Blair Oaks Board of Education candidates weighed in on district hiring and potential legislative changes that could affect the district in the latest round of questions with the News Tribune.
Five candidates are vying for three seats: newcomers Mark McCarter, Sarah Fessler, Sarah Lueckenhoff and Luke Fitzpatrick and incumbent Doug Moeller.
The following answers are verbatim except for edits for grammar and spelling.
How would you assess the school district's previous hiring efforts?
Mark McCarter: The school board's mission is to have a clear vision for the district's future, monitor progress using data, and focus on student achievement. Using progress and achievement as a measuring stick, the district's hiring methodology and selection process seems effective. The hiring of Ben Meldrum was completed by the current board. I'm excited to see where he leads us in the future! The expectations are high!
Sarah Fessler: As a taxpayer and frequent board meeting attendee, I believe the current board outsources too much hiring of teachers, staff and administration. This costs taxpayers more money. The taxpayers elect the board to make the best informed decisions for the district, and the board should have the confidence, experience, and/or education to do so. I have my master's degree in educational leadership and am comfortable making such decisions. We owe it to our outstanding teachers and our students to recruit and retain the best teachers and staff possible.
Sarah Lueckenhoff: I cannot assess to the hiring process since there is no mention of hirings in the open board meetings. I assume this is done in closed sessions or at the district office. However, it could be a good process, or it may need improvement but that is something I would have to determine as a board member rather than speculating.
Luke Fitzpatrick:I think that the district has changed the way they solicit open positions over the last few years. Unfortunately in this day and age, if you are unable to pay a higher wage than other employers, you aren't going to entice applicants. The district has a good benefits package, including paying health insurance for the employee. However, with the rising costs, people are looking to bring more money home. Blair Oaks' current wages are second lowest compared to other districts in our conference. In some cases, this is a $2-3 difference. I am focused on changing wages in the district.
Doug Moeller: Based on my knowledge of the school district's current hiring policy, I believe our staff is following the outlined procedures during the hiring process. As a board member, we are provided an opportunity to review the process used by the hiring committee and ask questions about their selection prior to accepting or denying their recommendation. Based on my assessment, I have no concerns with our current hiring efforts.
The Legislature has recently weighed a few measures to lower property taxes. Such measures could have an effect on Blair Oaks School District, which is partially funded by local property taxes. As a potential school board member (and a taxpayer yourself), what is your view on these measures?
Mark McCarter: The Blair Oaks tax rate is among the lowest in Cole and Boone counties. I feel the district has operated in an effective and efficient way. Again, this is evidenced in student achievement and my experience having three kids graduate through Blair Oaks. Having said that, if the state decides to reduce a funding mechanism within a county, city or township, it must provide a funding source for replacement.
Sarah Fessler: This is a slippery slope, and the decision is not up to me -- it is up to our Legislature. Most parents or grandparents never assumed they would get a tax break. In fact, mine lived more frugally and meekly to help their children and grandchildren. If you don't approve of your taxes and how they are being increased or decreased, please call your representative.
Sarah Lueckenhoff: As a taxpayer who also feels the effects of rising prices and high inflation, I would welcome any measure that lowers taxes. If such a measure would pass, the board would obviously have to assess the financial impact at that time and make the appropriate adjustments to the budget and possibly eliminate discretionary spending.
Luke Fitzpatrick: I think this would have a major impact on the district in a negative way. The district is primarily funded by property tax revenues. The elementary, intermediate and middle school buildings will require renovations to include but are not limited to HVAC units, windows, a kitchen and wheel chair lifts in the near future and with lower revenues, we would have some tough decisions to make. Our district has limited commercial property to help generate revenue, and we are one of the lowest spending school districts per student in the state.
Doug Moeller: As a taxpayer and current school board member, I have concerns about this proposal. 1) How is the Legislature going to replace the taxes they are proposing to cut? The Legislature currently does not have any answers. They are just addressing tax cuts. 2) How will the proposal affect our current funding? As a board member, I know we need this tax to pay the bills. I know the funds are currently limited and because we are a bedroom school district (very limited business taxes) this could have a substantial effect to our tax revenue.
The Legislature has also been considering proposals to allow transfers between public school districts if the receiving district opts in to the program. If such a measure were to pass, would you be supportive of opening Blair Oaks to transfers from surrounding districts?
Mark McCarter: Although I care about all students in the area and state, it is important we focus our attention first on the students and families that reside in the Blair Oaks School District. We are one of the fastest growing school districts in the state. Families move into the district with a belief and trust in the education their children receive. Any decision related to open enrollment should not and cannot have a negative effect on the education our students and families have come to expect.
Sarah Fessler: Every parent is already granted the right of school choice. Parents are allowed to send their children to private, parochial, public or to homeschool their children. The Fessler family moved here for Blair Oaks education. If any state or federal laws are passed, it is our board's responsibility to comply. If a parent has an issue with their child(ren)'s education, they have the right to submit their concern to the school board to ensure any issue will be addressed. Again, I can only make the best decision for our daughter, and follow the laws of Missouri.
Sarah Lueckenhoff: I struggle to answer this question "yes or no" because I understand why this seems appealing to many. Anyone can choose to live in the district or work in the district, which affords them the opportunity to send their children to our schools, but "who am I" to reject or accept an application for transfer. The concept in the purest form seems like a great idea, but it appears there are stipulations being added to legislation which is binding and cumbersome and for that reason I would not want to jeopardize our district.
Luke Fitzpatrick: I would not support the above mentioned proposal. I believe, with the historical growth we have had in the district, we need to get the high school finished first. In my opinion, the district's current infrastructure couldn't handle a large influx of students. Once the high school is finished, we could look at the option then. We have many students traveling back and forth between buildings and by allowing more students from outside the district to transfer would only increase the safety concerns I already have.
Doug Moeller: I would not be supportive of opening Blair Oaks to transfers from surrounding districts. It is important to me to maintain and retain the current strong family values, discipline and work ethic held by many of our district's patrons. By opening our school district to transfers, I am concerned we may be accepting students and families that do not hold the same values. If this were to happen, the great academic success, student attendance and overall learning could be greatly affected. My number one goal is to educate our district's students to be successful in life.
Submitted photo Luke Fitzpatrick
Submitted photo Doug Moeller
Submitted photo Mark McCarter
Submitted photo Sarah Lueckenhoff