Windsor C-1 School District voters will decide if the school board will look the same or have a new member on April 4.
Scott Brothers, Tim McCraw and Dan Shaul are seeking re-election, and Dustin Schwartz is challenging them for one of three open Board of Education seats.
Board members, who are unpaid, serve three-year terms.
BROTHERS, 56, lives in Imperial with his wife, Kate. They have four children and a granddaughter. Brothers is a vice president and portfolio manager at U.S. Bank. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University.
McCRAW, 70, lives in Barnhart with his wife, Susan. They have two children and four grandchildren. McCraw is a real estate broker. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
SHAUL, 54, lives in Imperial with his wife, Kim. They have three children and two dogs. Shaul has been the executive director of the Missouri Grocers Association since 1998. He has an associate degree in aerospace technology from Parks College. He previously served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives.
SCHWARTZ, 36, lives in Imperial with his wife, Whitney. They have two children. Schwartz is a director of field operations and project manager at R.G. Ross Construction and received an associate degree in building and construction technology from Ranken Technical College.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Brothers: I was elected to the Windsor C-1 Board of Education in 2011, and I am the current vice president. I am also the treasurer for Developmental Disabilities Advocates. I am a former president for Kirkwood Chamber of Commerce, former treasurer for Pi Kappa Alpha Housing Corporation and former member of the Parkton Homeowners Association.
McCraw: I have been on the Windsor Board of Education since 2004. I have been the board president for 13 of those years. I am a 32-degree Mason. I am a past master of Crestwood Anchor 443 Lodge and past president of the Arab Patrol for the Moolah Shriners. I have successful 30-year career in the real estate business.
Shaul: I served in the Missouri House of Representatives for eight years, before terming out. I have been a member of the Windsor C-1 Board of Education for 12 years, and I am a member of the Arnold Rotary Club and Arnold Chamber of Commerce.
Schwartz: I am a current board member of South County Archers, an organization serving St. Louis County and surrounding areas with opportunities to get involved in archery. Along with maintaining the range at Jefferson Barracks Park, which is free to the public, we also volunteer for various events including NASP tournaments and donate to various organizations. My leadership, communication and decision-making skills here will also be appreciated as a school board member.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Brothers: Inflation presents a serious challenge to any organization, particularly a school district that only has control over expenses. With the potential for a downturn in the economy, good fiscal management will be a major focus going forward. My 34 years of experience in corporate finance puts me in a unique position to help manage through difficult times. Boosting test scores that were impacted by remote learning instituted at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic is equally important. Our district has a measurable plan in place to deal with this issue.
McCraw: We need to work on our test scores. This is a concern of the board and has been addressed. We have the programs and people already in place to accomplish this task. Our future scores will be much better with the emphasis being put on them.
Shaul: The biggest issue facing Windsor is the bounce back from Covid, overcoming the unfortunate lack or loss of face-to-face and one-to-one learning during that time.
Schwartz: Our recent low MAP and EOC testing scores are one of the biggest problems. I would get staff and parent input as to why they think this is and what we can do to address this. Then work together to develop a plan to improve this. Teacher recruitment and retention is also another concern. I will talk with current staff and get opinions on why they think is a problem, what we can do to address this problem and help develop a plan, including DESE’s Teach Missouri program, to help find and keep teachers at Windsor.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Brothers: I want Windsor to become the top performing district in the county and top 10 in the region; provide a path for our students to get into the trades, as college is not the answer to success for all our kids; reestablish a day care for the Windsor district to ensure continued learning for any students that find themselves with a need and allow our teachers to have local resources to care for their children; ensure our financial condition remains solid with a goal to maintain 20 percent capital reserves.
McCraw: I have been a part of the Windsor C-1 school district since 2004. We have accomplished major improvement in academics, sport programs and facility upgrades. We have been good stewards of the taxpayers money, have set and administered good policies and have governed the school district professional. I have been a major part in these accomplishments throughout the years and want to continue improving our schools for the benefit of the students.
Shaul: I have shown over the years that I’m committed to doing what is best for the students first and making sure that the teachers have the resources and a positive environment to be successful.
Schwartz: My goals are improving staff, community and board communication and making sure we are all working toward student success. Developing a plan to raise our test scores. Investigate and implement DESE’s Teach Missouri program to help with recruitment and retention. I have two children within the district and my wife is a teacher as well. I want to make Windsor the best school not only for my children, but for every child within the district, to attend and receive the best education possible.
What should local school boards do in response to state officials’ actions to oversee school curriculum?
Brothers: I believe in local control. We are happy to consider input on the federal and state level (the latter provides far more in funding to our budget), but in no way should outside entities dictate what is best for our children. You can go 40 miles in each direction and find unique requirements for the students in all of those districts, so to have a one-size-fits-all curriculum is not what is best for all children. Voters elect those they feel best represent them and Jefferson City and Washington D.C. are far removed from Imperial.
McCraw: My opinion has always been that individual school districts do not need to be micromanaged by any outside entity. Windsor has a proven track record of success without government interference, and I see no reason to change what we have successfully accomplished without it.
Shaul: I believe that final say on what and how things are taught at Windsor should remain at Windsor.
Schwartz: Individual school boards need to make sure the state’s requirements are actually helping their districts. If the actions the state is taking or policies they are enforcing are not in the best interest of the district, the board needs to bring it to the state’s attention along with suggestions that will benefit the district and align with state policy.