WATCH: Spring Hill school board candidates tackle curriculum, student achievement and more

Candidates for Spring Hill school board shared their views on how best to manage the district’s growing enrollment, create an inclusive environment in schools and boost student achievement, among other topics, at a forum hosted by the Johnson County Post Tuesday night.

The event was the first time the Post has ever done a candidate forum in Spring Hill. (The event included forums for Spring Hill mayor and city council earlier in the evening.)

It was one of 12 scheduled nights of local candidate forums that the Post is hosting across Johnson County ahead of the Nov. 4 election.

The Spring Hill forum was hosted in the auditorium at Spring Hill Middle School.

All six school board candidates vying for three seats participated.

Who is running?

Member 4

• Autumn Coleman-Marconett
• Nicole Melius (incumbent)

Member 5

• Steve Miller
• Chris Olsen

Member 6

• Ted Beauchamp
• Keith Ewing (incumbent)

How to watch the Post’s forum

The Post livestreamed Wednesday’s event on our Facebook page. A recording of the forum can be viewed there, though it is now Facebook’s policy to erase live videos 30 days after they are produced.

You can also watch the full Spring Hill school board forum on the Post’s new YouTube channel, where it should be preserved into the future.

The full forum video is also embedded below:

Questions

The candidates gave opening statements and answered a series of questions based on reader feedback and suggestions received by the Post before the event, as well as from audience members at the event.

Timestamps are included at the end of each question to help you navigate through the forum video if you’d like to jump around to issues that matter most to you.

1. Opening statements [3:06]
2. Greatest challenge: This comes from a reader, not germane to Spring Hill but something they wanted to ask all school board candidates in Johnson County. “What do you see as the greatest issues facing students in your district and how do you intend to address them within your powers as a member of the School Board?” [9:47]

   

   

3. Inclusivity: From a reader email: “Students and families in our district represent many cultures, identities, and beliefs. What specific actions will you take as a board member to ensure our schools remain inclusive and welcoming for all students, especially those who may feel marginalized or underrepresented?” [19:08]
4. Curriculum and classroom teaching (and student pronoun): This will try to synthesize two audience questions. One audience member asks, “What will you do to ensure that teachers … are teaching kids how to think and not what to think?” Also from the audience, ” What do you think of teachers and the yearbook requiring students to state their preferred pronouns?” Overall, then give you a chance to tell us what is the board’s role to control what is going on in class? [27:02]

   

   

5. Academic achievement: Academic performance and success can be measured by a variety of factors. On periodic state assessments in English, math and science, Spring Hill students typically outperform state averages. ACT scores in Spring Hill are above state averages as well, at about 20.5. On the other hand, high school graduation rates have lagged behind the state. Last year, for instance, Spring Hill’s graduation rate was 82.5%, compared to the statewide average of 89.5%. [Though that figure takes into account the district’s virtual school. The graduation rate for students who attend in-person school is higher than the state average.] What are the biggest areas of growth or focus when it comes to Spring Hill students’ academic performance? How would you tackle it if elected to the school board? [34:35]
6. Class choices and student options: This question also comes from the audience. They write, “How do we get more choices of classes for students…” I think the subtext here is that traditional classroom instruction may not work for all students. So, I’ll ask you what is the school board’s role in trying to expand the types of learning, classes and instruction offered students? [42:13]

   

   

7. Classified staff: Paraprofessionals, instructional aides, custodians, and other classified staff play a critical role in keeping schools running and supporting students, yet they are often underpaid and overlooked. What steps would you take to ensure our district can attract and retain these vital staff members? [50:16]
8. Why should voters vote for you: What distinguishes you from your opponent? Why should voters vote for you? [56:47]