In the race for school board seats across the Kansas City area, unofficial results show some voters were ready for change.
In the seven major districts we’ve been tracking, six incumbents kept their seats, including a North Kansas City board member who’s been serving since 1995.
Meanwhile, in a race with no incumbents, the Park Hill district elected newcomers who talked about the importance of increasing diversity and transparency. Voters in the Independence district reelected one incumbent, but also chose a newcomer who wrote in a victory post on Facebook that he is the first person of color to be elected to public office in Independence.
Here’s a look at the preliminary results from the April 5 election. The Beacon published Q&As with many of the candidates ahead of the elections, so follow the links to learn more about the winners.
Click the county headings to see full election results, or see Kansas City results and Cass County results. Districts are listed under the primary county they fall under, but some overlap with multiple jurisdictions.
Click the links to jump ahead:
- North Kansas City Schools
- Liberty Public Schools
- Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
- Independence School District
- Blue Springs School District
- Raytown Quality Schools
- Park Hill School District
Clay County
North Kansas City Schools
The two candidates voters selected to serve three-year terms are:
- Terry Ward (incumbent)
- Daniel Wartick
Ward, who has been a board member since 1995, told The Beacon his priorities were completing facility upgrades, addressing the needs of a growing and diverse student population and improving academic performance.
Wartick wants to turn the tide of teachers retiring or leaving the profession, listen to diverse points of view and encourage greater partnerships with families and the community.
Voters approved a $140 million general obligation bond that will be used for building-related purposes such as buying land, constructing new buildings, and remodeling and equipping existing structures.
The bond is not expected to increase the district’s current debt service tax levy.
Separately, voters approved a measure to raise the ceiling for the operating property tax levy. The change isn’t expected to increase the overall tax levy because the debt service tax levy would go down by the same amount the operating levy goes up.
Liberty Public Schools
The two candidates voters selected for three-year terms are:
Rogers is an education attorney who co-founded Liberty Parents for Public Schools. She said she wants to listen to all facets of the community across the political spectrum, including people who do not regularly engage with the board.
Currence said he wants the board to be more responsive to parents who raise concerns. He also campaigned on “moral preservation” in the district and said the board should set expectations for right and wrong, including by ruling on controversial books.
Jackson County
Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
The two candidates voters selected for three-year terms are:
Eslick wants the board to prioritize the input of families and parents, provide better communication and transparency, and support students with learning differences through better teacher training.
Foley wants to help the board be more open about why decisions are being made and make the administration aware of concerns from the public. She also wants teachers to have tools to address pandemic learning loss.
Independence School District
The two candidates voters selected for six-year terms are:
- Jill Esry (incumbent)
- Anthony Mondaine
Esry has already served two terms on the board and praised the way board members work well with each other and district administration. She said the district’s greatest challenges are recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including social and behavioral issues, and attacks on public education.
Mondaine said the board needs to improve transparency and communication and to hold the superintendent more accountable. He also wants to provide better representation for students of color.
Blue Springs School District
The two candidates voters selected for three-year terms are:
- Rhonda Gilstrap (incumbent)
- Bobby Hawk (incumbent)
Both winners are current school board members. Bobby Hawk told The Beacon his priorities include recruiting and retaining teachers and staff, supporting mental health, and providing new career pathways and academic interventions for students. The Beacon could not reach Gilstrap to respond to a questionnaire.
Raytown Quality Schools
The two candidates voters selected for three-year terms are:
- Bobbie Saulsberry (incumbent)
- Natalie Johnson-Berry (incumbent)
Johnson-Berry is a longtime educator who wants to improve how the district engages with parents and give teachers more training in culturally responsive practices.
Bobbie Saulsberry was first elected to the board in 2007. She did not respond to a Beacon questionnaire.
Platte County
Park Hill School District
The two candidates voters selected for three-year terms are:
Terwilleger told The Beacon a top priority is to improve the well-being of teachers in the district. He also wants the board to increase initiatives that help all students feel a sense of belonging, and emphasizes the need to create a strong five-year school improvement plan.
Barnes wants to push the district to set concrete goals for its diversity initiatives, including hiring more diverse staff. She also wants the board to increase transparency, such as livestreaming all of its work sessions.
Voters also approved a $137 million general obligation bond that will be used for building-related purposes including constructing an elementary school and acquiring land.
The bond is not expected to increase the district’s current debt service tax levy.
Separately, the district asked voters to allow the board of education to raise the ceiling for the operating property tax levy. Voters approved the change, which isn’t expected to increase the overall tax levy because the debt service tax levy would go down by the same amount the operating levy goes up.
