Gary Bohler and Amie L. Merz are seeking second three-year terms on the Grandview R-2 School District’s Board of Education.
In the April 2 election, they will be challenged by Casey Kutrip.
School board members are not paid.
BOHLER, 63, of Hillsboro is retired from AT&T, where he advised, directed, managed and sold the company’s properties. He and his wife, Czarina, have four children and six grandchildren. He graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Casey Kutrip
KUTRIP, 39, of Dittmer is a social worker providing mental health services to children for a nonprofit agency. She and her husband have six children. She earned a master’s degree in social work in 2022 and passed a licensing exam in 2022.
She spent about 15 months as an adviser at Grandview High School, helping students with college and career decisions for after graduation. After learning that the grant-funded position would no longer be continued, she found work elsewhere.
Amie L. Merz
MERZ, 54, of Hillsboro is an account manager, employee assistance program consultant and counselor for Personal Assistance Services. She and her husband, Tony, have two grown children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Louis University in 1996 and a master’s degree in counseling from Webster University in 1999.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Bohler: I am a trustee for the Hansen Farms Property Association and was a Boy Scout leader for more than 25 years.
Kutrip: I have grant-writing experience, and I secured the grant for the $40,000 Grandview Elementary playground walking path. I also previously worked at the high school, and have a pretty good idea of what constitutes business as usual within the district. My education and work experience have strengthened my skills in advocacy, investigations and understanding policy.
Merz: I am a current board member and was appointed to the Developmental Disability Advocates board. I am a professional consultant and trainer with 18 school districts in the St. Louis area, a family counselor for 26 years specializing in child and adolescent mental health and substance abuse, and a past partner with the Jefferson County Juvenile Office and Children’s Division. I also have served on three other local boards.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Bohler: Not a problem, but a continued goal. I am 100 percent for the students’ experience and education. I want to stay on top of technology and our students’ appreciation of that in their future careers. I will be an advocate for teachers. Communication within the district and among the community is important.
Kutrip: A lack of transparency, communication and trust. These are fundamental for developing relationships with parents, staff and the community. Parents are entrusting their children to the district for almost eight hours a day. Parents want communication about major events that transpire. Parents should not get most of their information on significant events from other parents or from their children.
Merz: ■ Superintendent and administrator transitions. We will be hiring a new superintendent during this term and Grandview is a unique district with our community, history and virtual school partnership. We have important nuances that a new hire needs to be aware of.
■ Communication as part of our strategic plan. We have made a commitment to improve communication and transparency.
■ Declining enrollment, a statewide loss of teachers and awareness of financial stewardship. Most schools are experiencing declining enrollment, which means less funding available.
■ School protection officers: Oversight of this new program.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Bohler: During my tenure, salaries and stipends have increased. We will continue our efforts in this area. I am an advocate for students, teachers and the community. I will continue to work for the students, teachers and community, and would continue my efforts to the betterment of our high school students’ transition to their future career goals.
Kutrip: My children have been a part of Grandview for several years and are in all three buildings. The board members should be the watchdogs of the district. I ask questions, and I will be fully informed on matters before voting. I would encourage communication between all district stakeholders and board members. Board members elected this cycle will be involved in the hiring of the next superintendent who will start in the 2026-2027 school year. I would bring a different perspective and energy to the board.
Merz: I work hard to be unbiased and provide balance to the board. I listen to all sides of a discussion, don’t come in with pre-existing decisions and try to assist that conversations are clear, and all voices are heard at meetings. I have unique knowledge of what is happening in the education field in Missouri and represent the Grandview community that has gotten a bit older but still cares about what is going on. Grandview has traditionally been a place of strong character and belonging, and I’d like to make a return to that climate a priority.
