Education

Here are all the candidates running for school boards in Jackson County on April 5

By Kynala Phillips

Updated March 31, 2022 8:31 AM

School board elections on April 5 will determine who will weigh in on controversial topics in local districts over the next few years. Star file photo

Local elections are just around the corner, and it’s time to elect new school board members in districts throughout Jackson County.

Before you get to the ballot box on April 5, make sure you know which school districts are electing new school board members and who those candidates are.

Why do school boards matter?

School boards are an essential part of making sure public schools reflect the communities they serve.

School boards are often responsible for hiring and reviewing the superintendent, hearing out community members and responding to their needs and reviewing school policies.

Recently, area school boards have debated topics including keeping LGBTQ-themed books on school shelves, school mask policies and how schools should teach about race in the aftermath of racist incidents in schools.

As the topics and issues students face in school continue to be a focal point of our cultural dialogue, who we choose as school board members becomes even more important.

What to know for Election Day on Tuesday

Most school board members in the Kansas City area serve for three years. Nearly all of the school board elections mentioned in this article ask voters to select two members for the board.

To get a better sense of what else might be on your ballot, here is an overall sample ballot from the Kansas City Board of Elections Commissioners.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5. To see a list of polling places that will be available on election day visit this website.

Here’s who is running near you in Jackson County.

How to use this list: We linked to every candidate’s campaign website that we could find. If you click on a candidate’s name, you’ll be directed to their site where you can see what the candidate’s priorities will be if elected.

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District

Voters can select two candidates. Each candidate is running for a three year term.

Larry Anderson

Anne Geanes

Melissa Kelly Foxhoven

Mike Allen (Incumbent)

Independence School District

Voters can select two candidates. Each candidate is running for a six year term.

Jill Ersy (Incumbent)

Greg Gilliam

Anthony Mondaine

Jason Vollmecke

Matt Mallinson (Incumbent)

Blue Springs School District

Voters can select two candidates. Each candidate is running for a three year term.

Rhonda Gilstrap (Incumbent)

Bobby Hawk (Incumbent)

Nick Bleess

William “Will” Hecht

Hickman Mills C-1 School District

Voters can select two candidates. Each candidate is running for a three year term.

Terri T. Barr-Moore

Beth Ann Boerger

Cecil E Wattree (Incumbent)

John Charles Carmichael

Center School District No. 58

Voters can select two candidates. Each candidate is running for a three year term.

Ira Boydston, IV

Ronald D. Fritz (Incumbent)

Gayla Smith

Raytown Quality Schools

Voters can select two candidates. Each candidate is running for a three year term.

Edith Marsalis

Bobbie Saulsberry (Incumbent)

Michael Watson

Natalie Johnson-Berry (Incumbent)

Alexis Christopher

Grandview - Consolidated School District No. 4

Running for a three year term

Dawn Foy (Incumbent)

Helen Ransom (Incumbent)

Joshua Hill

Running for a one year term

Stacy Wright (Incumbent)

Keith David Shaw

Lone Jack - Consolidated School District No. 6

Ryan Thomas Brown

Daniel C. White

Kay King

Lucas A. Richards

The Loan Jack C-6 School District will also ask voters about an operating property tax increase of $0.2436 which will bring the rate up to $3.4737 per one hundred dollars of assessed value. This increase will help bring new staff to the schools and maintain school buildings.