The latest school board election will take place on Apr 8. and four candidates will be vying for two positions on the board. Each candidate has their own unique background and perspective. They explain the vision they have for the school board, if elected.
Danielle Looney is a graduate of Holt High School and has five kids in the district. Looney already has various plans for projects such as improving transportation, eliminating pay disparities, and finding better alternatives to late start days.
“I believe we need to dust off the old playbook and take a look at what worked for us in the past. A block schedule at the high school level may allow for more teacher planning and collaboration time,” Looney said. “I will collaborate with my peers, administration and the community to find a solution that works for everyone, and one that prioritizes keeping students in the classroom.”
Christina Macormic has lived in the Lake Saint Louis area for more than 20 years. Having a child with autism results in a lot of her agenda being focused towards ensuring that all children’s needs are met. Having previously homeschooled her own children, she understands the unique needs that may need to be met in the classroom.
“I believe it is essential to advocate for parents of children with or without disabilities. Every parent and child experiences their own unique challenges and triumphs, and recognizing this is crucial,” Macormic said.
Jeremy Way has lived in the Wentzville School District for more than 20 years, and has been a teacher, coach, and administrator, currently working in the Wright City R-II District. His time spent working in education makes him impassioned to want to work towards better education for all students.
“The opportunity to learn a lot about many different jobs in a school district has been available for me and I am thankful for that throughout my career,” Way said. “I know because I have lived it, and see it on a daily basis, the importance of hiring and retaining great staff members has a direct correlation to our students’ achievement level. Therefore, we need to do everything we can, keeping in mind being fiscally responsible, to continue to have wonderful staff members in our district that care about our kiddos.”
Dr. Julie Scott is the only currently serving member on the board who is running for re-election. She has lived in the Wentzville district for 15 years and has two children in the district. Scott has an extensive background in nursing, which includes a doctorate in nursing from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, a master’s in nursing from Maryville University, and a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She wants to use her background to emphasize the students’ mental health. She also uses her background to guide her decision making skills. She feels that using facts and evidence is the way to go when making decisions regarding student’s success.
