Four candidates fight to join the Park Hill School District Board of Education
Two incumbents and two newcomers are looking to fill three open seats on the Park Hill School District Board of Education this spring. Voters will pick their top three.
The four candidates vying for an opportunity to oversee the school district will be on the ballot April 7. The polls will be open from 6 a.m to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can find out more information about how to vote and see what else will be on their ballots by visiting the Missouri Secretary of State’s website.
Alexia Norris
Incumbent? Yes (appointed)
Campaign website: https://norrisforphsd.com/
Alexia Norris was appointed to the Park Hill School District Board of Education in September. Now, she’s vying for a full term on the board. Norris, a Kansas City-based attorney and Platte County native, served as a lead advocate for Propositions G and O in 2025 to support teacher salary increases and school building projects.
Education has always been important to her, she said. Norris was raised by a mother who spent her entire career as a teacher and a father who was a long-time school board member. Today, she has two children in elementary school in the district.
“Supporting K-12 education has always been a family priority,” she told The Star.
If elected, Norris hopes to be a “consistent voice” for parents and students in the community. As a board member, Norris said she will work to ensure student success by prioritizing classroom resources and teacher support.
Her other top priorities include transparent leadership, the efficient and equitable use of bond proceeds from Proposition O, protecting public education, school safety and fostering an environment where every student and family feels a sense of belonging.
Deanna Muñoz
Incumbent? No
Campaign website: https://www.deannamunoz4phsd.com/
Deanna Munoz is the founder of the Chicano Center for the Arts and director of organizing for Latinx Education Collaborative. She has spent her entire life in Kansas City, 12 years of which she has resided in the Northland. All four of Munoz’s children attended Park Hill schools, including her youngest son who is a junior at Park Hill South High School. Through her work, Munoz said she has spent years working on programs that support student engagement, mentorship and culture.
If elected, Munoz hopes to prioritize three main pillars: Community, equity and collaboration. As a board member, Munoz said she would focus on college and career readiness by prioritizing strong student outcomes through high-quality curriculum, student support services and working to close opportunity gaps. She would also like to improve educator support, school safety, transparency, accountability and partnerships among the district, families and the community.
Janice Bolin
Incumbent? Yes
Campaign website: N/A
Janice Bolin has served on the Park Hill Board of Education for the past 17 years. Outside of the district, Bolin works as the director of soccer operations for Kansas City Current and has spent a majority of her career working in accounting and finance. Bolin has lived in Kansas City since graduating from Kansas State University in 1993, and has resided in the Northland for 25 years. All three of her children are graduates of Park Hill.
During her tenure on the board, Bolin has helped approve a variety of measures, including two bond issues last year. Voters passed both Proposition O and Proposition G last spring, allowing the district to conduct various building improvements and increase teacher salaries. Bolin has also helped the district open new schools, hash out a redistricting plan and reduce cellphone use in schools. If re-elected, Bolin plans to focus on recruiting and retaining high-quality educators, maintaining a strong financial position and ensuring every student, staff and family feels a sense of belonging within the school’s buildings.
Brandon Kleinmeyer
Incumbent? No
Campaign website: https://www.brandon4phsd.com/
Brandon Kleinmeyer is a tax professional with over 10 years of experience in tax and finance. Kleinmeyer’s wife works for the district, and his two daughters attend Park Hill schools. Kleinmeyer has had family roots in the Northland his whole life, and has called the Kansas City area home for over a decade.
As a board member, Kleinmeyer hopes to bring his experience in finance to the district’s budgetary process to ensure every cent of tax dollars is used correctly and is directed toward student success. Along with fiscal responsibility, Kleinmeyer also hopes to prioritize revitalizing older schools, supporting staff by implementing fewer district-mandated initiatives, addressing overcrowding issues and reallocating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging resources. “We need board members who can accurately read a balance sheet, manage a multi-million dollar public budget responsibly and ensure that taxpayer dollars are actually reaching the classrooms,” he said.
