Why was this Marine left out of endorsement interview for Lee’s Summit school board?

This spring, Megan Marshall will retire from the United States Marine Corps after 20 years of service.

She’s a candidate in the April election for one of three open seats on the Lee’s Summit Board of Education and one of only two minorities on the ballot. But military obligations have prevented Marshall, who is African American, from taking part in candidate interviews sponsored by Foundations for our Future, an influential political action committee headed by some of the city’s major power brokers.

Now, as the prominent organization prepares to make its endorsements in local elections, Marshall finds herself on the outside looking in, excluded from the interview process and at a distinct disadvantage because of her obligations with the Marines.

Foundations for our Future, whose membership is sorely lacking diversity, includes realtor Mike Atcheson, former Metropolitan Community College-Longview President Fred Grogan and Nancy Bruns, former president of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce.

Philanthropist and business owner Brad Cox; Brad Culbertson, the Downtown Community Improvement District board chair; Tom Lovell, former administrator of the city’s parks and recreation department; and veterinarian Robert “Bud” Hertzog also are members.

The group conducted 30-minute, in-person interviews with candidates for school board and City Council. Every candidate was expected to take part except Marshall and Roberta Gough, a council candidate who declined to participate, according to the group.

Marshall is unavailable until Tuesday and will miss the group’s arbitrary deadline to interview. The cut-off date was set by the group to allow members time to make endorsements, said Atcheson, the group’s chairman.

“Apparently, they had a tight window to interview all of the candidates running and were not able to accommodate my Marine obligations with a night which would work for us both,” Marshall wrote on Facebook.

“I’m a person who believes in finishing what I started with the same passion the last day as the first day,” she continued. “My final days of service to my country as a U.S. Marine (deserve) this same commitment.”

The group did offer Marshall a chance to interview via video conference, an exception to its in-person interview process, Atcheson said. But Marshall understandably wanted the same opportunity to interview in person as other candidates, said campaign manager Tim Smith.

The campaign offered two dates that Marshall could interview in person, Smith said. Foundations for our Future countered with dates that did not work with Marshall’s schedule.

Outgoing school board member Jackie Clark, wrote on Facebook, “I am appalled that someone serving in our Nation’s military is shut out!”

The election isn’t until April 7, which is more than enough time for the group to vet the candidates, accommodate Marshall’s request and still make endorsement decisions.

Foundations for our Future has been a consequential player in recent elections. In last year’s school board race, the group endorsed Mike Allen and Judy Hedrick, and both were elected to three-year terms.

In recent years, Lee’s Summit has struggled to adapt to the school district’s changing demographics, as ugly battles over racial equity and improving educational outcomes for students of color have played out in public. Dennis Carpenter, the district’s first African American superintendent, resigned under pressure in July after less than two years on the job.

Increasing diversity on the board of education and among the school district’s leadership should be a priority in Lee’s Summit. And candidates such as Marshall, one of just two minorities running for the school board, should be encouraged — not marginalized over minor scheduling issues.

Surely a group that describes itself as bipartisan and fair can find a way to give due consideration to a candidate who has served her country for two decades.

Correction: This editorial has been updated to reflect that Megan Marshall is one of two minorities running for Lee’s Summit School Board.

This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.