Trenton School Board candidates square off in public forum

By Violet Airey and Jamey Honeycutt

The 2023 Trenton R-9 School Board Candidate forum was held Monday, March 20, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Trenton High School Performing Arts Center. The School Board candidates were asked their opinions and motives on select questions and issues brought to them by the teachers association through Anna Muselman who also brought the microphone around to local citizens who might have had questions for the candidates which was offered later in the event. Candidates present were (in no particular order) Brandon Gibler, Andy Buress, Robin Chambers, Josh Shular, Ronda Lickteig, and Jason Hostetler, who was not present. Hostetler submitted some answers to the questions and those answers will be included when provided.

Moderator Mindy Walker, Missouri State Teachers Association Service Coordinator gave a welcoming introduction to the forum. Following the introduction, the candidates were asked to introduce themselves and explain why they were running for school board in a maximum of three minutes. Once introductions were finished, all candidates were given the maximum of two minutes to give their answer following each question.

First Question:

How will you make sure that all stakeholders including parents, students, teachers and taxpayers voices are heard on board member issues?

Andy Buress was the first to answer and said “I have an open door policy, you can call me anytime, everybody that's called me I've looked into what they've had to say.” As a follow up regarding closed session discussion, Burress added that rules for what can and cannot be discussed in closed session were not up to board members and that “it is what it is”.

Robin Chambers agreed with being an open book but thought issues should go through a “chain of command” when issues were brought to the board. “Once issues have been brought first to a principal or superintendent, and once that chain of command has been followed I have no problem hearing what people have to say and then taking it to the board.”

Brandon Gibler stressed his accessibility and willingness to listen to constituents. “I have also been involved in Comprehensive School Improvement Program that was wonderful way to hear the voices of all stakeholders.” Gibler also mentioned that he is often found at school events and meetings and constituents will find him easy to approach.

Ronda Lickteig said that she believes some board meetings need to be held at the high school rather than the district office since the room is so small and can only accommodate a few patrons. Lickteig went on to say “while we would not discuss personnel decisions in public, but it should be pointed out that there are a lot of things that don’t have to be discussed in closed session.” Lickteig summed up her thoughts by saying patrons should address the board as a whole.

Josh Shuler agreed with earlier comments about following the chain of command and transparency. “I am happy to explain my position to anyone, to take feedback from others.” “For me, it is about being available but also seeking out needs.”

Jason Hostetler - Hostetler promised to keep an open mind in all discussions and to remain impartial with no agenda. “I believe each and every individual in our district deserves to be heard.”

The moderator alluded to a serious issue nationwide, not just in Trenton, as being teacher recruitment and retention then poised question number two:

How will you work to recruit and keep quality teachers for our students?

Chambers, who was first to answer this question said she will listen to “what the needs of the teachers are, the needs of the district”. Chambers reiterated that this is not just a problem for schools but with most businesses. She wrapped up her thoughts by saying she would listen and try to meet needs that would attract and retain teachers.

Gibler said that teacher retention has been one of his top three issues for the school district. “We need to prioritize strong professional development, we need to provide support.” “Teachers need support from their administrators. They need to be respected, trusted and valued.”

Lickteig agreed that a lot of the issue had to do with culture. “If there's something we can do to retain good teachers, let's figure out what it is and try to do it.” Lickteig asked “Why are people leaving? Do they feel valued, are they treated like professionals and listened to?”

Shuler was next and thinks investment, encouragement, resources, and programs to create a work environment that teachers feel safe in would help. “It really is culture.” “There are leaving, not feeling supported, by the community or administration.” He stressed that everyone needs to pull together to attract and retain good teachers.

Burress also felt that listening to what the teachers need and keeping a good atmosphere is important. “Parents have a big role, if teachers got more backing at home it would make their jobs easier.” “Salary has never been an issue with those who came to talk with me, it was about the atmosphere.

They need to feel appreciated.”

Hostetler - “I don’t believe trying to pay more than occupation competitors is the answer, as we simply cannot afford it on the backs of taxpayers.” Hostetler went on to say they need to remain competitive on wages and provide a great environment and a positive and appreciated culture.

Some community members have expressed concern regarding the appearance of a lack of transparency regarding school board actions. Do you have a plan to rectify this situation?

Gibler stated that he takes privacy and the law very seriously. “We would be putting ourselves and the district at risk of litigation if we divulged information about disciplinary actions or personnel matters.” Gibler added that the board has followed all guidelines and been transparent.

Lickteig addressed transparency by saying “I don’t feel Mr. Stegman felt he was being disciplined when he left with two years worth of salary. It was a 4-3 vote so there was a lot of discussion and not everyone was in agreement.” “It would have helped the community if the board would have said something.” “transparency starts with believing that people should know”.

Shuler addressed transparency by saying it is a tricky subject but admitted that when the board doesn’t explain an action, the public will always fill in the gaps with their own thoughts. “Every time that we don’t share the reasons behind the decision, people make up their own minds. We need to continually push the boundaries of what we can share.” Shuler admitted the board needs to be more proactive as far as transparency.

Burress defended the board's commitment to transparency saying “I don't have a problem saying anything that can be said, i'll discuss anything that can be discussed”. “As far as I know, there has been no one denied talking at a board meeting.”

Chambers agrees with transparency while acknowledging the legal issues that come with sharing more than what the board is allowed to. “There are certain things that are in closed sessions for certain reasons and so those cannot be disclosed.”

What are your thoughts on a four day school week?

Lickteig does not support the thought of a four day school week educationally but admits that we might be forced to go to 4 days at some point. She also worried about parents who would have to find and pay for the extra day of childcare and the student not getting enough time with their studies. “I'm just never gonna say that's the best possible thing for students because I just don't know that it is.”

Shuler says there's a lot more data to look at rather than just academics, citing previous comments about childcare and sports schedules. “The community needs to come together with us because it will require all of us to be involved.”

Burress added that he is not for or against the thought of 4 day school. “If the test scores were higher” he would be for it, but based on the data that he's seen from school going to a four day school week he doesn't see it happening.

Chambers shared that she is not for or against the concept because of the lack of knowledge she has regarding four day school. She did share that she has concerns with childcare access and how it would affect non-certified staff. She said “I'm definitely not opposed to it but I would need more information”

Gibler questioned the stability of a four day school with the “first concern being knowing if it helps teacher retention, how it affects student achievement and the third is knowing how the community thinks.”

Our district Motto is to inspire excellence in each and every student, every day. A quality of excellence is initiative. For new school board candidates, how specifically will you exercise initiative during your term to improve our district?

Shuler said there are a lot of opportunities and says “it initially falls back on seeking feedback” and wants to focus on ways to improve the district such as teacher retention.

Chambers wants to focus on being an “open book and being there to listen to people with their concerns”. “To build on positives and to listen and help implement positives.”

Lickteig sees an issue with different factions being defensive within the district and on edge. “There is a reason everyone is on edge and there is a lack of trust. I don’t have an answer to fix it but that will be something I would try and figure out. ”

What initiative have you taken during your term to improve the school district?

Burress said “You're not going to do anything by yourself, you have to do it together.” Burress pointed to getting the curriculum in line during his term and hiring reading coaches along with improving the atmosphere at the schools.

Gibler admitted that being married to a teacher has helped shape his thinking about being a board member. “I make informed common sense decisions with the student first approach. I don’t mess with the chain of command and I don’t micromanage affairs. I am going to hold the superintendent accountable.”

Should transgender students be allowed to participate in sports and to use bathrooms/locker rooms of which they identify?

Burress simply answered “No.”

Chambers also said no and thought when it came to sports “whatever sex you are biologically born should be the sport that you are playing.”

Gibler also agreed with Chambers and Burress saying “if the birth certificate says male, that's the locker room, that's the bathroom, that's the sport you get, same for female.”

Lickteig said when it comes to the sports aspect of it, it is not the board's choice. “Were a MSHAA school, and MSHAA has rules for transgender.” but as for the bathroom issue she said “all bathrooms should be safe.” Lickteig added that while many may not agree, some of these issues will be determined on a state level and the board may be forced to comply or face the consequences.

Shuler said “it's a time where we need to show if we’ve got backbone to stand up against what everybody else does or not.” and finished his answer “Absolutely, unequivocally no.”

How important is a school resource officer?

Chambers thinks it would bring “a positive influence into schools” and that officers would promote safer schools.

Gibler is in favor of a school resource officer but has concerns on how the board would fit it into the budget “we need to find a way to make everything work well.”

Lickteig is in favor of a resource officer but recognizes that the job description is complex. “I am not against hiring an officer but I am also for a licensed school social worker.” Lickteig reiterated that it concerns her to hear that money is tight in the district, there are needs such as a resource officer or social worker and yet we paid the former superintendent $300,000 to leave.

Shuler is also in favor of the school hiring an officer but also wants to be fiscally responsible. At the same time, he wonders “is one going to be enough to cover all campuses?”

Burress thinks the resource officer would be a “good deal” and is “definitely in favor” of looking into it.

What are your thoughts on critical race theory?

Gibler - “critical race theory is a political ideology that discriminates by race. It's not currently taught in our school district and I don't think that it should be added.”

Lickteig said “I think the fact that it's very difficult to define critical race theory makes it hard for anyone to say what it is and if it's being taught or not being taught” and spoke about how “race is gonna come up” when talking about history and historical events. “Our teachers are already under a microscope for what they teach and say”, “and if you are going to have a discussion about civil rights, immigration … race is going to come up.”

Shuler said “ Critical race theory is a politically motivated, agenda motivated way of rewriting history.” “Rewriting history to serve any political agenda should never be allowed in our schools.”

Burress was “not for it being taught.”

Chambers doesn't “believe it needs to be in our education”

Put these things in order, beginning with the most important. Safety, education, inclusivity.

Lickteig - Safety, Education, inclusivity.

Shuler - safety, education, and inclusivity.

Burress - safety, education, and inclusivity.

Chambers - safety, inclusivity, and education

Gibler - “they all need to happen at the same time” and all are equally important.

The first question asked by a person in the audience was

“Do you feel it was fiscally responsible to waste $200,000-300,000 of the school budget?”

Shuler stated that he didn’t know if it was wasteful or not. “There were bigger factors at play and we don’t know if it could have been a bargain compared to the damage it could have caused for him (former superintendent) to stay.”

Burress started by suggesting “wasteful” was a strong word. He stated that “The safety of the kids is first, the atmosphere and work environment for the teachers, and if they don’t have that, you don’t have the best education for your kids. If it costs that ($300,000), no, it wasn’t wasteful to me.”

Chambers said that she believes the board made a decision that was best for the school. “I can only think the board made the decision that they felt was best for the school, best for the kids, best for the teachers.”

Gibler said “it's hard to measure what the cost was going to be to continue like we were headed.” He continued that there were a lot of factors that had to be considered. He voted yes because he thought it was worth it to move on.

Lickteig - “The vote was 4-3, that tells me that there were three people out of seven that didn’t think it was the best thing for the school district.” She questioned that paying the former superintendent $300,000 was in the best interest of the district. “There were obviously ways the board could have mitigated what was happening with him.”