From the Riley County Clerk's Office: Precincts Reporting 59 of 59

Registered Voters: 36,130 Ballots cast: 7,594 Voter Turnout: 21.02%

Leonardville City Mayor(vote for 1) - Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Christopher Shoults - 42 Write-in totals - 25

Leonardville City Council(vote for 3) - Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Jeff Bulk - 62 Merlene Hougland - 51 Larry Wendland - 48 Write-in totals - 24

Manhattan City Commissioners(vote for 4) -&nbsp;- Precincts Reporting - 40 of 40 Susan E. Adamchak - 3,588 Darquel W. Brown - 562 Rosemary Crumly-Loucks - 1,525 Mark J. Hatesohl - 2,876 Connor W. Knightley - 1,091 John E. Matta - 3,022 Karen McCulloh - 3,543 Peter Oppelt - 3,119 Rafael Rodriguez Jr. - 1,072 Write-in totals - 107

Ogden City Mayor(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Robert R. Pence - 104 Write-in totals - 19

Ogden City Council(vote for 5)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Jonathan Anschutz - 36 Ed Burch - 101 Kenneth W. Carroll - 54 Kirk D. Crabtree - 44 Richard Lyle Foster - 45 Allan Guatemala - 42 James E. Pettay - 43 Eladio D. Reid, Jr. - 95 Derek R. Shepard - 48 Write-in totals - 9

Randolph City Mayor(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 No Candidate Filed - 0 Write-in totals - 27

Randolph City Council(vote for 5)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 No Candidates - 0 Write-in totals - 94

Riley City Mayor(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Darci Pottroff - 110 Write-in totals - 8

Riley City Council(vote for 2)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 William Isom - 107 Write-in totals - 30

USD 378 Riley County Position 1(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 11 of 11 Jarred E. Anderes - 581 Write-in totals - 7

USD 378 Riley County Position 2(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 11 of 11 James L. Greer - 529 Write-in totals - 18

USD 378 Riley County Position 3(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 11 of 11 Jeffrey D. Hancock - 316 Sara Wahlmeier-Cox - 242 Write-in totals - 6

USD 378 Riley County Position 7 At Large(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 11 of 11 Shane T. Eslit - 533 Write-in totals - 11

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden At Large(vote for 4) - Precincts Reporting - 48 of 48 Katie Allen - 3,492 Frank Beer - 2,412 Kristin Brighton - 3,779 Robert Busby - 2, 277 Andrea Engelken Cervenka - 1,384 Nolan R. Foth - 278 Curt Herrman - 2,583 Courtney Jane Hochman - 2,279 Greg Hoyt - 3,224 Audrey E. Swartz - 1,000 Write-in totals - 60

USD 384 Randolph District 1 Position 1(Vote for 1) Precincts reporting 5 of 5 Jason M Anderson - 13 Jason M. Hartman - 46 Tim Pfaff -36 Write-in totals - 0

USD 384 Randolph District 2 Position 2(Vote for 1) Precincts reporting 2 of 2 Drew Taylor - 69 Write-in totals - 5

USD 384 Randolph 1 Position 7 At Large(Vote for 1) Precincts reporting 6 of 6 Autumn Cercone - 145 Write-in Totals - 8

Director of Blue River Hills Improvement Dist.(vote for 3) Precincts reporting 2 of 2 Crystal Adolph - 10 Dawn Belville - 10 Jessica Mauck - 10 Write-in totals - 3

Director of University Park Improvement Dist(vote for 3) Precincts reporting - 1 of 1 Sarah Dahl - 33 Danielle Maple - 3 James Slaymaker - 36 Jo Ann Zahner - 38 Write-in totals - 15

From the Riley County Clerk's Office: Precincts Reporting 59 of 59Registered Voters: 36,130 Ballots cast: 7,594 Voter Turnout: 21.02%Leonardville City Mayor(vote for 1) - Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Christopher Shoults - 42 Write-in totals - 25Leonardville City Council(vote for 3) - Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Jeff Bulk - 62 Merlene Hougland - 51 Larry Wendland - 48 Write-in totals - 24Manhattan City Commissioners(vote for 4) -&nbsp;- Precincts Reporting - 40 of 40 Susan E. Adamchak - 3,588 Darquel W. Brown - 562 Rosemary Crumly-Loucks - 1,525 Mark J. Hatesohl - 2,876 Connor W. Knightley - 1,091 John E. Matta - 3,022 Karen McCulloh - 3,543 Peter Oppelt - 3,119 Rafael Rodriguez Jr. - 1,072 Write-in totals - 107Ogden City Mayor(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Robert R. Pence - 104 Write-in totals - 19Ogden City Council(vote for 5)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Jonathan Anschutz - 36 Ed Burch - 101 Kenneth W. Carroll - 54 Kirk D. Crabtree - 44 Richard Lyle Foster - 45 Allan Guatemala - 42 James E. Pettay - 43 Eladio D. Reid, Jr. - 95 Derek R. Shepard - 48 Write-in totals - 9Randolph City Mayor(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 No Candidate Filed - 0 Write-in totals - 27Randolph City Council(vote for 5)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 No Candidates - 0 Write-in totals - 94Riley City Mayor(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 Darci Pottroff - 110 Write-in totals - 8Riley City Council(vote for 2)- Precincts Reporting - 1 of 1 William Isom - 107 Write-in totals - 30USD 378 Riley County Position 1(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 11 of 11 Jarred E. Anderes - 581 Write-in totals - 7USD 378 Riley County Position 2(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 11 of 11 James L. Greer - 529 Write-in totals - 18USD 378 Riley County Position 3(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 11 of 11 Jeffrey D. Hancock - 316 Sara Wahlmeier-Cox - 242 Write-in totals - 6USD 378 Riley County Position 7 At Large(vote for 1)- Precincts Reporting - 11 of 11 Shane T. Eslit - 533 Write-in totals - 11USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden At Large(vote for 4) - Precincts Reporting - 48 of 48 Katie Allen - 3,492 Frank Beer - 2,412 Kristin Brighton - 3,779 Robert Busby - 2, 277 Andrea Engelken Cervenka - 1,384 Nolan R. Foth - 278 Curt Herrman - 2,583 Courtney Jane Hochman - 2,279 Greg Hoyt - 3,224 Audrey E. Swartz - 1,000 Write-in totals - 60USD 384 Randolph District 1 Position 1(Vote for 1) Precincts reporting 5 of 5 Jason M Anderson - 13 Jason M. Hartman - 46 Tim Pfaff -36 Write-in totals - 0USD 384 Randolph District 2 Position 2(Vote for 1) Precincts reporting 2 of 2 Drew Taylor - 69 Write-in totals - 5USD 384 Randolph 1 Position 7 At Large(Vote for 1) Precincts reporting 6 of 6 Autumn Cercone - 145 Write-in Totals - 8Director of Blue River Hills Improvement Dist.(vote for 3) Precincts reporting 2 of 2 Crystal Adolph - 10 Dawn Belville - 10 Jessica Mauck - 10 Write-in totals - 3Director of University Park Improvement Dist(vote for 3) Precincts reporting - 1 of 1 Sarah Dahl - 33 Danielle Maple - 3 James Slaymaker - 36 Jo Ann Zahner - 38 Write-in totals - 15

Unofficial 2023 Riley County General Election Results

No picture was submitted with this candidate's questionnaire response.

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.

Name: James E Pettay Age:&nbsp; 72 Occupation:&nbsp; Driver for Flint Hill ATA Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp; Yes,&nbsp; City Council

Why have you decided to run for this position?&nbsp;I ran for city council and running for re election to continue to try and improve the city overall.&nbsp; My first term &nbsp;has been &nbsp;a learning experience in what resources are available and what limitations stifle us from moving forward.

What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city council member?&nbsp;The biggest hurdle for all projects is the limited money available to take on any major improvements.&nbsp; The city has been aggressively pursuing a wide variety of grants from several sources.&nbsp; Approval of grants will dictate the what areas the money could be use to improve.&nbsp; Infrastructure is the one area that high on my list and on many other peoples.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sewer, Water, Storm Drains and Streets all need upgrades/modernization.

What are the top three issues you believe the city will face during your term, if elected?&nbsp;The Ogden Area Wide Plan which was recently submitted is pretty much in line of what I was thinking &nbsp;for making Ogden a model community.

Is there something you would like to see change about any city ordinance or program?&nbsp;City ordinances are to give guidance and directions in everyday operations of the city to insure a safe and properly run community.&nbsp;&nbsp; I personally to not favor over use to micro manage and having guidance that’s unenforceable.

No picture was submitted with this candidate's questionnaire response.Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.Name: James E Pettay Age:&nbsp; 72 Occupation:&nbsp; Driver for Flint Hill ATA Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp; Yes,&nbsp; City CouncilWhy have you decided to run for this position?&nbsp;I ran for city council and running for re election to continue to try and improve the city overall.&nbsp; My first term &nbsp;has been &nbsp;a learning experience in what resources are available and what limitations stifle us from moving forward.What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city council member?&nbsp;The biggest hurdle for all projects is the limited money available to take on any major improvements.&nbsp; The city has been aggressively pursuing a wide variety of grants from several sources.&nbsp; Approval of grants will dictate the what areas the money could be use to improve.&nbsp; Infrastructure is the one area that high on my list and on many other peoples.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sewer, Water, Storm Drains and Streets all need upgrades/modernization.What are the top three issues you believe the city will face during your term, if elected?&nbsp;The Ogden Area Wide Plan which was recently submitted is pretty much in line of what I was thinking &nbsp;for making Ogden a model community.Is there something you would like to see change about any city ordinance or program?&nbsp;City ordinances are to give guidance and directions in everyday operations of the city to insure a safe and properly run community.&nbsp;&nbsp; I personally to not favor over use to micro manage and having guidance that’s unenforceable.

Ogden City Council Candidate: James E Pettay

UPDATED to include Curt's responses, the original posting had the wrong responses in the story.

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;

NAME:&nbsp; Curt Herrman&nbsp; AGE: 62&nbsp; OCCUPATION: IT Director at a local bank&nbsp; INCUMBENT?: Yes (currently serving my 4th&nbsp;term)&nbsp; COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:&nbsp; USD383 Manhattan Ogden Board of Education.&nbsp; Kansas Association of School Boards Board of Directors.&nbsp; Founder and Board Member for the Kansas Education Leadership Institute.&nbsp; Founder and Chairperson for Walking the Heartland Heart Support Group.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Why are you running for school board?

Our schools are the heart of our community, shaping the future of our children and the foundation of our society. As a dedicated parent, an engaged community member, and an advocate for quality education, I am driven by a profound commitment to see our schools thrive.

I believe that every child deserves access to an excellent education, regardless of their background or circumstances. It's a belief that has fueled my involvement in various educational initiatives over the last 16 years. Now, as a candidate for re-election for the school board, I am ready to continue my commitment to our children, community, state, and nation.

Our schools face a range of challenges in these rapidly changing times. From recovering from the COVID slide to addressing the diverse needs of our students to the security of our schools.

I am running for the school board to ensure that our schools not only navigate these challenges but flourish in the face of them.

I bring a unique blend of skills and experience to this role. As a parent, I understand the hopes and concerns that families have for their children's education. As a community member, I have seen firsthand the impact that strong schools can have on the vibrancy of our community. And as someone who has worked closely with educators and administrators, I am acutely aware of the dedication and effort required to create a truly exceptional learning environment.

I am running for the school board because I am passionate about education, committed to our community's well-being, and resolute in my belief that by working together, we can build a school system that prepares our students for success and empowers them to become engaged, responsible citizens.

With your support, we can shape a brighter future for our children and create schools that we can all take pride in. Thank you for your trust, and I look forward to the journey ahead.

If re-elected to the school board, I will work tirelessly to support our staff to continue educating our children.

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?

Continue on the current path of parental involvement. That is CRITICAL in student success. Success in school starts in the home and we need to nurture that cooperation.

PTO’s and Site Councils are a great way for parents to get involved and volunteer at their schools.

That was one of the reasons that I got so involved with the district, as my parents were both educators and having them there in the schools gave me a lot of confidence as a student.

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?

I would like to see more focus on Career and Technical Education programs and opportunities. Other districts have CTE centers for this, but this is a very expensive task to take on.

There are some districts that have these programs where students receive a high school diploma and an associates degree on the same day as they walk across the graduation stage.

-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?

We have excellent leadership in our district. The DAT (District Administrative Team) meets monthly to discuss issues and share ideas. As well as brainstorming new concepts and ideas.

Eric Reid will be a fantastic leader. Marvin and Eric put together a fantastic team that will continue to move us into the future and guide our staff and students to excel in the world.

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?

The current school board is a well oiled machine that works well together. We don’t always agree with each other and that is what makes us such a great team. We can disagree without being disagreeable.

If the incumbents get re-elected, I could definitely continue to work with them.

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?

A school board members job is best described as a “forest watcher.” We sit in a tower over the forest and oversee the district. If we see a “fire” we provide the resources and guidance to put that fire out. Once a board member jump into action and tries to put the fire out, that board member loses her/his effectiveness. We are not experts in the education field, and we have a staff full of experts with advanced degrees who are best suited to put out the fires. The board should provide the resources for the district staff to excel at their jobs.

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses, groups or PACs outside of the school district?

I have not received money or in-kind donations from anyone, businesses, groups or PACs. We do not make party/political decisions, we make KID decisions.

UPDATED to include Curt's responses, the original posting had the wrong responses in the story.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698089605343.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;NAME:&nbsp; Curt Herrman&nbsp; AGE: 62&nbsp; OCCUPATION: IT Director at a local bank&nbsp; INCUMBENT?: Yes (currently serving my 4th&nbsp;term)&nbsp; COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:&nbsp; USD383 Manhattan Ogden Board of Education.&nbsp; Kansas Association of School Boards Board of Directors.&nbsp; Founder and Board Member for the Kansas Education Leadership Institute.&nbsp; Founder and Chairperson for Walking the Heartland Heart Support Group.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Why are you running for school board?Our schools are the heart of our community, shaping the future of our children and the foundation of our society. As a dedicated parent, an engaged community member, and an advocate for quality education, I am driven by a profound commitment to see our schools thrive.I believe that every child deserves access to an excellent education, regardless of their background or circumstances. It's a belief that has fueled my involvement in various educational initiatives over the last 16 years. Now, as a candidate for re-election for the school board, I am ready to continue my commitment to our children, community, state, and nation.Our schools face a range of challenges in these rapidly changing times. From recovering from the COVID slide to addressing the diverse needs of our students to the security of our schools.I am running for the school board to ensure that our schools not only navigate these challenges but flourish in the face of them.I bring a unique blend of skills and experience to this role. As a parent, I understand the hopes and concerns that families have for their children's education. As a community member, I have seen firsthand the impact that strong schools can have on the vibrancy of our community. And as someone who has worked closely with educators and administrators, I am acutely aware of the dedication and effort required to create a truly exceptional learning environment.I am running for the school board because I am passionate about education, committed to our community's well-being, and resolute in my belief that by working together, we can build a school system that prepares our students for success and empowers them to become engaged, responsible citizens.With your support, we can shape a brighter future for our children and create schools that we can all take pride in. Thank you for your trust, and I look forward to the journey ahead.If re-elected to the school board, I will work tirelessly to support our staff to continue educating our children.-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?Continue on the current path of parental involvement. That is CRITICAL in student success. Success in school starts in the home and we need to nurture that cooperation.PTO’s and Site Councils are a great way for parents to get involved and volunteer at their schools.That was one of the reasons that I got so involved with the district, as my parents were both educators and having them there in the schools gave me a lot of confidence as a student.-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?I would like to see more focus on Career and Technical Education programs and opportunities. Other districts have CTE centers for this, but this is a very expensive task to take on.There are some districts that have these programs where students receive a high school diploma and an associates degree on the same day as they walk across the graduation stage.-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?We have excellent leadership in our district. The DAT (District Administrative Team) meets monthly to discuss issues and share ideas. As well as brainstorming new concepts and ideas.Eric Reid will be a fantastic leader. Marvin and Eric put together a fantastic team that will continue to move us into the future and guide our staff and students to excel in the world.-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?The current school board is a well oiled machine that works well together. We don’t always agree with each other and that is what makes us such a great team. We can disagree without being disagreeable.If the incumbents get re-elected, I could definitely continue to work with them.-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?A school board members job is best described as a “forest watcher.” We sit in a tower over the forest and oversee the district. If we see a “fire” we provide the resources and guidance to put that fire out. Once a board member jump into action and tries to put the fire out, that board member loses her/his effectiveness. We are not experts in the education field, and we have a staff full of experts with advanced degrees who are best suited to put out the fires. The board should provide the resources for the district staff to excel at their jobs.-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses, groups or PACs outside of the school district?I have not received money or in-kind donations from anyone, businesses, groups or PACs. We do not make party/political decisions, we make KID decisions.

UPDATED: USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education Candidate: Curt Herrman

NAME: Christopher Shoults&nbsp; AGE: 65&nbsp; OCCUPATION: Self-employed. I teach Federal contracting professionals how to plan for, write, and manage multimillion-dollar contracts.&nbsp; INCUMBENT: No.&nbsp; COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Attend Alert Evangelical Church, Leonardville American Legion (treasurer), Leonardville Library Board (treasurer), Leonardville Pride (treasurer).&nbsp;

-Why have you decided to run for a position on the City Council/Mayor? If you are an incumbent, why did you decide to run for re-election?&nbsp;

Leonardville has not had a mayoral candidate on the ballot for a while. I believe that the community needs someone who wants this job. Additionally, I believe that the best government is a transparent government.&nbsp;

We currently do not have city ordinances readily available to the public other than going to City Hall and making a request. This is not transparency.&nbsp;

Our council meetings are open to the public, but it is difficult to hear what is being discussed and the minutes are not available until they are published in the paper nearly two months later. This is not transparency.&nbsp;

While I certainly do not believe that our current, or past, City Councils have done anything wrong, transparency can be improved. This, I hope, will encourage more residents to participate in building a prosperous community.&nbsp;

-What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city council member/mayor? If you are an incumbent, what experience/background has made you a good city council member/mayor?&nbsp;

I spent my adulthood working with and for the Federal Government – after 22 years, I retired from the Army, then I went into the Civil Service. In the Civil Service, I developed budgets, forecasted future needs, hired and fired personnel, and developed a wide variety of multimillion-dollar contracts. I have been a member of many Army and Department of Defense planning teams so I understand how bureaucracies work and how to accomplish goals even when members have competing agendas.&nbsp;

I hold a Master of Business Administration, so I understand how business works. Government is a business with the purpose of providing city services. These need to be effective and efficient, comply with Kansas and Federal laws, and decided in an open manner. Additionally, the Council’s actions need to be explained to the residents so that they can have confidence that everyone will be treated impartially.&nbsp;

-What are the top three issues you believe the city will face during your term, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;

Infrastructure: Routine issues that the city is responsible for are water, sewers, and roads. We need to ensure that these provide reliable service. These require regular monitoring. I believe that the current Council and City Staff are doing a fine job on this, but if we ever lose vigilance, we could have a serious problem in a short period of time.&nbsp;

Economic development: Like most small Kansas towns, Leonardville needs to attract new businesses. The City needs to work closely with organizations like the Leonardville Area Business Association and Pride to develop a strategic plan of what Leonardville will look like in 10-20 years. We need to review zoning to encourage companies to grow here.&nbsp;

Housing: Moving.com estimates that there are more than 300 houses in town, of which 50 are vacant. Some of these are likely no longer inhabitable. Very few of these properties are listed for sale. Run-down, empty homes do not make the city an inviting place to live. Our options are to build new housing developments, encourage the sale of these vacant properties, or stagnate as a town.&nbsp;

-What is the number one issue you plan to tackle, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;I do not think that there are any significant crises to be handled immediately but I believe that we need to develop a Strategic Plan like the Comprehensive Plan for Riley County. I will request volunteers (individuals and representatives of organizations) be appointed to review emergency procedures, ordinances, zoning, codes, communication plans, infrastructure, and internal procedures and policies. This review, conducted by a cross section of our community, can be used by the City Council to coordinate our actions for the benefit of the residents.&nbsp;

-Is there something you would like to see change about any city ordinance or program?&nbsp;I would like to see our city codes, ordinances, and procedures codified and available online. Currently, it is difficult to know what these are without going to City Hall and asking the City Clerk. As great as our clerk is, operating an information booth is among the less important duties.&nbsp;

No picture was submitted with this candidate's questionnaire response.Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;NAME: Christopher Shoults&nbsp; AGE: 65&nbsp; OCCUPATION: Self-employed. I teach Federal contracting professionals how to plan for, write, and manage multimillion-dollar contracts.&nbsp; INCUMBENT: No.&nbsp; COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Attend Alert Evangelical Church, Leonardville American Legion (treasurer), Leonardville Library Board (treasurer), Leonardville Pride (treasurer).&nbsp;-Why have you decided to run for a position on the City Council/Mayor? If you are an incumbent, why did you decide to run for re-election?&nbsp;Leonardville has not had a mayoral candidate on the ballot for a while. I believe that the community needs someone who wants this job. Additionally, I believe that the best government is a transparent government.&nbsp;We currently do not have city ordinances readily available to the public other than going to City Hall and making a request. This is not transparency.&nbsp;Our council meetings are open to the public, but it is difficult to hear what is being discussed and the minutes are not available until they are published in the paper nearly two months later. This is not transparency.&nbsp;While I certainly do not believe that our current, or past, City Councils have done anything wrong, transparency can be improved. This, I hope, will encourage more residents to participate in building a prosperous community.&nbsp;-What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city council member/mayor? If you are an incumbent, what experience/background has made you a good city council member/mayor?&nbsp;I spent my adulthood working with and for the Federal Government – after 22 years, I retired from the Army, then I went into the Civil Service. In the Civil Service, I developed budgets, forecasted future needs, hired and fired personnel, and developed a wide variety of multimillion-dollar contracts. I have been a member of many Army and Department of Defense planning teams so I understand how bureaucracies work and how to accomplish goals even when members have competing agendas.&nbsp;I hold a Master of Business Administration, so I understand how business works. Government is a business with the purpose of providing city services. These need to be effective and efficient, comply with Kansas and Federal laws, and decided in an open manner. Additionally, the Council’s actions need to be explained to the residents so that they can have confidence that everyone will be treated impartially.&nbsp;-What are the top three issues you believe the city will face during your term, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;Infrastructure: Routine issues that the city is responsible for are water, sewers, and roads. We need to ensure that these provide reliable service. These require regular monitoring. I believe that the current Council and City Staff are doing a fine job on this, but if we ever lose vigilance, we could have a serious problem in a short period of time.&nbsp;Economic development: Like most small Kansas towns, Leonardville needs to attract new businesses. The City needs to work closely with organizations like the Leonardville Area Business Association and Pride to develop a strategic plan of what Leonardville will look like in 10-20 years. We need to review zoning to encourage companies to grow here.&nbsp;Housing: Moving.com estimates that there are more than 300 houses in town, of which 50 are vacant. Some of these are likely no longer inhabitable. Very few of these properties are listed for sale. Run-down, empty homes do not make the city an inviting place to live. Our options are to build new housing developments, encourage the sale of these vacant properties, or stagnate as a town.&nbsp;-What is the number one issue you plan to tackle, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;I do not think that there are any significant crises to be handled immediately but I believe that we need to develop a Strategic Plan like the Comprehensive Plan for Riley County. I will request volunteers (individuals and representatives of organizations) be appointed to review emergency procedures, ordinances, zoning, codes, communication plans, infrastructure, and internal procedures and policies. This review, conducted by a cross section of our community, can be used by the City Council to coordinate our actions for the benefit of the residents.&nbsp;-Is there something you would like to see change about any city ordinance or program?&nbsp;I would like to see our city codes, ordinances, and procedures codified and available online. Currently, it is difficult to know what these are without going to City Hall and asking the City Clerk. As great as our clerk is, operating an information booth is among the less important duties.&nbsp;

City of Leonardville Mayor Candidate: Christopher Shoults

Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Jason M. Hartman Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;47 Profession:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;State Forester, Kansas Forest Service Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;I am currently the Board Member for USD 384 District 1, Position 1 and also Board President. Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 384&nbsp;Blue Valley schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;My oldest graduated from BVHS in May of 2023, and my wife and I currently have a son that is a Junior at BVHS, and a son in 8th grade at BVMS.

-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;Five years ago, I was asked to fill a vacated Board of Education (BOE) position at the request of a current board member and a friend of mine. After an interview, I was appointed to the vacated position. Currently I am serving as the USD 384 BOE President and it’s an honor to serve the Blue Valley Community. There have been some significate challenges in the past five years, and I am confident that the district is turning the corner. I am seeking one more term on the Blue Valley School Board to continue working together with the new administration, teachers, parents, and community to make USD 384 even better yet.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?Engagement and listening are crucial components to achieving collaboration. Parents, citizens, educators, staff, administration, and students all have to be active participants in the sharing of information regarding what is happening and what needs to happen in the schools. Then, once information is shared through active engagement, the next step is active listening. Everyone involved, but especially the Board and the Administration need to listen to the input provided by an engaged public to guide the decision of the District. Once the public sees proof that we as a Board have actively listened to their input, that builds trust and will increase the level of engagement and therefore collaboration.-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 384&nbsp;school district, what would it be?&nbsp;Being a small school district is one of the best things we have going for the good of our students. However, it adds a constant sense of financial uncertainty. If I could change one thing it would be to maintain the caring family atmosphere of our small district but&nbsp;not have the financial uncertainty that goes along with it.

-What is your opinion of the USD 384&nbsp;administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I am very excited for the Administrative team that we have this year. Two of the three of them are new to our district, that being the Superintendent/Middle School Principal and the Elementary Principal. The third, our High School Principal has been a teacher and administrator in the district for several years. Combined they bring a good mix of energy and new ideas to go along with a respect for the values that Blue Valley has always been about.I feel that myself and the other current Board members have established a working trust that helps us work together quite well. If I were to be re-elected I feel that I will continue to be able to work with the Administration very well.&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I have worked with some of the Board members for five years, others for just a couple years. In all cases I feel that all the Board members I have served with focus on what is best for our students and keep in mind that it is taxpayer funding that we are trusted to manage. We don't always 100% agree on every issue, but I have never had a time where we were not all able to hear each other's opinions and find solutions that we all could settle on. If I have the privilege to continue as a Board member and President all Board members will continue to respect the views of each other and work to find solutions that are in the best interest of our students and taxpayers.

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;As a member of the Board of Education, I feel that it is my responsibility to help guide the administration in making decisions that align with the morals and values of my constituents. Listening to our parents and community members, I believe we are united with our priorities being our students and ensuring that they have every opportunity to succeed. This includes making sure we have the facilities, teachers, and staff to help make that a reality. As the board we must set these parameters and then trust the administration to execute them in the day-to-day decisions. While trusting most of the day-to-day to the administration and staff we also are still responsible for accountability and need to make sure our priorities are carried out in a fiscally responsible manner. None of this can be achieved without the board, administration, and staff being willing to communicate with parents and patrons in a timely and consistent manner.

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district? No, I have not.

No picture was submitted with this candidate's questionnaire response.Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Jason M. Hartman Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;47 Profession:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;State Forester, Kansas Forest Service Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;I am currently the Board Member for USD 384 District 1, Position 1 and also Board President. Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 384&nbsp;Blue Valley schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;My oldest graduated from BVHS in May of 2023, and my wife and I currently have a son that is a Junior at BVHS, and a son in 8th grade at BVMS.-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;Five years ago, I was asked to fill a vacated Board of Education (BOE) position at the request of a current board member and a friend of mine. After an interview, I was appointed to the vacated position. Currently I am serving as the USD 384 BOE President and it’s an honor to serve the Blue Valley Community. There have been some significate challenges in the past five years, and I am confident that the district is turning the corner. I am seeking one more term on the Blue Valley School Board to continue working together with the new administration, teachers, parents, and community to make USD 384 even better yet.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?Engagement and listening are crucial components to achieving collaboration. Parents, citizens, educators, staff, administration, and students all have to be active participants in the sharing of information regarding what is happening and what needs to happen in the schools. Then, once information is shared through active engagement, the next step is active listening. Everyone involved, but especially the Board and the Administration need to listen to the input provided by an engaged public to guide the decision of the District. Once the public sees proof that we as a Board have actively listened to their input, that builds trust and will increase the level of engagement and therefore collaboration.-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 384&nbsp;school district, what would it be?&nbsp;Being a small school district is one of the best things we have going for the good of our students. However, it adds a constant sense of financial uncertainty. If I could change one thing it would be to maintain the caring family atmosphere of our small district but&nbsp;not have the financial uncertainty that goes along with it.-What is your opinion of the USD 384&nbsp;administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I am very excited for the Administrative team that we have this year. Two of the three of them are new to our district, that being the Superintendent/Middle School Principal and the Elementary Principal. The third, our High School Principal has been a teacher and administrator in the district for several years. Combined they bring a good mix of energy and new ideas to go along with a respect for the values that Blue Valley has always been about.I feel that myself and the other current Board members have established a working trust that helps us work together quite well. If I were to be re-elected I feel that I will continue to be able to work with the Administration very well.&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I have worked with some of the Board members for five years, others for just a couple years. In all cases I feel that all the Board members I have served with focus on what is best for our students and keep in mind that it is taxpayer funding that we are trusted to manage. We don't always 100% agree on every issue, but I have never had a time where we were not all able to hear each other's opinions and find solutions that we all could settle on. If I have the privilege to continue as a Board member and President all Board members will continue to respect the views of each other and work to find solutions that are in the best interest of our students and taxpayers.-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;As a member of the Board of Education, I feel that it is my responsibility to help guide the administration in making decisions that align with the morals and values of my constituents. Listening to our parents and community members, I believe we are united with our priorities being our students and ensuring that they have every opportunity to succeed. This includes making sure we have the facilities, teachers, and staff to help make that a reality. As the board we must set these parameters and then trust the administration to execute them in the day-to-day decisions. While trusting most of the day-to-day to the administration and staff we also are still responsible for accountability and need to make sure our priorities are carried out in a fiscally responsible manner. None of this can be achieved without the board, administration, and staff being willing to communicate with parents and patrons in a timely and consistent manner.-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district? No, I have not.

USD 384 Blue Valley-Randolph Board of Education Candidate: Jason Hartman

Name: Robert Pence Age: 55 Occupation: Manager at Napa Auto Parts Incumbent: Running for re-election (mayor)

-Why have you decided to run for a position on the City Council/Mayor?&nbsp;If you are an incumbent, why did you decide to run for re-election?&nbsp;

-What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city council member/mayor?&nbsp;If you are an incumbent, what experience/background has made you a good city council member/mayor?&nbsp;

-What are the top three issues you believe the city will face&nbsp;during your term, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What is the number one issue you plan to tackle, if&nbsp;elected/re-elected?&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Is there something you would like to see change about any city ordinance or program?&nbsp;

Response from Robert Pence:&nbsp;I am pretty much a lifetime resident of Ogden, I am running for re-election because there are several unfinished projects that I would like to see finished,&nbsp;Riley Ave being the biggest. I have been the mayor for 13 years and I know first hand the financial issues that the city has and are still dealing with. The council and myself have&nbsp; worked diligently to keep the budget in check and thankfully we have done that the last several years without having to raise the mill levy. We are not there yet but there is light at the end of the tunnel. With that being said, Riley Ave. has been the biggest point of contention recently. We have installed pedestrian lights and bulb outs to help alleviate part of the issue but there is some redesigning and funding to hopefully help with the issues. I have been a resident of Ogden for 47 of my 55 years. I love this town and the people in it. I&nbsp; will always have the best interests of the town in mind when things need or should be done. I want to thank all for the encouragement and support the last 13 years.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698156242814.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name: Robert Pence Age: 55 Occupation: Manager at Napa Auto Parts Incumbent: Running for re-election (mayor)-Why have you decided to run for a position on the City Council/Mayor?&nbsp;If you are an incumbent, why did you decide to run for re-election?&nbsp;-What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city council member/mayor?&nbsp;If you are an incumbent, what experience/background has made you a good city council member/mayor?&nbsp;-What are the top three issues you believe the city will face&nbsp;during your term, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is the number one issue you plan to tackle, if&nbsp;elected/re-elected?&nbsp;&nbsp;-Is there something you would like to see change about any city ordinance or program?&nbsp;Response from Robert Pence:&nbsp;I am pretty much a lifetime resident of Ogden, I am running for re-election because there are several unfinished projects that I would like to see finished,&nbsp;Riley Ave being the biggest. I have been the mayor for 13 years and I know first hand the financial issues that the city has and are still dealing with. The council and myself have&nbsp; worked diligently to keep the budget in check and thankfully we have done that the last several years without having to raise the mill levy. We are not there yet but there is light at the end of the tunnel. With that being said, Riley Ave. has been the biggest point of contention recently. We have installed pedestrian lights and bulb outs to help alleviate part of the issue but there is some redesigning and funding to hopefully help with the issues. I have been a resident of Ogden for 47 of my 55 years. I love this town and the people in it. I&nbsp; will always have the best interests of the town in mind when things need or should be done. I want to thank all for the encouragement and support the last 13 years.&nbsp;

City of Ogden Mayor Candidate: Robert Pence

Name: Frank Beer Age: Occupation: Incumbent: Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?

-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I am running on these three pillars.&nbsp;

1. Parents First.&nbsp; I realize that children are most important, but in the parent/teacher/school partnership educating them it needs to be understood that the parent is the senior partner.&nbsp;

2. Wise Budgets.&nbsp; The recent 14% increase in property taxes from the school district was passed with little to no discussion by the board in public.&nbsp; It may very well have been needed, but what the additional funds are directed to should have been discussed by the board.&nbsp; As it was, the increase was approved without that accounting to the taxpayers so we will never know for sure.&nbsp;

3.&nbsp;Proper Mission.&nbsp; The focus needs to be on education of the core curriculum without undue distractions from non-core issues.&nbsp; While there will always be a "building good citizens" experience with kids in our schools, we do not want side issues distract from the academic education our kids deserve.&nbsp;

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators? Total transparency between the district and parents is key to this process.&nbsp; Making sure that parents are fully plugged into their children's education should be a priority.&nbsp; The Parent and Student Square communication system that has been implemented is a great step towards doing so.&nbsp; It is an electronic communication program between the school&nbsp;district staff and students/parents.&nbsp; Questions will arise when there's even an appearance of a lack of transparency.&nbsp; But having full transparency is paramount to an involved and invested community.&nbsp; Being in a university town always brings challenges to community involvement.&nbsp; But having a positive and upbeat approach to an all-in communication policy between the district/staff and parents/citizens can produce great results.&nbsp; This needs to be a priority, and I believe the tools are there to do so.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be? I would like to see a discussion on removing cell phones from the classroom for both students and staff.&nbsp; I believe this may cause the largest single distraction that we face.&nbsp; I know that various schools and classrooms have been trying varying degrees of this, but I believe there should be a discussion about that being done system wide.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I believe that we have great administrative staff in place.&nbsp; I trust that they will work with the board well in every respect and that the board will work well with them.&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board? I have no doubt that I will be able to work with whatever individuals make up the next school board.&nbsp; It is imperative that this be the case if we are to have a thriving district.&nbsp; I have publicly questioned the lack of public discussion regarding issues such as the budget.&nbsp; But this is easily fixed by engaging with administrative staff and my fellow board members during board meetings.&nbsp; I will not promise to always agree with my fellow board members on policy and spending decisions.&nbsp; But I know for a fact that we can be agreeable in having those robust discussions.&nbsp;

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;&nbsp;If the board is doing it's job properly it should set the general policy and goals for the district and charge the administration with seeing that through.&nbsp; If situations arise where the board's wishes are not being met it should rely on a strong administration staff to rectify those situations.&nbsp;

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district? No I have not.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698095339286.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name: Frank Beer Age: Occupation: Incumbent: Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools? -Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I am running on these three pillars.&nbsp;1. Parents First.&nbsp; I realize that children are most important, but in the parent/teacher/school partnership educating them it needs to be understood that the parent is the senior partner.&nbsp;2. Wise Budgets.&nbsp; The recent 14% increase in property taxes from the school district was passed with little to no discussion by the board in public.&nbsp; It may very well have been needed, but what the additional funds are directed to should have been discussed by the board.&nbsp; As it was, the increase was approved without that accounting to the taxpayers so we will never know for sure.&nbsp;3.&nbsp;Proper Mission.&nbsp; The focus needs to be on education of the core curriculum without undue distractions from non-core issues.&nbsp; While there will always be a "building good citizens" experience with kids in our schools, we do not want side issues distract from the academic education our kids deserve.&nbsp;-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators? Total transparency between the district and parents is key to this process.&nbsp; Making sure that parents are fully plugged into their children's education should be a priority.&nbsp; The Parent and Student Square communication system that has been implemented is a great step towards doing so.&nbsp; It is an electronic communication program between the school&nbsp;district staff and students/parents.&nbsp; Questions will arise when there's even an appearance of a lack of transparency.&nbsp; But having full transparency is paramount to an involved and invested community.&nbsp; Being in a university town always brings challenges to community involvement.&nbsp; But having a positive and upbeat approach to an all-in communication policy between the district/staff and parents/citizens can produce great results.&nbsp; This needs to be a priority, and I believe the tools are there to do so.&nbsp;&nbsp;-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be? I would like to see a discussion on removing cell phones from the classroom for both students and staff.&nbsp; I believe this may cause the largest single distraction that we face.&nbsp; I know that various schools and classrooms have been trying varying degrees of this, but I believe there should be a discussion about that being done system wide.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I believe that we have great administrative staff in place.&nbsp; I trust that they will work with the board well in every respect and that the board will work well with them.&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board? I have no doubt that I will be able to work with whatever individuals make up the next school board.&nbsp; It is imperative that this be the case if we are to have a thriving district.&nbsp; I have publicly questioned the lack of public discussion regarding issues such as the budget.&nbsp; But this is easily fixed by engaging with administrative staff and my fellow board members during board meetings.&nbsp; I will not promise to always agree with my fellow board members on policy and spending decisions.&nbsp; But I know for a fact that we can be agreeable in having those robust discussions.&nbsp;-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;&nbsp;If the board is doing it's job properly it should set the general policy and goals for the district and charge the administration with seeing that through.&nbsp; If situations arise where the board's wishes are not being met it should rely on a strong administration staff to rectify those situations.&nbsp;-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district? No I have not.&nbsp;

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education Candidate: Frank Beer

Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Greg Hoyt Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;59 Profession:&nbsp;Coach at The Medicare Coach Incumbent: No Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;2 grandchildren

-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I believe strongly in civic duty, and I believe that my experience as a 31-year educator in this district positions me to be a thoughtful, measured member of the 383 Board of Education.

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;Engagement of stakeholders is vital to the success of school districts. There are already many things being done to invite participation and collaboration. I don't know that I would&nbsp;do anything different than what is currently done. Board meetings are open to the public and there is always an opportunity to address the board.&nbsp;

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;&nbsp;I am not out to implement change necessarily, although I will listen intently to ideas that are brought forth by others. I am not running to implement any specific change.

-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;&nbsp;I know Mr. Reid quite well, and know most of the education center staff and I have immense respect for them and their character and integrity. I have no doubt that I can work with them moving forward.

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;&nbsp;I believe in diverse perspectives and opinions. I really wish that our Board were a little more ethnically diverse, but my opinion is that the current board members are dedicated to improving the educational experience for our students and families. I believe in the democratic process, which means that if I am on the losing side of a 4-3, 5-2, or 6-1 vote I will support fully the decision of the board.

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;&nbsp;The board has one employee, the Superintendent of Schools. The board ultimately levies taxes that pay salaries for professionals to run the district on a daily basis. This is NOT the role of a board member.&nbsp;

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;have received no money from any individual, group, business, PAC, or any other entity.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698153485812.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Greg Hoyt Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;59 Profession:&nbsp;Coach at The Medicare Coach Incumbent: No Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;2 grandchildren-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I believe strongly in civic duty, and I believe that my experience as a 31-year educator in this district positions me to be a thoughtful, measured member of the 383 Board of Education.-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;Engagement of stakeholders is vital to the success of school districts. There are already many things being done to invite participation and collaboration. I don't know that I would&nbsp;do anything different than what is currently done. Board meetings are open to the public and there is always an opportunity to address the board.&nbsp;-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;&nbsp;I am not out to implement change necessarily, although I will listen intently to ideas that are brought forth by others. I am not running to implement any specific change.-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;&nbsp;I know Mr. Reid quite well, and know most of the education center staff and I have immense respect for them and their character and integrity. I have no doubt that I can work with them moving forward.-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;&nbsp;I believe in diverse perspectives and opinions. I really wish that our Board were a little more ethnically diverse, but my opinion is that the current board members are dedicated to improving the educational experience for our students and families. I believe in the democratic process, which means that if I am on the losing side of a 4-3, 5-2, or 6-1 vote I will support fully the decision of the board.-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;&nbsp;The board has one employee, the Superintendent of Schools. The board ultimately levies taxes that pay salaries for professionals to run the district on a daily basis. This is NOT the role of a board member.&nbsp;-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;have received no money from any individual, group, business, PAC, or any other entity.&nbsp;

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education Candidate: Greg Hoyt

NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp; Darci Pottroff AGE:&nbsp; 61 OCCUPATION:&nbsp; Director of Application Services, Kansas State University&nbsp; INCUMBENT:&nbsp; yes, by way of departure of previous mayor COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:&nbsp;member of Riley Pride and will be actively involved in the City of Riley Community Building committe, as well as in the new foundation being established, the Rural Riley County Community Foundation. Also very supportive of kids who are doing fund raisers.

-Why have you decided to run for a position on the City Council/Mayor? If you are an incumbent, why did you decide to run for re-election? I became mayor after the previous mayor moved from the city of Riley to the country. As the council president, I became the new mayor. I chose to run for mayor because I do not feel I am done with the initiatives that have been started.

-What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city council member/mayor? If you are an incumbent, what experience/background has made you a good city council member/mayor?&nbsp;I have held 2 positions on city council, beginning in 2015, then this year as mayor. In my opinion, what it takes to be a good council member/mayor is caring about the city, wanting to be a part of change happening, and simply being interested in what is happening locally.&nbsp;

-What are the top three issues you believe the city will face during your term, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;Issues/opportunities include risk reduction and getting the municipal court started, working with the newly formed foundation for city betterment, and listening to community members and doing what we can to help the city prosper.

-What is the number one issue you plan to tackle, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;Risk reduction around the city by enforcing/following our ordinances.

-Is there something you would like to see change about any city ordinance or program?&nbsp;We will continue to review and address any ordinance and/or program as we see the need.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698093118369.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp; Darci Pottroff AGE:&nbsp; 61 OCCUPATION:&nbsp; Director of Application Services, Kansas State University&nbsp; INCUMBENT:&nbsp; yes, by way of departure of previous mayor COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:&nbsp;member of Riley Pride and will be actively involved in the City of Riley Community Building committe, as well as in the new foundation being established, the Rural Riley County Community Foundation. Also very supportive of kids who are doing fund raisers.-Why have you decided to run for a position on the City Council/Mayor? If you are an incumbent, why did you decide to run for re-election? I became mayor after the previous mayor moved from the city of Riley to the country. As the council president, I became the new mayor. I chose to run for mayor because I do not feel I am done with the initiatives that have been started.-What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city council member/mayor? If you are an incumbent, what experience/background has made you a good city council member/mayor?&nbsp;I have held 2 positions on city council, beginning in 2015, then this year as mayor. In my opinion, what it takes to be a good council member/mayor is caring about the city, wanting to be a part of change happening, and simply being interested in what is happening locally.&nbsp;-What are the top three issues you believe the city will face during your term, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;Issues/opportunities include risk reduction and getting the municipal court started, working with the newly formed foundation for city betterment, and listening to community members and doing what we can to help the city prosper.-What is the number one issue you plan to tackle, if elected/re-elected?&nbsp;Risk reduction around the city by enforcing/following our ordinances.-Is there something you would like to see change about any city ordinance or program?&nbsp;We will continue to review and address any ordinance and/or program as we see the need.

City of Riley Mayor Candidate: Darci Pottroff

Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Sara Wahlmeier-Cox&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;42 Profession:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Office Manager Incumbent:&nbsp; No Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 378 Riley County schools? Yes, she is a Junior.

-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I have a personal interest in pursuing the Board Seat because my daughter attends Riley County High School. I would like to be more involved and feel a well-functioning school district is the foundation for a sound education to prepare students for their future, no matter what path they choose.

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;To encourage the&nbsp;parents, citizens, and educators to work as a team to better educate our youth.

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 378&nbsp;school district, what would it be?&nbsp;To get parents more actively involved in their student’s education.

-What is your opinion of the USD 378&nbsp;administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I think they are doing a great job and would be easy to work with.

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I believe the school board is adequate, however there have been some decisions made that I feel are questionable.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am running for school board to offer a new perspective.&nbsp;&nbsp;I would work well with the incumbent board members and feel that they would appreciate what I can bring to the board.

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;The day to day operations of the school is run by the superintendent of schools and its administration.

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;No

No picture was submitted with this candidate's questionnaire response.Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Sara Wahlmeier-Cox&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;42 Profession:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Office Manager Incumbent:&nbsp; No Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 378 Riley County schools? Yes, she is a Junior.-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I have a personal interest in pursuing the Board Seat because my daughter attends Riley County High School. I would like to be more involved and feel a well-functioning school district is the foundation for a sound education to prepare students for their future, no matter what path they choose.-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;To encourage the&nbsp;parents, citizens, and educators to work as a team to better educate our youth.-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 378&nbsp;school district, what would it be?&nbsp;To get parents more actively involved in their student’s education.-What is your opinion of the USD 378&nbsp;administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I think they are doing a great job and would be easy to work with.-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I believe the school board is adequate, however there have been some decisions made that I feel are questionable.&nbsp;&nbsp;I am running for school board to offer a new perspective.&nbsp;&nbsp;I would work well with the incumbent board members and feel that they would appreciate what I can bring to the board.-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;The day to day operations of the school is run by the superintendent of schools and its administration.-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;No

USD 378 Riley County Board of Education Pos. 3 Candidate: Sara Wahlmeier Cox

Name:&nbsp; Audrey Swartz&nbsp; Age:&nbsp; 39&nbsp; Profession: &nbsp; Librarian&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp; no&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?&nbsp; Yes, 2 daughters.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;&nbsp;I am running because I want to make sure our children get the highest quality education we can possibly provide them. I want all our students and staff to feel welcome and supported within the district. One very effective way to do that is to be on the school board.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;I would love to see more meet and greets with board members and all community members. We need to be able to make ourselves available, outside our scheduled meetings, to meet with people and discuss their concerns and bring them back to all members. We need to be willing to have these hard conversations with the community and actively engage in events, be them community or school related. I want to sit down and talk and find solutions together.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;The mascot.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I feel that the current administration is doing the best they can with what has been provided to them and look forward to working with them on moving the district forward.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;Again, I believe the current board is doing the best with what they have. I feel moving forward that I would be able to come to compromises with other members as long as we are all willing to listen and understand each other and are willing to move forward for the students.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;I think we should be very aware of the day to day of the schools and district. The only way we can address concerns or celebrate wins is if we know what is going on when &amp; where. With this however we have to be cautious not to micromanage, only stepping in when appropriate to do so or asked to.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses, groups or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp; Yes, I have received money from friends and family who are located outside of the district.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698090391968.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp; Audrey Swartz&nbsp; Age:&nbsp; 39&nbsp; Profession: &nbsp; Librarian&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp; no&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?&nbsp; Yes, 2 daughters.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;&nbsp;I am running because I want to make sure our children get the highest quality education we can possibly provide them. I want all our students and staff to feel welcome and supported within the district. One very effective way to do that is to be on the school board.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;I would love to see more meet and greets with board members and all community members. We need to be able to make ourselves available, outside our scheduled meetings, to meet with people and discuss their concerns and bring them back to all members. We need to be willing to have these hard conversations with the community and actively engage in events, be them community or school related. I want to sit down and talk and find solutions together.&nbsp;&nbsp;-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;The mascot.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I feel that the current administration is doing the best they can with what has been provided to them and look forward to working with them on moving the district forward.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;Again, I believe the current board is doing the best with what they have. I feel moving forward that I would be able to come to compromises with other members as long as we are all willing to listen and understand each other and are willing to move forward for the students.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;I think we should be very aware of the day to day of the schools and district. The only way we can address concerns or celebrate wins is if we know what is going on when &amp; where. With this however we have to be cautious not to micromanage, only stepping in when appropriate to do so or asked to.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses, groups or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp; Yes, I have received money from friends and family who are located outside of the district.&nbsp;

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education Candidate: Audrey Swartz

NAME:&nbsp; Rosemary CrumlyLoucks&nbsp; AGE:&nbsp; 73&nbsp; OCCUPATION:&nbsp; Retired&nbsp; INCUMBENT:&nbsp; &nbsp;No&nbsp; COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:&nbsp;Sorry, I had been working for so long I never really got involved with community&nbsp; service.&nbsp; I finished my bachelors in 2005.&nbsp; I have tried to be active in Trinity Baptist Church and now the Wamego Council of Churches.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Why have you decided to run for a position on the City Commission?&nbsp;If you are an incumbent, why did you decide to run for re-election? I am running because it seems no one was listening to the people&nbsp; About two years ago there was a proposed sales increase in the City of Manhattan.&nbsp; It was to fund 8 projects the increase was voted down.&nbsp; Yet 4 of the 8 projects have been or are near completion.&nbsp; To of the four were partly funded by federal dollars.&nbsp; One of the projects is intended to eliminate the flooding in Manhattan.&nbsp; From what I have seen it is going to increase the problem of flooding&nbsp;in the Dix Addition and Northview.&nbsp; I want your voice heard. I want to stand for what is right and to keep our community one that all would like to raise their family in.&nbsp;

&nbsp;-What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city commissioner?&nbsp;If you are an incumbent, what experience/background has made you a good city commissioner? I have over fifty years of various careers.&nbsp; I have worked in the medical field, I worked in Abstracting for five years.&nbsp; I moved from abstracting to a Paralegal for Legal Services of Eastern Oklahoma.&nbsp; While there I carried a caseload of 125 cases related to social service benefits and Landlord Tenant.&nbsp; I worked for the Muskogee County District Attorney as Office Manager and Case Worker in the Child Support Division.&nbsp; I married and moved to the Republic of Panama where I worked for the Air Force compiling data on aircraft repairs. Coming back to the US in worked for the Army at Fort Monroe, Va.&nbsp; We then moved to Manhattan Ks in 1989 where I was fortunate to get on at Fort Riley.&nbsp; I have worked for the Directorate of Contracting, Logistics, Public Works as a buyer and Army Community Services.&nbsp; I have a Bachelor in Social Science Degree, hours equivalent to an Associate in Crininal Justice and hours in financial management.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;-What are the top three issues you believe the city will face during your term, if elected/re-elected? I believe we must set up a 5 and 10 year plan to project our growth.&nbsp; I want to work to control spending and lower taxes.&nbsp; I would like to review the various departments to see if there would be any areas to be more efficient.&nbsp;

&nbsp;-What is the number one issue you plan to tackle, if elected/re-elected? I think taxation is the most important issue. The only way I know to reduce taxation is to cut spending. We have got to spend wisely.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Is there something you would like to see changed about any city ordinance or program? I would have to review the city ordinances. The only three I am familiar with is the placing of burn pits relative to a structure and the noise ordinance. They have been working and I see no reason to change them at this time.&nbsp; The no use of cell phones is not working.&nbsp; The police are trying, but you have to catch them in use before they can give a ticket.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698088034863.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;NAME:&nbsp; Rosemary CrumlyLoucks&nbsp; AGE:&nbsp; 73&nbsp; OCCUPATION:&nbsp; Retired&nbsp; INCUMBENT:&nbsp; &nbsp;No&nbsp; COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:&nbsp;Sorry, I had been working for so long I never really got involved with community&nbsp; service.&nbsp; I finished my bachelors in 2005.&nbsp; I have tried to be active in Trinity Baptist Church and now the Wamego Council of Churches.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Why have you decided to run for a position on the City Commission?&nbsp;If you are an incumbent, why did you decide to run for re-election? I am running because it seems no one was listening to the people&nbsp; About two years ago there was a proposed sales increase in the City of Manhattan.&nbsp; It was to fund 8 projects the increase was voted down.&nbsp; Yet 4 of the 8 projects have been or are near completion.&nbsp; To of the four were partly funded by federal dollars.&nbsp; One of the projects is intended to eliminate the flooding in Manhattan.&nbsp; From what I have seen it is going to increase the problem of flooding&nbsp;in the Dix Addition and Northview.&nbsp; I want your voice heard. I want to stand for what is right and to keep our community one that all would like to raise their family in.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What experience/background do you have that would make you a good city commissioner?&nbsp;If you are an incumbent, what experience/background has made you a good city commissioner? I have over fifty years of various careers.&nbsp; I have worked in the medical field, I worked in Abstracting for five years.&nbsp; I moved from abstracting to a Paralegal for Legal Services of Eastern Oklahoma.&nbsp; While there I carried a caseload of 125 cases related to social service benefits and Landlord Tenant.&nbsp; I worked for the Muskogee County District Attorney as Office Manager and Case Worker in the Child Support Division.&nbsp; I married and moved to the Republic of Panama where I worked for the Air Force compiling data on aircraft repairs. Coming back to the US in worked for the Army at Fort Monroe, Va.&nbsp; We then moved to Manhattan Ks in 1989 where I was fortunate to get on at Fort Riley.&nbsp; I have worked for the Directorate of Contracting, Logistics, Public Works as a buyer and Army Community Services.&nbsp; I have a Bachelor in Social Science Degree, hours equivalent to an Associate in Crininal Justice and hours in financial management.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-What are the top three issues you believe the city will face during your term, if elected/re-elected? I believe we must set up a 5 and 10 year plan to project our growth.&nbsp; I want to work to control spending and lower taxes.&nbsp; I would like to review the various departments to see if there would be any areas to be more efficient.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is the number one issue you plan to tackle, if elected/re-elected? I think taxation is the most important issue. The only way I know to reduce taxation is to cut spending. We have got to spend wisely.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Is there something you would like to see changed about any city ordinance or program? I would have to review the city ordinances. The only three I am familiar with is the placing of burn pits relative to a structure and the noise ordinance. They have been working and I see no reason to change them at this time.&nbsp; The no use of cell phones is not working.&nbsp; The police are trying, but you have to catch them in use before they can give a ticket.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Manhattan City Commission Candidate: Rosemary Crumly-Loucks

Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Robert Busby&nbsp; Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;50&nbsp; Profession: &nbsp;Director of IT &amp; Cybersecurity&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;No&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools? No; my children are grown college graduates. I was never assigned in the area during their school years; they graduated from a DoDEA public high school in Germany.&nbsp;

-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I’m a fierce advocate for public education because I personally know its power to enable a person to overcome great obstacles. My mother grew up very poor and missed high school to raise me. I graduated from Manhattan High in 1991, served 28 years in uniform, earned a STEM master’s degree, taught and developed career technical education, and served on several community and education non-profit organization boards. I can never thank my terrific teachers enough for the difference they made in my life. It's time to give back through leadership, service, and advocacy for them and the next generation.&nbsp;

I’m running to improve fundamental literacy outcomes for our students, so they are prepared to live and lead in a rapidly changing world with an uncertain future.&nbsp; I believe we need to equip our students with the tools to adapt as occupations change, and to become the next generation of the world’s greatest inventors, creators, story tellers, engineers, musicians, physicians, entrepreneurs, and teachers.&nbsp; I believe we can do this in a way that rewards our innovative educators and makes responsible use of public resources.&nbsp;

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;Communication is key to engagement and involvement, and I think the district does this well in the general sense.&nbsp; Parent-Teacher conferences, especially in the elementary grades, are well-attended.&nbsp; The district has excellent resources available for communication with each group where they are, whether it be the parents’ online portal for direct communication or social media platforms for both parents and the community at large.&nbsp; The key to success with each of these is to provide balance for relevant information and avoid losing important messaging in a sea of information overload.&nbsp; A proactive communications approach can also provide the transparency necessary to maintain community trust.&nbsp; I believe there may be community partnership opportunities to better engage and support parents of students with greater needs, risks, or disadvantages.&nbsp;

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be? I would make better use of available data to know where we are truly making progress toward academic success of the students.&nbsp; Education insiders are too quick to defend the status quo, either arguing that standardized tests are unhelpful measures of success, or missing the reality that our performance declines predate COVID by several years (and predictably accelerated during COVID).&nbsp; I believe standardized testing is an effective holistic measure of the system’s overall effectiveness but agree that it misses some key data points with individual student success, which is much harder to measure.&nbsp; How are we doing with&nbsp;individual students in longitudinal terms?&nbsp; What do our system numbers look like when we account for the unusually high mobility of our community?&nbsp; These data already exist but are hard to tease out and report given current processes.&nbsp; I believe we have the technology and brainpower in our district to change that and to use better data to apply targeted resources for continuous improvement to achieve ambitious goals.&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward? The best decision the current board made was the selection of Mr. Eric Reid as Superintendent.&nbsp; He is a terrific leader and skilled administrator.&nbsp; As I’ve taken the opportunity to observe and get to know him and other members of the administrative team, I’ve been impressed and believe we have an outstanding administration.&nbsp; I look forward to serving and working with them.&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I hold the current board and my fellow candidates/prospective colleagues in high esteem.&nbsp; Each person has made personal sacrifices to volunteer and serve this community.&nbsp; From what I can tell, no two members or candidates hold identical opinions on every topic, and I believe this diversity of thought is a tremendous asset to our schools.&nbsp; I respect and value their opinions and perspectives, reminding me to consider unintended consequences of our decisions.&nbsp; I expect that most decisions will continue to be made with unanimous votes, but I also expect that there will be areas where one or more members disagree.&nbsp; The earlier in the deliberative process those differences of perspective are shared, the easier it will be to account for our blind spots and ideological diversity to improve the final decision.&nbsp; This means compromises are sometimes made to achieve an outcome that no one finds perfect, but everyone finds acceptable.&nbsp; In situations where this is not possible, I believe each member must vote according to conscience but must also accept the result of the final vote as the established policy of the district.&nbsp;

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;The primary functions of the board are to establish vision and policy, provide resources, supervise the execution of those policies, and supervise the use of those resources, to ensure the outcomes align with the vision and match the needs and expectations of the community.&nbsp; The board hires a competent administration to lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the district and, aside from the supervision mentioned above, it should generally avoid interfering with district administration leaders’ ability to do the job the community is paying them to do.&nbsp; Day-to-day involvement beyond that should be to advocate and show support to the students, families, teachers, and staff, promote collaboration, and communicate with and rally support from the community at large for the success of the district.&nbsp;

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;&nbsp;I have not received any money or in-kind donations from any businesses, groups, or PACs inside or outside the school district.&nbsp; All donations received from outside the district are family and friends whom I personally know.&nbsp; Most of my campaign has been self-funded.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698087160445.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Robert Busby&nbsp; Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;50&nbsp; Profession: &nbsp;Director of IT &amp; Cybersecurity&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;No&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools? No; my children are grown college graduates. I was never assigned in the area during their school years; they graduated from a DoDEA public high school in Germany.&nbsp;-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I’m a fierce advocate for public education because I personally know its power to enable a person to overcome great obstacles. My mother grew up very poor and missed high school to raise me. I graduated from Manhattan High in 1991, served 28 years in uniform, earned a STEM master’s degree, taught and developed career technical education, and served on several community and education non-profit organization boards. I can never thank my terrific teachers enough for the difference they made in my life. It's time to give back through leadership, service, and advocacy for them and the next generation.&nbsp;I’m running to improve fundamental literacy outcomes for our students, so they are prepared to live and lead in a rapidly changing world with an uncertain future.&nbsp; I believe we need to equip our students with the tools to adapt as occupations change, and to become the next generation of the world’s greatest inventors, creators, story tellers, engineers, musicians, physicians, entrepreneurs, and teachers.&nbsp; I believe we can do this in a way that rewards our innovative educators and makes responsible use of public resources.&nbsp;-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;Communication is key to engagement and involvement, and I think the district does this well in the general sense.&nbsp; Parent-Teacher conferences, especially in the elementary grades, are well-attended.&nbsp; The district has excellent resources available for communication with each group where they are, whether it be the parents’ online portal for direct communication or social media platforms for both parents and the community at large.&nbsp; The key to success with each of these is to provide balance for relevant information and avoid losing important messaging in a sea of information overload.&nbsp; A proactive communications approach can also provide the transparency necessary to maintain community trust.&nbsp; I believe there may be community partnership opportunities to better engage and support parents of students with greater needs, risks, or disadvantages.&nbsp;-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be? I would make better use of available data to know where we are truly making progress toward academic success of the students.&nbsp; Education insiders are too quick to defend the status quo, either arguing that standardized tests are unhelpful measures of success, or missing the reality that our performance declines predate COVID by several years (and predictably accelerated during COVID).&nbsp; I believe standardized testing is an effective holistic measure of the system’s overall effectiveness but agree that it misses some key data points with individual student success, which is much harder to measure.&nbsp; How are we doing with&nbsp;individual students in longitudinal terms?&nbsp; What do our system numbers look like when we account for the unusually high mobility of our community?&nbsp; These data already exist but are hard to tease out and report given current processes.&nbsp; I believe we have the technology and brainpower in our district to change that and to use better data to apply targeted resources for continuous improvement to achieve ambitious goals.&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward? The best decision the current board made was the selection of Mr. Eric Reid as Superintendent.&nbsp; He is a terrific leader and skilled administrator.&nbsp; As I’ve taken the opportunity to observe and get to know him and other members of the administrative team, I’ve been impressed and believe we have an outstanding administration.&nbsp; I look forward to serving and working with them.&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I hold the current board and my fellow candidates/prospective colleagues in high esteem.&nbsp; Each person has made personal sacrifices to volunteer and serve this community.&nbsp; From what I can tell, no two members or candidates hold identical opinions on every topic, and I believe this diversity of thought is a tremendous asset to our schools.&nbsp; I respect and value their opinions and perspectives, reminding me to consider unintended consequences of our decisions.&nbsp; I expect that most decisions will continue to be made with unanimous votes, but I also expect that there will be areas where one or more members disagree.&nbsp; The earlier in the deliberative process those differences of perspective are shared, the easier it will be to account for our blind spots and ideological diversity to improve the final decision.&nbsp; This means compromises are sometimes made to achieve an outcome that no one finds perfect, but everyone finds acceptable.&nbsp; In situations where this is not possible, I believe each member must vote according to conscience but must also accept the result of the final vote as the established policy of the district.&nbsp;-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;The primary functions of the board are to establish vision and policy, provide resources, supervise the execution of those policies, and supervise the use of those resources, to ensure the outcomes align with the vision and match the needs and expectations of the community.&nbsp; The board hires a competent administration to lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the district and, aside from the supervision mentioned above, it should generally avoid interfering with district administration leaders’ ability to do the job the community is paying them to do.&nbsp; Day-to-day involvement beyond that should be to advocate and show support to the students, families, teachers, and staff, promote collaboration, and communicate with and rally support from the community at large for the success of the district.&nbsp;-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;&nbsp;I have not received any money or in-kind donations from any businesses, groups, or PACs inside or outside the school district.&nbsp; All donations received from outside the district are family and friends whom I personally know.&nbsp; Most of my campaign has been self-funded.&nbsp;

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education Candidate: Robert Busby

Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Tim Pfaff Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;55 Profession:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Self Employed – Owner Operator of Pfaff Service LLC and Pfaff Sales and Rentals and Part Owner Operator of Pfaff Farms&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;No Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 384&nbsp;Riley County schools?&nbsp;Stepson and Stepdaughter and daughter that graduated and currently have three grandchildren attending

Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I have had the opportunity to spend my entire life within the Blue Valley School District and want to see USD 384 to continue to excel in all areas of education and activities. I am a 1987 graduate of Blue Valley High School, as well as three of my children. I currently have three grandchildren that attend USD 384. Small schools play a major role within their communities and the citizens that live and work in these communities. I want to make sure that these relationships are continuing to be built and established for years to come. In today’s educational times, each school is asked to do more with less. The school budget plays a major role in those decisions. I want to ensure that USD 384 is providing its students and employees with the best opportunities possible as well as working with the community to see that their tax dollars are being used in the best manner possible.

Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;I want to promote the importance of students, staff, and community members attending all events and activities that USD 384 has to offer. These events and activities allow students of all ages to shine and show their talents. I would continue to encourage&nbsp; USD 384 in using the ThrillShare Program to get information about events and activities in a timely manner. If elected as a board member, that will allow me to be a voice for the community and promote collaboration between all parties involved. USD 384 has numerous advisory councils, site councils, and organizations within the district that could all be utilized to grow engagement and involvement district wide.

If you had one thing you could change about the USD 384 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;In today’s world, it is extremely hard to keep dedicated and accountable employees within a business or a school district. As a small business owner, I have experienced this firsthand. I would like to work towards keeping our ever changing USD 384 staff together as much as possible so our students can build relationships and trust with their teachers and mentors.&nbsp;

What is your opinion of the USD 384 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I truly appreciate all the hard work that is being done by the current USD 384 Administration. They are doing a tremendous job creating an environment where all students and staff can succeed with limited resources at times. As a possible future board member, I believe I can bring new ideas and new ways of thinking to the table to continue to add to the bright future of USD 384. I am excited to bring a teamwork and cooperation approach to help the Blue Valley School District excel.

What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;&nbsp;Our current school board has been faced with many challenges over the past couple years and have succeeded in conquering many of them. They have made many upgrades to building facilities, added to the salary schedule for staff, and curriculum and technology upgrades. I believe that I will be able to work and compromise with remaining board members if elected. I believe that if we all can take a team approach to reaching the goals we have set forth district wide, we can continue to make the Blue Valley School District a great place for students, staff, parents, and the community.

What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;I believe that the school board’s role should be as an advisory council to the Superintendent and the school. The Superintendent, other administration, and staff have been hired and trusted to do their jobs on a daily basis. As a possible school member, I do not know the daily in’s and out’s of what takes place at each school. I would trust the USD 384 Administration to each run his or her own building to the best of his or her abilities. I also believe that another crucial role of a school board member is to be a voice for the community. It is extremely important that each member is available to listen and answer any questions or concerns the community may have. I also believe that school board members should build relationships with the students, educators, and employees district wide. This will develop a sense of trust and accountability for everyone involved.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698086140366.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Tim Pfaff Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;55 Profession:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Self Employed – Owner Operator of Pfaff Service LLC and Pfaff Sales and Rentals and Part Owner Operator of Pfaff Farms&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;No Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 384&nbsp;Riley County schools?&nbsp;Stepson and Stepdaughter and daughter that graduated and currently have three grandchildren attendingWhy are you running for school board?&nbsp;I have had the opportunity to spend my entire life within the Blue Valley School District and want to see USD 384 to continue to excel in all areas of education and activities. I am a 1987 graduate of Blue Valley High School, as well as three of my children. I currently have three grandchildren that attend USD 384. Small schools play a major role within their communities and the citizens that live and work in these communities. I want to make sure that these relationships are continuing to be built and established for years to come. In today’s educational times, each school is asked to do more with less. The school budget plays a major role in those decisions. I want to ensure that USD 384 is providing its students and employees with the best opportunities possible as well as working with the community to see that their tax dollars are being used in the best manner possible.Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;I want to promote the importance of students, staff, and community members attending all events and activities that USD 384 has to offer. These events and activities allow students of all ages to shine and show their talents. I would continue to encourage&nbsp; USD 384 in using the ThrillShare Program to get information about events and activities in a timely manner. If elected as a board member, that will allow me to be a voice for the community and promote collaboration between all parties involved. USD 384 has numerous advisory councils, site councils, and organizations within the district that could all be utilized to grow engagement and involvement district wide.If you had one thing you could change about the USD 384 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;In today’s world, it is extremely hard to keep dedicated and accountable employees within a business or a school district. As a small business owner, I have experienced this firsthand. I would like to work towards keeping our ever changing USD 384 staff together as much as possible so our students can build relationships and trust with their teachers and mentors.&nbsp;What is your opinion of the USD 384 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I truly appreciate all the hard work that is being done by the current USD 384 Administration. They are doing a tremendous job creating an environment where all students and staff can succeed with limited resources at times. As a possible future board member, I believe I can bring new ideas and new ways of thinking to the table to continue to add to the bright future of USD 384. I am excited to bring a teamwork and cooperation approach to help the Blue Valley School District excel.What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;&nbsp;Our current school board has been faced with many challenges over the past couple years and have succeeded in conquering many of them. They have made many upgrades to building facilities, added to the salary schedule for staff, and curriculum and technology upgrades. I believe that I will be able to work and compromise with remaining board members if elected. I believe that if we all can take a team approach to reaching the goals we have set forth district wide, we can continue to make the Blue Valley School District a great place for students, staff, parents, and the community.What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;I believe that the school board’s role should be as an advisory council to the Superintendent and the school. The Superintendent, other administration, and staff have been hired and trusted to do their jobs on a daily basis. As a possible school member, I do not know the daily in’s and out’s of what takes place at each school. I would trust the USD 384 Administration to each run his or her own building to the best of his or her abilities. I also believe that another crucial role of a school board member is to be a voice for the community. It is extremely important that each member is available to listen and answer any questions or concerns the community may have. I also believe that school board members should build relationships with the students, educators, and employees district wide. This will develop a sense of trust and accountability for everyone involved.&nbsp;

USD 384 Blue Valley-Randolph Board of Education Dist. 1, Pos. 1 Candidate: Tim Pfaff

Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Courtney Jane Hochman&nbsp; Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;42&nbsp; Profession:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Parent, with master’s degree in education, serves on Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Education&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;No&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes, I have two currently in the district (14 and 8) and a third entering next year (2).&nbsp;

-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I am running because I genuinely care about the education all USD 383 students are receiving. I have three children- two currently in the district and a third entering next year. My oldest is in our special education program. The past 11 years have given me a unique perspective on the district and relationships with personnel at all levels at multiple schools. I facilitated my sons’ education through the pandemic, which gives me an understanding of where the district is today, how pandemic challenges effected students, and ideas how to get our students where we want them to be. I am running for school board to advocate for inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff in our district. Some voices in our district are louder and receive greater representation and we need more diverse perspectives at the table. Inclusion leads to success. If you are in an environment where you feel included, respected, and valued then you can be empowered to be more successful in your role- learner, teacher, or support.&nbsp;

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;Inclusion and communication are two easy ways to establish and strengthen relationships within and between our school district and the community at large. We are all stakeholders in the public education of the students in our district, as providing an exemplary education reflects positively on our community and enriches all our lives. Encouraging communication and participation in our district events can help create a bridge between our district members (families, teachers, and staff) and the community at large. Finding ways to inform and encourage the community to attend and participate in district events will help keep the community aware of the exciting things going on in the schools and support and celebrate our students. Creating these relationships will help dispel assumptions about what is or isn’t happening in our schools. One wonderful thing about the Manhattan-Ogden district is the dedication to open communications. Parents are encouraged and have many opportunities and avenues to communicate with teachers and administration. Families can be as involved as their schedules allow and that involvement is essential to the success of our students and the district.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;I would correct the district lines that place some Manhattan students in the USD 378 district, which has them traveling 12 miles to school while those essentially across the street attend USD 383. I would also start planning sooner rather than later for the creation of a second high school. Our elementary and middle school populations continue to grow and we will soon need an additional building for our high school students. We should not wait until the building is at capacity and creates a safety hazard before starting the conversation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I am acquainted with the current administration and I believe them to be well-qualified, well-trained, and dedicated to their job of serving students, faculty, and staff. I would love the opportunity to work with them to continue the current work at hand and make exciting plans for the future of our district.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I admire the current board members and how they have respectfully and thoughtfully made decisions with intention. I would be excited to join the current members who will continue serving on the board. Part of the main charge of the board is to compromise. Board members should weigh information, opinions, costs, and benefits in order to come up with the best decisions for the district, which requires compromise. In my opinion, a school board is no place for an inflexible person.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;Members of the board should be aware of issues that come up in the day-to-day operations, but the purpose of the board is not meant to be for micromanaging. The board is meant to offer guidance and some oversight from the community at large. Board members all serve on other district committees and each will have specific knowledge of different buildings or initiatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;I received a small financial donation from my mother-in-law who resides in Florida.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698080793175.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Courtney Jane Hochman&nbsp; Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;42&nbsp; Profession:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Parent, with master’s degree in education, serves on Governor’s Interagency Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Education&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;No&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes, I have two currently in the district (14 and 8) and a third entering next year (2).&nbsp;-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I am running because I genuinely care about the education all USD 383 students are receiving. I have three children- two currently in the district and a third entering next year. My oldest is in our special education program. The past 11 years have given me a unique perspective on the district and relationships with personnel at all levels at multiple schools. I facilitated my sons’ education through the pandemic, which gives me an understanding of where the district is today, how pandemic challenges effected students, and ideas how to get our students where we want them to be. I am running for school board to advocate for inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff in our district. Some voices in our district are louder and receive greater representation and we need more diverse perspectives at the table. Inclusion leads to success. If you are in an environment where you feel included, respected, and valued then you can be empowered to be more successful in your role- learner, teacher, or support.&nbsp;-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;Inclusion and communication are two easy ways to establish and strengthen relationships within and between our school district and the community at large. We are all stakeholders in the public education of the students in our district, as providing an exemplary education reflects positively on our community and enriches all our lives. Encouraging communication and participation in our district events can help create a bridge between our district members (families, teachers, and staff) and the community at large. Finding ways to inform and encourage the community to attend and participate in district events will help keep the community aware of the exciting things going on in the schools and support and celebrate our students. Creating these relationships will help dispel assumptions about what is or isn’t happening in our schools. One wonderful thing about the Manhattan-Ogden district is the dedication to open communications. Parents are encouraged and have many opportunities and avenues to communicate with teachers and administration. Families can be as involved as their schedules allow and that involvement is essential to the success of our students and the district.&nbsp;&nbsp;-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;I would correct the district lines that place some Manhattan students in the USD 378 district, which has them traveling 12 miles to school while those essentially across the street attend USD 383. I would also start planning sooner rather than later for the creation of a second high school. Our elementary and middle school populations continue to grow and we will soon need an additional building for our high school students. We should not wait until the building is at capacity and creates a safety hazard before starting the conversation.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;I am acquainted with the current administration and I believe them to be well-qualified, well-trained, and dedicated to their job of serving students, faculty, and staff. I would love the opportunity to work with them to continue the current work at hand and make exciting plans for the future of our district.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I admire the current board members and how they have respectfully and thoughtfully made decisions with intention. I would be excited to join the current members who will continue serving on the board. Part of the main charge of the board is to compromise. Board members should weigh information, opinions, costs, and benefits in order to come up with the best decisions for the district, which requires compromise. In my opinion, a school board is no place for an inflexible person.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;Members of the board should be aware of issues that come up in the day-to-day operations, but the purpose of the board is not meant to be for micromanaging. The board is meant to offer guidance and some oversight from the community at large. Board members all serve on other district committees and each will have specific knowledge of different buildings or initiatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;I received a small financial donation from my mother-in-law who resides in Florida.&nbsp;

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education Candidate: Courtney Jane Hochman

Name:&nbsp; Katie Allen&nbsp; Age:&nbsp; 46&nbsp; Profession: &nbsp; Education research, evaluation and technical assistance&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp; No&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?&nbsp; I have two kids attending USD 383 middle school.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I am running to advocate for policies that ensure every child in our community has access to a high-quality education. My 20+ year career includes creating learning opportunities and conditions where kids can succeed. I’ve worked with all education levels from early childhood to teaching graduate students about school continuous improvement. I’ve collaborated with school districts and state education agencies on policy initiatives including early literacy, educator workforce, and accountability systems. I hold a master’s degree in public administration, a doctorate in education leadership focused on systems and policy, and am the parent of two middle schoolers attending USD 383.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;As I look at communications from the district, my kids’ teachers, and in the media I am amazed at the level of community engagement with our schools. There are many opportunities to get involved and I believe that citizens, non-profit organizations, and businesses who want to be engaged in supporting our district are finding ways to do so. One area that I often hear needs to improve is parental engagement. While we must recognize that there are challenges that impact parental engagement, such as two-parent work schedules, I think there are strategies that could be considered. For example, the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center provides tools and resources for districts to use that can increase communication and engagement with families on important issues such as understanding state standards for math, Individual Plans of Study, and many other relevant topics.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;In the USD 383 school district, candidates for school board compete for at-large positions rather than representing a defined geographic area. This has led to a current majority composition of school board members who live outside the City of Manhattan and Riley County in effect creating unequal representation and access to board members across the district and a lack of understanding the levels of taxation that most district residents are experiencing. Some voters are concerned about district facilities growth focused outside of the City of Manhattan and Riley County boundaries.There is a perception of disinvestment within existing Manhattan neighborhoods which in turn can affect homeowners' property values. Electing board members by districts rather than at-large could equalize representation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;USD 383 has a strong and long-running reputation for success, which indicates that our school leaders are well-qualified and focused on what matters most for our students. My observation of USD 383 administrators is that they are deeply committed to the district’s mission, love our students, and care about staff. My professional background working as a partner to support school improvement and help kids reach their potential gives me a solid understanding of the work that administrators are responsible for, the legal and accountability standards they are working within, and appreciation of the challenges administrators face. I look forward to the opportunity to work with the USD 383 administration to meet the mission to prepare all students for success.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I appreciate school board members giving their time and talent to serving the people of our community. My observation is that these folks truly care about students, staff, and the success of our schools. I think current (and incoming school board members) should be asking more questions at the board table about budget and policy. Enriching the dialogue on these important issues is important to reaching compromise, leads to better decision-making, and provides the public with clear information on why certain decisions are made. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the public and work productively with current and incoming board members.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;It is not the school board’s role to oversee daily operations of the district, that is the role of the superintendent and district administrators. The board is responsible for approving the budget and expenditures, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, adopting policy, and advocating for the needs of students, staff, and the district.&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses, groups or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;The reality of running for any public office is that it takes money to get your name out to voters and I suspect that the fundraising aspect of campaigning is what deters many talented folks from serving the public. Contributions to my campaign have come only from individuals. My friend who is a baker gave in-kind donations of two pies for a fundraiser and my sister along with three lifelong friends and colleagues who do not live within USD 383 boundaries have contributed to my campaign. Financial contributions to my campaign have intentionally been reinvested in local Manhattan businesses.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698079490935.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp; Katie Allen&nbsp; Age:&nbsp; 46&nbsp; Profession: &nbsp; Education research, evaluation and technical assistance&nbsp; Incumbent:&nbsp; No&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden schools?&nbsp; I have two kids attending USD 383 middle school.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I am running to advocate for policies that ensure every child in our community has access to a high-quality education. My 20+ year career includes creating learning opportunities and conditions where kids can succeed. I’ve worked with all education levels from early childhood to teaching graduate students about school continuous improvement. I’ve collaborated with school districts and state education agencies on policy initiatives including early literacy, educator workforce, and accountability systems. I hold a master’s degree in public administration, a doctorate in education leadership focused on systems and policy, and am the parent of two middle schoolers attending USD 383.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators?&nbsp;As I look at communications from the district, my kids’ teachers, and in the media I am amazed at the level of community engagement with our schools. There are many opportunities to get involved and I believe that citizens, non-profit organizations, and businesses who want to be engaged in supporting our district are finding ways to do so. One area that I often hear needs to improve is parental engagement. While we must recognize that there are challenges that impact parental engagement, such as two-parent work schedules, I think there are strategies that could be considered. For example, the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center provides tools and resources for districts to use that can increase communication and engagement with families on important issues such as understanding state standards for math, Individual Plans of Study, and many other relevant topics.&nbsp;&nbsp;-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 383 school district, what would it be?&nbsp;In the USD 383 school district, candidates for school board compete for at-large positions rather than representing a defined geographic area. This has led to a current majority composition of school board members who live outside the City of Manhattan and Riley County in effect creating unequal representation and access to board members across the district and a lack of understanding the levels of taxation that most district residents are experiencing. Some voters are concerned about district facilities growth focused outside of the City of Manhattan and Riley County boundaries.There is a perception of disinvestment within existing Manhattan neighborhoods which in turn can affect homeowners' property values. Electing board members by districts rather than at-large could equalize representation.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the USD 383 administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward?&nbsp;USD 383 has a strong and long-running reputation for success, which indicates that our school leaders are well-qualified and focused on what matters most for our students. My observation of USD 383 administrators is that they are deeply committed to the district’s mission, love our students, and care about staff. My professional background working as a partner to support school improvement and help kids reach their potential gives me a solid understanding of the work that administrators are responsible for, the legal and accountability standards they are working within, and appreciation of the challenges administrators face. I look forward to the opportunity to work with the USD 383 administration to meet the mission to prepare all students for success.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;I appreciate school board members giving their time and talent to serving the people of our community. My observation is that these folks truly care about students, staff, and the success of our schools. I think current (and incoming school board members) should be asking more questions at the board table about budget and policy. Enriching the dialogue on these important issues is important to reaching compromise, leads to better decision-making, and provides the public with clear information on why certain decisions are made. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the public and work productively with current and incoming board members.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district?&nbsp;It is not the school board’s role to oversee daily operations of the district, that is the role of the superintendent and district administrators. The board is responsible for approving the budget and expenditures, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, adopting policy, and advocating for the needs of students, staff, and the district.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses, groups or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;The reality of running for any public office is that it takes money to get your name out to voters and I suspect that the fundraising aspect of campaigning is what deters many talented folks from serving the public. Contributions to my campaign have come only from individuals. My friend who is a baker gave in-kind donations of two pies for a fundraiser and my sister along with three lifelong friends and colleagues who do not live within USD 383 boundaries have contributed to my campaign. Financial contributions to my campaign have intentionally been reinvested in local Manhattan businesses.&nbsp;

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education Candidate: Katie Allen

Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Shane Eslit&nbsp; Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;37&nbsp; Profession: Teacher Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;At Large Position&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 378 Riley County schools? Yes, I have 2 children that currently attend Riley County Schools.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I love the Riley County Schools and community. I want to stay connected to this community and be a part of the district that means so much to our family. Leaving Riley County to teach in another district was not one that was done hastily or without a heavy heart. I want to continue to serve this community in any capacity that I can.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators? Parental engagement and community starts with communication and transparency. I want parents, citizens and educators to see school board members as approachable. With an "Open Door Policy." We need to listen to our stakeholders and work together to address the needs of our district.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 378&nbsp;school district, what would it be?&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm not looking to change anything about our school district. Riley County is a great place to be because of the traditions it has established and will continue.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698079153082.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each of the following questions to 200 words or less.&nbsp;Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;Shane Eslit&nbsp; Age:&nbsp;&nbsp;37&nbsp; Profession: Teacher Incumbent:&nbsp;&nbsp;At Large Position&nbsp; Do you have children or grandchildren who attend(ed) USD 378 Riley County schools? Yes, I have 2 children that currently attend Riley County Schools.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Why are you running for school board?&nbsp;I love the Riley County Schools and community. I want to stay connected to this community and be a part of the district that means so much to our family. Leaving Riley County to teach in another district was not one that was done hastily or without a heavy heart. I want to continue to serve this community in any capacity that I can.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Parental engagement and community involvement are crucial for the success of any school district. What strategies would you implement to increase collaboration between parents, citizens, and educators? Parental engagement and community starts with communication and transparency. I want parents, citizens and educators to see school board members as approachable. With an "Open Door Policy." We need to listen to our stakeholders and work together to address the needs of our district.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-If you had one thing you could change about the USD 378&nbsp;school district, what would it be?&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm not looking to change anything about our school district. Riley County is a great place to be because of the traditions it has established and will continue.&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the USD 378&nbsp;administration? Do you think you could work with the current administration moving forward? I know several of the administration. Working with them in the past and knowing the great responsibility that they have in their position. I have nothing but respect. As for the ones I do not know, I look forward to working with and getting to know them.&nbsp;&nbsp;-What is your opinion of the current school board? Do you think you could compromise with the incumbents who will remain on the board?&nbsp;&nbsp;Can't say that I have any strong opinions, only that I look forward to working with them to make Riley County School the very best for our kids.&nbsp;-What do you think the board’s role should be in the day-to-day operations of the district? I think the board's role is to be a facilitator. Allow the building administrators, teachers, and classified staff to do their jobs because ultimately, they are the boots on the ground. They see the "in's and out's" of the job and understand the needs of our kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Have you received money or in-kind donations from individuals, businesses,&nbsp;groups&nbsp;or PACs outside of the school district?&nbsp;I have not.&nbsp;

2023 Riley County Election