incumbent, Kelly Becherer, who also was in the bloc that opposed the action against the superintendent, chose not to run for a fifth three-year term.
The election for a fourth board seat will not appear on the June 2 ballot. Karen Koenig, who was appointed to replace Shane Wolk after he resigned for health reasons, faces no opposition and will serve the final two years of Wolk’s term.
Board members are not paid.
JACKSON, 42, lives at 35 Canepa Estates Road in the Festus area. He and his wife, Bridgett, have two children. He works in aftermarket sales and product support for Ressler and Associates Inc.
After attending Jefferson R-7 schools, Jackson graduated from Crystal City High School in 1996 and attended Jefferson College for a year. He has wastewater and water treatment licenses from the state.
NEEL, 39, lives at 1001 Whitetail Crossing in the Festus area. He and his significant other, Billie Hartgrove, have a daughter. He is the branch manager of USA Mortgage in Festus.
A 1999 graduate of Festus High School, he attended Triton College in River Grove, Ill., for two years.
McPETERS, 49, lives at 101 Brighton Place in the Festus area when he filed. He and his wife, Tracy, have four children and a grandson. He is the regional director of operations for vXchnge, a data center company.
He served one term on the school board, from 2011-2014, but lost his bid for re-election.
GRAYUM, 47, lives at 14171 Hwy. TT in the Festus area. She and her husband, Kent, have one child. She is a registered dietitian in private practice who contracts with skilled nursing and senior living facilities and manages leasing and finance of family farmland.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Southeast Missouri State University in 1995 and graduated from the VA Medical Center’s dietetic internship program in 1996.
PERRY, 52, lives at 412 Huntington Trails Drive in the Festus area. She and her husband, Kevin, have two children. She is the director of social services for Festus Manor Nursing Home and has more than 24 years of experience in social work. She spent 22 years in the U.S. Army and reserves, most recently as commander for the Regional Training Site-Maintenance for the Missouri National Guard before she retired as a major.
She has an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in social work from St. Leo College in Florida and a master’s degree in human resources management from the Keller Graduate School of Management. She is a certified child protection specialist and dementia mapping specialist and took the U.S. Army primary leadership development course.
HASTINGS, 37, lives at 13855 Hwy. T in the Festus area. He and his wife, Amanda, have two children. He is in management with G.S. and S. Construction.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems in 2005 from Westminster College in Fulton.
He was elected to a three-year term on the Fox C-6 Board of Education in 2015, but lost his bid for re-election in 2018.
What experience do you have that might serve you well in this position?
Jackson: I have been a school board member for six years. I volunteer at PTO and community events. I am a founding board member of Missouri Kids Unplugged in Dittmer and volunteer at its annual fundraiser and free events. I also volunteer to talk with the sixth-grade science class once a year about water and wastewater treatment.
Neel: For the past 15-plus years, I have been the Post 253 Junior American Legion baseball coach, dedicating my time into developing players and facilitating the program. I also provide a sponsorship for programs that benefit students, like the American Legion Girls State and Boys State programs. I’m also a member of the Elks and Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce.
McPeters: I am a former vice president of the Jefferson R-7 school board.
Grayum: I am a Cub Scout leader with Jefferson R-7 Pack 405, a swim meet director for the Ste. Genevieve Community Center, a stroke judge for Junior AAU swimming and an Awana and VBS leader at First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City. I also have been an American Heart Association committee member and volunteer, and a committee member and career chair of the St. Louis Dietetic Association.
Perry: I have been the County Council representative for District 5 from 2019 and a Jefferson R-7 board member since 2017. I was a member of the Jefferson R-7 PTO and have been a member of the Festus-Crystal City Rotary Club, National Association of Social Workers, Jefferson County Family YMCA, Military Officers Association of America, National Rifle Association, the governing board of Project Cope, volunteered with Twin City Youth Football and as a Scout leader.
Hastings: I previously served on the Fox C-6 school board and as the associate director of the board of directors of Arsenal Credit Union. I serve and volunteer at Encounter Church in the children’s ministries and the safety team.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Jackson: One of the bigger issues the district will be facing is student population increases and how we will handle that growth. We may need to look into facility upgrades and traffic improvements. While growth is a good thing, finding alternative ways of funding these projects to keep tax rates the same may be necessary to keep up with our safety, classroom and teaching standards that has made our district the place where people want to be.
Neel: One of the biggest problems facing the district is the need to update some of our buildings. Looking at the district from a business perspective, I hope to continue to keep our district in solid financial shape while addressing the building needs. Academics appear to be strong but I want to make sure our curriculum is meeting the needs of our students as they develop socially and emotionally. I’m not aware of any other major issues or concerns reported by our students or faculty but I’m eager to listen and learn from them.
McPeters: Other than the current Board of Education, the biggest problem will be managing growth. With the uncertainty of the future of the Castle property and the continuing increased interest in our district from surrounding communities, we could see a sudden spike in attendance that we have to be prepared to address.
Grayum: Mental awareness and safety is a concern, as is predicting growth and additional services and improvements needed while keeping classroom sizes small. I would like to ensure we continue our excellent counseling services and safety measures while budgeting for possible growth and adding services and activities comparative to larger school districts with no new tax burden. Also, with the high cost of employee benefits these days, I would like to ensure we select an excellent benefit package within our budget to maintain our veteran and high-quality staff.
Perry: Managing unpredictable growth, preparing for school choice and vouchers and balancing the budget are issues I am most concerned with. Someday, other students could choose to come to Jefferson, and our students could choose to take online programs or attend elsewhere. Construction is booming and our health insurance costs may skyrocket. These things will cause both unpredictable student populations and revenues. We must ensure a stable and experienced board is in place that is focused on educating our kids and protecting taxpayers. I refuse to raise taxes and insist the district balance the books through careful spending.
Hastings: ■ Insurance changes. Insurance adjustments leave an uncertain financial stress on the district.
■ A shortage of qualified teachers across the state. We need to be more competitive to attract not only qualified, but the best teachers.
It’s imperative to address these issues by receiving input from all stakeholders, as well as making sure our district maintains fiscal strength today and into the future.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Jackson: I have the experience to help lead the board in a better direction. I will continue to support our trained administrators, wonderful students and educated staff with honesty, integrity and the respect they deserve. I believe that “Be a Better Bystander” and “Every Kid Counts” should be the model statements by which we serve.
Neel: In preparing for this position, I utilized my mom (Kim Neel) who’s been a teacher for 35 years, and my grandfather (Glenn Kiepe) to better understand the processes. One of my goals is to continue to grow our clubs and extracurricular activities by allowing every student an option to stay involved while keeping their academics high. I will strive for a positive working relationship between the school board and superintendent while building community trust. I plan on educating myself before making decisions. My focus is to help provide our students with the best learning experience possible.
McPeters: My first goal will be to restore the board to a background function rather than a regular topic of discussion. A school board’s work should be performed in the background with little or no fanfare. The focus of the community should and will be returned to pride in both our students and our district. The only agenda I have is to focus on what is best for our school district and our community.
Grayum: I care about the kids, staff and community. I want to ensure we are doing the best thing possible for all. My experience of overseeing budgets, staff, policy and procedure would be an asset to the board. My goals are to work as a team member to:
■ Ensure the safety and well-being of each child.
■ Continue small teacher-to-student ratios.
■ Ensure high-quality benefits and competitive pay for all staff.
■ Continue to grow and improve the district within budget.
■ Ensure community involvement and support.
Perry: I am a proven leader with broad, relevant experience who has a solid record on the board of uncompromising ethics and commitment to the district’s long-term health. During my 22-year military career, I managed $5 million budgets and supervised 300-plus people. I have 28 years of practical management experience. Our board needs stability and critical thinking as we prepare to manage things such as school choice, unpredictable student population growth, explosive health care insurance premiums and a worsening drug epidemic. I will make a difference for our children, grow our district and protect taxpayers.
Hastings: To better the education of our children. I will work with the administration to create policies that are effective, enforceable and beneficial to our students’ growth. As a new board member, I will bring sharp questions, innovative ideas and a fresh energy to the board. I have two young children and I'm invested in their education that will prepare them for an ever-changing future.
How would you evaluate the way the district handled the superintendent’s recent administrative leave?
Jackson: The district handled the absence amazingly well despite the dysfunction of the board majority. It goes to show how exceptional our administrators and staff are at their jobs and how lucky we are to have these great people at Jefferson R-7.
Neel: As a community member, I could see how disruptive the superintendent’s leave was to the educational experience for our students and employees. I attended several of those meetings where the board was met with distrust. A fresh perspective would benefit and hopefully help solve some of those issues. I’m going to focus on working toward the continued success of our district without unnecessary distractions or spending. Hopefully, this election will help heal and strengthen the proud R-7 community.
McPeters: The district handled this enormous and untimely distraction perfectly. Students and the staff came together to find ways to work around issues that were created by this unnecessary maneuver by the board. The board, however, made a disaster out what should have been a simple and quiet human resources matter with zero validity. It cost the district thousands of dollars and disrupted end-of-the-year activities for what turned out to be nothing.
Grayum: I do not know the details that were involved in the superintendent’s leave, so therefore cannot comment on how it was handled without the information that could not be released to the public.
Perry: The staff were professionals, efficient and did an exceptional job. They ensured a successful year end. The community came together to show its support and the board acted in accordance with the law, as it was required to do. The board worked with attorneys and the state to return the superintendent as quickly as possible and did so once cleared to, all the while protecting all affected parties’ privacy rights. Every situation provides opportunities for learning and growth; this situation was no exception.
Hastings: My family recently moved to the district, so I am unfamiliar with the details of this situation. However, as a former board member of another district, I know that any time an employee is on leave it can be a highly sensitive issue. The district’s main focus should remain on kids and making sure that their needs are being met, no matter who is in charge. All boards are bound by law to protect their employees and their privacy.