Eight candidates are on the April 8 ballot for the Ferguson-Florissant School Board election – a race that came into the spotlight after six of the seven current school board members voted to place Superintendent Art McCoy Jr. on administrative leave in November. These eight candidates are vying for three open seats to serve a three-year term.
Two of those candidates are incumbents: Paul Morris, president of the board, and Rob Chabot, board secretary. The third incumbent whose term is ending, vice president Chris Martinez, is not seeking re-election. Elected in 2011, all three voted to place McCoy on administrative leave. McCoy subsequently resigned.
Three candidates – F. Willis Johnson Jr., Donna Paulette-Thurman and James Savala – were tapped to run together as the “Grade A for Change Slate” by a group known as the Citizens’ Task Force on Excellence in Education. The taskforce highly criticized the board’s November action and organized the candidates after the board suspended McCoy.
The other three candidates are Kimberly Benz, Larry Thomas and LaWanda Wallace.
Here is a brief look at four of the six new candidates. Larry Thomas and LaWanda Wallace did not return the St. Louis American’s calls or emails.
Reverend F. Willis Johnson Jr. is the senior pastor and founder of the Wellspring United Methodist Church in Ferguson. The church is based on youth development, he said, and the congregation adopted Central Elementary as a way of partnering with the school district to provide volunteer tutoring.
A third-generation educator, he has worked in classrooms as well as with legislators on educational reform. Through his experience, he said he understands the process in both state and municipal government and feels that would be an asset to the board.
If elected, he said his first priority would be to rebuild the board’s rapport and level of trust among the community.
Next, he said, “We need to do some fundraising and forecasting. We have to build relationships that build up our schools.” Through partnerships, he believes the district could create additional streams of revenue.
A native of Kansas City, Johnson has resided in Ferguson since 2011 and has two children.
Donna Paulette-Thurman retired from the Ferguson-Florissant School District after working 15 years as a principal at Griffith and Holman elementary schools. She has also worked in the Normandy, Webster Groves and Pattonville school districts as a counselor and special education teacher. She earned her doctorate in education administration from University of Missouri at St. Louis.
“I’ve always been interested in community and children,” she said. “After being retired for four years, I have the time and I plan on being active with the board. I would like to be an integral part of team who want to see our district succeed.”
If elected, Paulette-Thurman would like to focus on maintaining accreditation, as well as taking actions to bridge the gap in academic disparities among the various schools in the district. She would also like to hold town meetings apart from the board meetings to give parents more opportunities to voice their concerns and suggestions.
James A. Savala, a parent of two children in the district,was raised in Berkeley. A quality inspector for Hussmann Refrigeration Company, Savala said he is approaching retirement and is looking for ways to give back to the community.
“I believe in student high achievement and reaching out to parents,” he said.
As a member of Shalom Church City of Peace, he has been teaching youth for 14 years as part of the church’s Youth in Training program. Because the district has a majority African-American student population, Savala believes it’s important for students to see strong black role models.
“The African-American community needs to see more African-American leaders,” he said. “They need to see men caring about them and helping to lead them.”
He believes parents should have more opportunities to provide input at board meetings and intends to find ways to make that happen.
Kimberly Benz, a McClure North alumna, has four children in the district and has been highly active at school board meetings for the past year.
“I bring a different perspective,” said Benz, a stay-at-home mother who holds an associate degree in business management. “I have children in all three levels. I have an inside scoop.”
Benz has participated in focus groups to develop the district’s new strategic plan, which outlines budget and academic goals, among other things.
“That’s going to be our compass,” she said. “I’ve been very involved. I would be honored if I could be part of implementing it.”
Besides the strategic plan, she also hopes to restore parents’ confidence through ensuring more open lines of communication.
The election is Tuesday, April 8. Call the St. Louis County Board of Elections at 314-615-1822.
