Four candidates are vying for one of three seats on Grandview R-2 School District’s Board of Education.
Voters will choose from incumbent Stephen Kuczka, Heather Langhans-Bodnar, Shane Frazier and Rachel Wofford on April 4.
Board members serve three-year terms.
Langhans-Bodnar did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
School board members are unpaid.
KUCZKA, 60, lives in Dittmer. He has five children and six grandchildren. Kuczka is a business owner and accountant in St. Louis. He has served six years on the Grandview School Board.
FRAZIER, 38, lives in Dittmer with his wife, Sarie. They have two children. Frazier is a Jefferson County veteran law enforcement officer with a background in digital forensics and preventing child exploitation. He has an associate degree in computer support from Jefferson College and several career-specific certifications.
WOFFORD, 37, lives in Dittmer with her husband, Joshua. They have three children. Before leaving work to care for her children, Wofford was a prekindergarten teacher at Christy Park Montessori. She attended Jefferson College for two years.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Kuczka: I have been on the Grandview R-2 board for six years.
Frazier: As a former school resource officer, my unique and valuable experience allows me to bring safety to the forefront of the district. I’ve worked directly with school staff to bring resolution to difficult school situations. I've also attended and presented at school board meetings, allowing me to understand the fundamentals of the position. I have also served in multiple volunteer roles such as youth sports coach, Trail Life USA leader and Special Olympics Missouri.
Wofford: I am the current Grandview Elementary PTO president, and with the help of other board members, the group has planned two community events with others on the calendar for the remaining school year. We have surprised our building’s staff with small gestures of support and encouragement. From 2017-2019, I was Cubmaster for Grandview’s Cub Scout Pack. I volunteer my time frequently at Grandview Elementary and help coach Redbird Rookies Little League.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Kuczka: The biggest problems facing the district are staff retention and continuing to enhance the curriculum. I would address these issues by increasing staff pay and continuing to provide the resources to improve the curriculum.
Frazier: In light of current events across the country, I believe student and staff safety is on all of our minds. I believe I can bring ideas that would make safety paramount. Additionally, with collaboration of school staff, review current safety practices and make any needed recommendations, however slight, that would enhance the district safety. Secondly, I believe staff retention is another concern. Our district has lost great teachers to surrounding districts for various reasons. I would work with the administrators and staff to determine the causes and help create an effective plan to retain and incentivize teachers.
Wofford: The biggest issue facing our district is employee retention. This challenge is felt throughout our district, whether it is teachers, bus drivers or support staff. Retaining the exceptional staff we have and employing new staff would be at the forefront of my concerns. I have high hopes that we, as a board, can come up with practical, long-lasting solutions. My goal would be finding a way to offer competitive salaries, incentives and making it abundantly clear what makes Grandview, as a district and a community, such a great place.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Kuczka: In the past six years, I have worked diligently to improve the educational experience for the students, district facilities and switching to the 4-day school week. My goals for the future are to continue improving the curriculum. Also, I want to improve the security and safety for all the students and staff members at Grandview.
Frazier: I have the experience needed to provide all of our children to go to school each and every day in a safe environment, all while they are provided with a great educational opportunity by some of the best educators. As parents, we all know too well from the virtual learning, our district teachers are the best opportunity for a great education. Teachers are the backbone of the education system. If I am elected, I hope to ensure that safety is a top priority, along with helping create an environment where educators want to teach and eventually retire.
Wofford: As an involved parent in our district, I will contribute a useful view and beneficial input. The relationships that I have built within our district in the seven years that my family has been a part of Grandview will help me serve with everyone’s best interest at heart. I stand behind our teachers and believe they are the key to our students’ success. Some of my goals, besides retention, include improving communication throughout the district and community, supporting our staff and taking steps to make our campus safer. All of which will provide the most productive schooling possible.
What should local school boards do in response to state officials’ actions to oversee school curriculum?
Kuczka: The school boards should fight to continue to have the right to choose curriculums and strategies for their own students.
Frazier: First, I believe in transparency in government. Transparency provides added trust for community members. I believe the state’s concept of bills being introduced are attempting to provide transparency when addressing curriculum. I am also not opposed to the “major” curriculum items being open to the public. Conversely, the bills appear to require teachers to submit curriculum changes, however slight, two months in advance. I don’t believe this is necessary. I believe this takes away spontaneous learning environments when children ask questions about topics not on the current lecture. I don’t believe school boards should support these bills as they stand.
Wofford: As a potential school board member, I am not qualified to make decisions about curriculum. I am not an educator, being a mom during COVID proved that. I trust our teachers to teach what needs to be taught and when it needs to be taught. Not every classroom of kids is the same, and my concern is that this will take away the ability for teachers to critique their lesson plans as needed. That is a major disadvantage to our students. There is already a teacher shortage, we don’t need to make unnecessary complications to an already difficult job.
Do you support Proposition Safe Eagles, the $7.2 million bond issue on the April ballot? Why or why not?
Kuczka: I support Proposition Safe Eagles. This is a top priority of mine as it will increase the safety and security measures for all students and staff members of the school district. Also, I support the additional projects, assuming the remaining funding is available.
Frazier: Yes. With that said, I'm not a huge supporter of raising taxes especially when inflation is at an all-time high. However, this is a bond extension that will not increase our taxes, only the longevity of the bonds. With passage of Proposition Safe Eagles, we will be able to better secure our buildings and mitigate the risk of an outside threat to our children and staff. We owe it to our families to not let the unthinkable happen to our community. Additionally, our sewer treatment plant is at the end of its life without an upgrade and needs addressed.
Wofford: I fully support Proposition Safe Eagles. It will allow the necessary repairs to be made that will keep our students and staff safer for years to come while not costing the taxpayers. If passed, it would allow for multiple projects that would make our buildings more secure in general but especially from intruders. The sewer treatment plant will need to be replaced, which is crucial as it has not had any upgrades in nearly 50 years. New buses, a completed kitchen and signage throughout the campus all will be an added bonus for the district.