Melissa S. Parker is seeking to unseat one of the three incumbents running for three seats on the Crystal City Board of Education in the April 4 election.
Linda K. Schilly is seeking her fifth term. Cynthia S. Coleman is running for her second full term after she won a two-year seat to fill a vacancy in 2018. Curtis Dale Binsbacher is seeking his first full term after he won a one-year seat to fill a vacancy last year.
Neither Coleman nor Binsbacher returned a Leader candidate questionnaire.
School board members are unpaid.
SCHILLY, 70, is retired after working as a court clerk in Jefferson County’s 23rd Circuit Court for 23 years. She and her husband, Tom, have two children and four grandchildren. She took numerous classes relating to her job.
PARKER, 38, is a district manager for Earthbound Trading Co. She and her husband, Josh, have three children. She earned a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2021 and an associate degree from Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan., in 2006.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Schilly: In addition to my tenure on the school board, I have volunteered on numerous political committees and have been a Sunday school teacher.
Parker: I am an international exchange coordinator for EF High School Exchange Year and have been a Girl Scout troop leader and parent assistant.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Schilly: We are a small school district, so funding is a high priority. As a member of the board, I try to work diligently to see that money is spent in the best way so that our students receive the best education possible and that our students, teachers and employees are treated fairly and respectfully.
Parker: Adaptability, transparency and a focus around finding better ways to support our teachers and students with a long-term goal mindset. At the high school, we need stronger curriculums adjusted to today’s needs to support college and trade-bound graduates. In the elementary, we need more support for teachers and paraprofessionals working with our most vulnerable students. Lastly, we need accountability and communication around decisions our administrators are making and how it impacts all students, not just a select few.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Schilly: I have a good knowledge of our district’s needs and will continue to work to see that those needs are met. I will continue to see that students receive the best education. I will keep an open mind to new ideas presented to the board by students, teachers and staff. I will work to secure the needs of our district.
Parker: ■ Approachability: Many families don’t feel they will be heard by the school board. My goal is to change that.
■ Accountability: Actively sharing transparent communication to families.
■ Culture: We have some amazing teachers, but we don’t give them many reasons to stay long term. We need to build a culture that supports their professional development goals and provides top-level administrative support.
■ Curriculum: Investing time into updating our curriculum.
■ Forward thinking: Crystal City is working to attract new families and businesses. The district should adapt to want to attract families.
What should local school boards do in response to state officials’ action to oversee school curriculum?
Schilly: The board will need to take a hard look at this together with a committee of our teachers and administrators and decide what issues need to be changed or if ones we are already complying with need changes.
Parker: To a point, having a higher accountability than just one governing body isn’t a bad thing. However, there still needs to be some autonomy for schools to make adjustments based on local needs and abilities. It’s important that schools develop a curriculum that supports multiple career possibilities for their students, and having a set statewide curriculum with no autonomy prevents that personalization.