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 Northwest R-1 Board of Education. Tomorrow, profiles of candidates for the Festus R-6 Board of Education.
Voters in the Northwest R-1 School District will have plenty of life experiences to sort out when choosing three members of the Board of Education in the June 2 election.
Two incumbents are seeking new three-year terms. Sherri K. Talbott, a retired teacher from the district, and Retta “Susan” Tuggle both are running for their fifth terms.
The other incumbent, Amy Jennewein, chose not to run for a second term.
Also in the race are two former district employees: Joseph M. Gentile, a retired special education teacher, and Mary Ella Thomasson, a retired teacher and administrator for the district.
In addition, Nelson O. Weber, who served four consecutive terms on the board before losing a re-election bid in 2017, is seeking to return. Nelson also ran for a board seat unsuccessfully in 2018.
Gentile, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for a board seat last year, did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
School board members are not paid.
TALBOTT, 69, lives at 6113 Queens Court in House Springs. She is single. She is retired after teaching middle school art in the Northwest R-1 School District for 29 years.
Talbot earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University in 1972 and a master’s degree in teaching from Maryville University in 1989.
TUGGLE, 72, lives at 3766 Clearwood Drive in Eureka. She and her husband, Danny, have three children and three grandchildren.
She is retired after being a co-owner of the House Springs Golf Course. She also worked for the JCPPC Insurance Co.
She has attended school at St. Louis University and in Westerville, Ohio, and Dallas and studied art at Meramec Community College.
WEBER, 81, lives at 1970 Hillsboro Valley Park Road in High Ridge. He and his wife, Carol, have three children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He retired after working for 36 years for Boeing Aircraft (formerly McDonnell Douglas) and then worked for 12 years as an engineering consultant.
He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T) and has basic, advanced and masters certifications form the Missouri School Boards Association.
THOMASSON, 57, lives at 6113 Queens Court in House Springs. She is single. She is retired from the Northwest R-1 School District, where she worked as a teacher at Maple Grove Elementary for 10 years, an assistant principal at House Springs Elementary and Cedar Springs elementaries for 2 years, the principal at House Springs Intermediate for 10 years and then was the district’s chief academic officer for 10 years.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Central Methodist University in 1985, a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1989 and an educational specialist-superintendent degree from Missouri Baptist University in 2007.
What experience do you have that might serve you well in this position?
Talbott: I know this school district. I have lived here for 47 years. I taught in the district for 29 years. Upon retirement, I was elected to the Northwest Board of Education. I have served 12 years on the board, including 2008, when the board was named Missouri School Board of the Year. During five of these 12 years, I was the board president.
Tuggle: I have been a member of the Northwest R-1 school board for 14 years and am the current president. I am president of the Jefferson County Library board, vice president of the CASA board, assistant governor for Rotary Club 6060 and am on the boards of the Northwest Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce (was president for seven years) and the Hwy. 30 Foundation Board. I also am a member of Women with a Mission.
Weber: In addition to my previous school board experience, served on the board of directors of the Ferguson Roofing Corp. from 2007-2014, volunteered with SCOPE (Science and Citizens Organized for Purpose and Exploration) from 2007-2018 and was a 20-year member (three of them as president) of the Memories Car Club, which put on the largest car cruise in the Midwest.
Thomasson: I have not been elected to public office, but I have been an administrator at Northwest R-1 and participated in board meetings. I have volunteered as the staff parish committee at New Hope United Methodist Church, where I also taught an adult bible study class. I am the president of the local Delta Kappa Gamma Society International chapter. Leadership skills gathered during these experiences and opportunities have prepared me for the work of elected office.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Talbott: An ever-increasing number of students have serious emotional and social problems. These frequently manifest themselves as serious misbehaviors, which not only lessen that student's academic success, but also the success of their classmates. This is a national problem and a local problem. Research and holding conversations with community members, administrators, counselors and teachers is essential to correct this problem. Additionally, the district must improve salaries to attract and retain quality employees. Losing great teachers to higher-paying districts is becoming more common again. This hurts our kids.
Tuggle: The biggest problem that we have facing our district, of course, is money. We are always looking for ways to increase our academic scores. And we are always involved with our community. Other school districts are looking at what we’re doing with Franklin Covey‘s seven habits. We are having great success with this program.
Weber: Student achievement and finance shortfalls. Achievement can be improved by raising the accountability bar for the administration and teachers. The status quo is not OK. Financial shortfalls are not unique to our district. The solution is to ‘belt tighten,’ just like the rest of us do. Enrollment has declined for 23 years, from 7,876 students in 1996 to 6,044 students this year. There were only 15 houses built in the district last year. The challenge is to make the district more appealing so people want to live here.
Thomasson: One of the biggest problems facing many districts is students’ social and emotional well-being. Many students are experiencing emotional issues, behavioral concerns, social media and cyberbullying issues and mental health concerns. Because these needs are not being met, schools are dealing with students who have significant behavior issues. I would like to see the district engage in some discussions with teachers, students, staff, mental health experts, public health and community resource partners to discuss these problems.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Talbott: I am 100 percent committed to the district, its improvement and its students. I want to help ensure that our students continue to grow academically, as leaders, as citizens. This commitment means that I am willing to listen to staff and community members when they speak to me about concerns and successes. I come prepared to board meetings and am not afraid to ask questions or speak up if I disagree or am concerned. My goals are simple: Keep kids safe, provide the highest quality education that we can and graduate students prepared for college or the workforce.
Tuggle: I am very proud of our Lion Nation. My goals for the school district are to continue to see growth and to educate our children to be successful, happy, productive adults.
Weber: ■ I’m ‘student achievement’ aggressive and fiscally conservative. I have 12 years of school board experience. I'm retired and have time to devote to being a dedicated board member. I’m in touch with parents and residents and represent you, the voters. My goals:
■ Student achievement.
■ Children first, adults second.
■ Safety.
■ Promoting growth in our economically depressed district. Businesses are small (except for Walmart) and there’s not much industry. Slow growth (15 new houses last year). Four lumber yards closed, no theaters, no hotels or motels, no Starbucks, no UPS centers, no furniture stores, no chain restaurants.
Thomasson: Voters will find me an approachable listener who is willing to go the extra mile for students, staff, parents and the community. The Northwest R-1 community has given me so much during my career, and I am eager to give back. My priorities are to:
■ Maintain academic standards that lead to high student success.
■ Prioritize students’ social and emotional well-being.
■ Advocate for strong public schools.