After  a meeting called last Thursday  by the Johnson County Commissioners, Holden R-III District superintendent Scott Slava stated that the commissioners still refuse to sign an agreement on an extension of payments from the Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI).

In the meeting that was called by the commissioners because they felt the school district didn’t accurately understand their position, the superintendent said that the commissioners indicated  they would send a letter outlining their position on payments of the funds, which AECI is remitting in lieu of taxes.

Slava said that the commissioners stated that they would pay the yearly payment due in December 2006 in December 2007.  They would then “get up to date” by disbursing 2007’s amount in January 2008.  He said they also indicated that they would then stay on schedule for the remainder of the 15 year period, through 2021.

When asked by school board president Jeff Miller if they would sign an agreement to that effect, they once again said they would not, but would send the letter in time for the board’s next meeting.

Also present at the meeting was Johnson County clerk Gilbert Powers, who explained to Slava and Miller  how he arrived at his payment amount of approximately $42,000.  According to the superintendent, Powers stated that he used the tax levy, assessed valuation and the taxes generated by them in his formula for calculation.

Slava, who figures the payment to be approximately $88,500 on a comparison of tax levies, asked Powers why he used his method of calculation.  According to the superintendent, Powers responded that it was the intent of the original signers of the order.

The Holden Image contacted Bob Banes, the former western commissioner who was one of the original signers.  Banes indicated that was not the case.  He stated, “When we signed the order, it was our intent that the entities receive their money and that the Holden school district’s share would be 80-some thousand dollars.”

The original commission’s order signed October 2, 2001, states that “The entities listed will receive funds on a percentage basis determined by their respective tax levies....”

According to a telephone interview with the Johnson County commissioners Monday, they indicated that their position is that the county clerk’s figures are correct.

The next step for the district according to Slava, will be  to take the letter from the commissioners, once it’s received, to the school board.
“It’s up to them whether they will accept the commissioners terms and amount.”

Slava continued, “We’re just trying to get what we’re supposed to have.  That’s all.”   

By Steve Sullins
Editor

 

Municipal and school election races,  along with tax issues will be decided as area voters go to the polls Tuesday, April 3.

Holden races

In Holden, four candidates will vie for two three-year Holden R-III School Board terms.  Incumbents Susan Feeback and Jim Wallace will run against Sonya K. Corrigan and Joe Burnor.  Voters will vote for two candidates and the two individuals with the most votes will win the seats.

In Holden’s City Council election, there are four wards with three unopposed candidates and one ward with nobody running.  Incumbents Veronica Burt, Ward I; Dorothy Wakeman, Ward III; and Chad Manford, Ward IV; will all run without opposition.  The Ward II seat vacated by Christi Stowe is without a candidate.  All seats are for two-year terms.

Kingsville races

The Kingsville R-1 School District will ask voters to approve a $1.2 million bond issue to fund improvements to the Kingsville school facility.

The money would fund a new shop, two new classrooms, air conditioning, wiring and lighting upgrades, remodeled and expanded locker rooms, expanded library area and new door locks to improve safety.

In the district’s school board election, Art E. Worsley, Jr. and Tina Herrington are running for the one-year unexpired term.  In the two three-year terms, Martha Bush and Todd Brendel are the only two filers, so no election is necessary for those seats.

Incumbent mayor Lloyd L. Stever is running unopposed for that two-year term in the city elections.  Also, Herbert Brockhaus, South Ward Alderman two-year term; John K. McRoy, North Ward Alderman two-year term; and Ed Thomas, North Ward Alderman one-year unexpired term; are all running without opposition.

Johnson County races

Voters in Johnson County will be asked the question whether the county would be authorized to impose a sales tax in an amount not to exceed one-quarter of one percent until the earlier of December 31, 2018 or when the financing of a county jail and law enforcement center has been paid.  At that time, the tax shall decrease to an amount not to exceed one-eighth of one percent until the earlier of December 31, 2028 or 10 years after the financing of the jail and center has been paid.

Also of interest to area voters is the election of Johnson County Community Health Services trustees.  Tom Edmunds, Jeanette Patterson and Matthew Eitutis are running for the two open four-year terms.

Please see inside pages for Kingsville and Holden School Board candidates’ answers to questions from the Holden Image.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

 

The 2007 Miles for Meals Walkathon campaign is up and going.  The emphasis is on community spirit and participation to meet this year’s goal of $8,000. 

The walk will take place on Saturday, April 28.  Registration is at 8 a.m. at the Holden Senior Center and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m.  Breakfast will be served to all walkers upon their return to the center.

The Holden Senior Center is joining forces with more than 200 Missouri senior centers that are part of the Care Connection of Aging Services’ statewide Miles for Meals campaign.  Funds raised by the community will stay in the community to support local meal programs, including home-delivered and congregate meals, and to increase community awareness of the Holden Senior Center’s role in helping older adults remain independent members of the community by providing services and activities that will enable them to stay healthy and active.  The Holden Senior Center is only partially funded through grant dollars (42 percent) and the remaining funds must come from contributions for services and fundraising activities in the community.

Committee members include chairperson, Dorothy Doutt; vice-chairperson, Linda Watson, Frances Elkins, Oleta Cone, Katherine Hadley, Fran Yoder, Ruth Courtney, Jane Burden, Clyde Ogden, Mary Williams, Janet Timme and Jane Atkinson.

Please make plans now to join in the fun and support this important community event.  For more information on the walkathon, please contact Dorothy Doutt at 732-5664 or Joyce Lagud, center coordinator, at 732-5757.  They hope to see everyone on April 28.

 

Holden R-III School District Superintendent Scott Slava will delay a little while longer his decision whether to move Holden schools to the Missouri River Valley Conference (MRVC) or stay in the Show-Me West Conference (SMWC).

In an effort to explore all avenues of “bolstering” the SMWC with larger schools, Slava, who is also president of the SMWC, held a meeting at Holden High School last Thursday which included representatives from all SMWC member schools and seven other schools which had shown interest in joining the league.

During the meeting, the SMWC schools voted to extend invitations to three of the visiting schools to join the conference.

Slava stated that each school explained what they could bring to the league and then participated in a dialogue with member schools.  The superintendent would not name the seven schools present or the three that were extended invitations because, “Many of them are still in other conferences.”

When asked if the three invited schools decided to join the SMWC, would Holden decide to stay with the conference as well, Slava stated, “If they said yes to our offer, it would give us more reason to stay with the Show-Me West.  I wanted to see if we could beef-up our present conference before deciding whether to go to the MRVC or not.  I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

In their February regular meeting, the Holden R-III School Board had given Slava a “free ticket” to evaluate the situation and do what’s best for the school.

“I’m still intrigued by the MRVC with their tradition and stability,” Slava continued.  “The Show-Me West has had a lot of movement back and forth in its recent history.  I’m still on the fence, but I’m running out of time.”

He said that he wanted to give the MRVC an answer before their April meeting.

According to R-III activities director Kelli Spies, who has talked with athletic coaches and academic sponsors, “A large number of  our coaches and speech, debate, and music sponsors are in favor of moving to the MRVC if we can’t attract larger schools to the Show-Me West.”

Holden joins Butler, St. Mary’s of Independence, Sherwood and Lone Jack in the SWMC.  The MRVC is made up of Pleasant Hill, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, Odessa, Higginsville, Boonville, Lexington, Carrollton, Knob Noster and Richmond.

Editor’s Note:  In order to give candidates running in the Kingsville and Holden School Board opposed races a forum to introduce themselves to voters, we sent each candidate a questionnaire asking four questions.  Those questions were numbered and the candidates’ answers will be numbered in the same manner.

They are:

1.  Personal data and employment.

2.  Why are you running for school board?

3.  What qualifications do you possess that will make you a good representative on the board?

4.  What issues facing the district are of immediate concern to you as a prospective or returning board member?
*
Their answers are listed below.

1. Art E. Worsley, Jr., age 39, self-employed and Kingsville Package Store partner.

2. I was asked to fill in for another board member who had left, by the other board members who currently hold the other six positions.  I was asked to run again.

3. I’ve served on the school board for the past six months.  I also have been to the school board training school that was held earlier this month at the Lake of the Ozarks.

4. Care and safety of the children.

1. Tina Herington; resident of Kingsville for 11 years.  Mother of three children, ages 16, 13 and eight.  I have been married for 19 years.  We live on a cattle farm.  I have been home with my children for the last eight years.  Prior to that, I worked outside the home as a customer service representative for a major manufacturing company.

2. That I may be more involved in the decision making process for the school and students, also that I can be a voice for my family as well as other families with issues, concerns or suggestions.

3. I have one child in Kingsville School and two that I homeschool.  I believe with my diverse background in the education field I could be an asset to the school board.  Over the years, I have worked closely with the teachers and the Department of Education in Jefferson City to ensure certain laws are being followed and that our students are receiving the services they are entitled to.

4. To review policies that are currently in place.  To ensure these policies are being implemented and that they are necessary to help our school run smoothly.

1. Susan Feeback; have lived in Holden School District for the past 22 years; have been in education for 30 years; hold B.S. and M.S. in education degrees from Central Missouri State University; was an elementary teacher in Holden for 17 years; have one son, Tanner, who graduated last year from Holden and is presently a student at Kansas State; have been employed for five years with the Odessa School District as a staff mentor and instructional facilitator.

2. I am genuinely interested in the education of our children.  Serving as a board member allows me the opportunity to serve my community and make a difference for our children.

3. Education is a priority in my life, both personally and professionally.  I stay current with educational trends and issues by reading, as well as conversing with other educators in the field.  I try to maintain an open view point on issues until I get the facts needed to make a decision.  I am always willing to listen to what patrons in the district need to say.  Another quality I possess is responsibility.  If I say I will do something, I will.  I will fulfill my duties as a board member by attending the meetings, attending school functions, and keeping focused on our main goal, which is educating our children.

4. Presently, the building project at the high school is a priority for the board.  We are appreciative of the patrons’ support in passing the levy that will add classrooms, a new cafeteria, and update the facilities.  Providing a safe environment for our children is always at the forefront of our thinking.  It is also important to maintain  a quality staff and attract new personnel who are highly qualified.  Research proves that the most important factor affecting student learning is the teacher.  Lastly, the technology we have available for our students must be maintained and updated to prepare them for their futures.

1.  Jim Wallace: I have lived in Johnson County for the past 18 years.  My wife, Karen, and I currently have a daughter, Jamee, who is a senior at Holden High School.  My oldest daughter, Amee, graduated from Holden in 1993.  I have taught industrial technology in the Leeton R-X School District from 2002 to the present.

2.  Like everyone else, I pay taxes.  I want to make sure the district continues to use these tax dollars wisely.  I believe the district should provide the best environment possible for the mental and physical growth of our students in order to equip them for higher education; be it college, trade school or the military.  This is necessary to provide sound minds and bodies.

3.  I hold a lifetime teacher’s certificate with a major in education and a minor in industrial technology.  I graduated from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in 1968, but the college is now known as Truman State University.  I am a former employee of the Holden R-III School District.  I was employed as transportation, custodial and maintenance director.  I enjoyed this experience and found all the employees strived to do a good job.  I was the director from 1996 until 2002.

4.  The Holden school district is a large district covering many square miles.  The future of our district looks toward growth.  Therefore, planning will be very important for the future of the district and for all families living in it.  One of the goals of the Holden school board is to continue to raise the achievement level of the students.  I believe through the hard work of the administration, teachers, secretaries, paraprofessionals, title and tap aides, cooks, bus drivers, maintenance and custodial staff and all employees this is being accomplished.  Raising the achievement level of our students must coincide with raising the bar in all levels of the school district.  I believe this board and administration are accomplishing these objectives. 
I am proud to have served on the Holden school board for the last three years and look forward to continuing serving the district.

1. I am Sonya Corrigan, a Holden High School graduate and lifelong resident.  My husband Don and I have three children in the Holden R-III School District.  Our oldest daughter Jaide is a freshman, our son Chase is in sixth grade, and our daughter Peyton is in kindergarten.  I have a bachelor of science in telecommunications management and am a project management professional (PMP) currently employed with Honeywell.

2. As a parent, it is my responsibility to be in touch with the happenings of the district and how it impacts all of our children, and that is my primary interest in running for the Holden R-III School Board.  I have volunteered for many years in the community as well as in the schools.  Becoming a board member would allow me to take my civic responsibilities a step further and become part of the fact finding, decision making, and district communication.  I care about the district and want what is best for our children and the community.

3. One of the many assets I would bring to the board would be my professional qualifications as a certified project manager.  I have served as a project manager with Fortune 500 companies being responsible for multi-million dollar projects.  I believe these skills would be beneficial to the district as they too are presented with a wide array of projects involving significant amounts of funding and manpower.  I am also a board member of the Kansas City Mid-America Chapter of the Project Management Institute responsible for the professional development offerings for continuing certification credits.  A quality education is important in today's world.  It would be an honor to represent each and every student, parent, teacher and taxpayer of the Holden R-III School District by serving on the Holden R-III School Board.

4. The most recent issue of concern is the Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI) installment of grant funds.  It is not in the best interest of the district or the commissioner’s office to prolong the issue and hopefully an agreement will be reached quickly.  Regardless of the outcome, the district would be wise to document lessons learned on this and all projects to mitigate future issues.  Additionally, the district should thoroughly investigate the availability of all funds that could be provided through potential grants for any and all district initiatives.

1. Joseph Burnor, Holden resident for more than nine years, father of three children in the Holden School District, Syerra, Jessica and Andrew.  I have a B.S. degree in management and HR at Mid America Nazarene University and more than 15 years experience in marketing and management previously with Verizon Business/MCI.

2. My decision to run is based on my long-term commitment to our community and my desire to play an active role in a large influential part of my children’s life education.  I am extremely excited about the prospect of serving on the Holden School Board and working hard to make sure that all our children leave the district fully prepared to handle the challenges that await them in high school, college, and beyond.  This will allow me the opportunity to give back to the community while being a voice for parents, teachers and students.

3. I have more than 20 years experience in management, marketing, training and my knowledge of the school will allow me to be a positive influence to the school and the school board.  I have previously owned my own business and am currently involved in many fundraising and civic groups.  I believe it is important for the board to work with the community, teachers, administration, parents and students to make sure we create a great school environment and my experience will help facilitate that.

4. I don’t have an agenda, I just want to help the people of the district and to  make sure their issues can be addressed.  There are mounting issues in today’s school system such as teacher pay, high stakes testing, behavior issues, school funding and continual change in legislature.  There are no simple answers, but educating oneself, raising awareness and becoming involved allows one to affect changes in a positive way.  I believe the main goal would be to provide an environment of encouragement, support and understanding to enable each child the opportunity to develop his/her full potential.  I have a vested interest in the future of our school district.  I understand the necessity of working together as a board in order to improve our students’ learning process.  Having a strong, educated and cohesive school board with a demonstrated commitment to the community of Holden will be vital to the future of the school district.  For such a board or commission to be successful, one must be willing to review the issues, understand the parameters of the decisions, and come to appreciate the fact that he or she is one vote of seven people.  I believe the school board has a responsibility to the community, the students, faculty and the parents to ensure that every student is supported and receives the best education possible.

By Steve Sullins
Editor