Voters in the Northwest R-1 School District will have to choose between four candidates for two available seats on the Board of Education in the April 2 election.
The race features a pair of incumbents – Gary Bonacker, who is seeking his fourth three-year term, and Jeffrey M. Hanewinkel, who is running for his second.
Challengers in the race are former Northwest R-1 teacher Joseph M. Gentile and Daniel Denbow.
Bonacker and Denbow did not return Leader candidate questionnaires.
HANEWINKEL, 46, lives at 3209 Echo Lake Drive, Byrnes Mill. He and his wife, Angie, have two children. He is a sales manager for Major Brands. A 1991 graduate of Northwest High School, he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lindenwood University in 2006. He has been president of his subdivision’s homeowners association, has coached youth sports and been involved with charity fundraising efforts.
His wife is a teacher at House Springs Elementary School.
GENTILE, 67, lives at 5550 Bruce Lane, House Springs. He and his wife, Denise, have three children. He retired in 2015 as a special education teacher from the district. He received a master’s degree from Lindenwood University in 2002.
He has been involved for more than 50 years with the Boy Scouts of America and with the High Ridge Elks, the Marine Corps League, Operation Brightside and Operation Safe Street. He has been president and vice president of the St. John the Baptist Church parish council, was a building representative for NEA and was president of the Cedar Hill Intermediate PTO.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Hanewinkel: Managing the revenue needed to offer students the best academic and extracurricular programs, offer a competitive wage to teachers and fund the maintenance of buildings. I am proud to be part of a school board that has worked under a balanced budget for the last three years, adopted new math, science and English language arts curriculums, raised pay for teachers districtwide and successfully passed a no-tax increase bond issue extension, which is funding building improvements. This is the model I will continue to follow if elected to another term.
Gentile: Enrollment and hiring and retaining highly qualified teachers. I would hope to increase enrollment by encouraging businesses and developers to consider the benefits of the Hwy. 30 corridor. I would look at ways the board could make the teacher pay scale competitive.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Hanewinkel: My proven record over the last three years to do what’s right for students, staff and taxpayers. My goals for the next three years are the same as my first three: Look for ways to operate the district in the most fiscally responsible manner that offers a great school experience to our students and a competitive wage to our staff and not to overburden taxpayers.
Gentile: As a retired teacher and parent of three district graduates, I understand parent, teacher and community concerns.