Scott City School Board candidate profiles

William Wilthong (incumbent)

Age: 66

Spouse: Linda

Children: Kevin, 39; Anna, 35

Occupation: retired teacher/ coach

Education: bachelor of science in education from Arkansas State University

Reason for running: I have been on the board of education for 12 years, and I am still very much interested in the education of Scott City children.

Main challenges: Money, school facilities upkeep

Main assets: That our children are housed in one facility

Communication: Through our open school policy and parent-teacher conferences

Wayne Petitt (incumbent)

Age: 39

Spouse: Kimberly

Children: Kiersten, 17; Jacob, 12

Occupation: Former Dana Corp. employee

Education: currently attending Southeast Missouri State University

Memberships: none listed

Reason for running: To make sure our district keeps on trying to improve and finish the roof project. I also feel that when members of the community have a problem that I try to make sure their concerns are heard by the administration.

Other experience: I was a commissioner in Scott County in 1996.

Main challenges: finishing the roof project, improve our scores on the MAP testing.

Main assets: We have a lot of rooms and updated the facilities the last few years.

Communication: I try to make weekly visits to the school to stay on top of what is going on and to communicate to the administration the needs and concerns of the community as they tell me their concerns.

Sally Porch (incumbent)

Age: 50

Spouse: Tim

Children: Matt, 25; Jana, 19

Occupation: registered nurse

Education: nursing degree from Southeast Missouri State University

Memberships: Scott City PTO (Follies co-chairman), United Methodist Church, American Association of Managed Care Nurses

Reason for running: I consider it a privilege to be involved in school-related decisions and activities and feel my prior experience benefits the district.

Other experience: Am presently serving my third term. Also have experience from parental perspective as both children attended K-12 at Scott City.

Main challenges: Everyone would like to see MAP score improvements — our staff and administration are actively working on improvement strategies. And completion of building projects.

Main assets: Extremely supportive community — townspeople and businesses as well as very dedicated staff members, all school employees.

Communication: I consider myself a very open, approachable person. I attend school functions and am listed in the phone book.

Lisa Schaefer

Age: 50

Spouse: Mike

Children: Jessica, 27; Courtney, 23

Occupation: Administrative assistant at RapcoHorizon Co.

Memberships: PTO

Reason for running: I like being involved in our community. Being on the school board and being a part of the decisions that will ultimately create the best learning environment for our children is important and rewarding to me.

Other experience: I served a three-year term on the Scott City School Board from 2004 to 2007. I served many years on the Scott City Park Board.

Main challenges: At this time the realignment of our curriculum to better meet the grade-level expectations required by the state of Missouri. Also finding math and special education teachers.

Main assets: Our school is financially sound, and we have a great administration and staff.

Communication: I will always be available to listen to parents, staff members, and residents who have complaints or problems. I will then direct them to the proper person set forth by our school's policies and regulations.

Scott C. Amick (incumbent)

Age: 50

Spouse: not married

Children: Brandon, Britne, Blake

Education: Attended Southeast Missouri State University, graduated from Kentucky School of Mortuary Science

Occupation: Funeral director/embalmer/co-owner of Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel, served as Scott County coroner since 1985

Memberships: St. Joseph Catholic Church, Missouri Coroners and Medical Examiners Association, Missouri Funeral Directors Association, Southeast Basketball Officials, Knights of Columbus.

Reason for running: I am running because I enjoy being a part of our local schools and working with other board members, faculty and the administration to see that our school is the best it can be for generations to come. I believe that opinions of each board member are important and should be a part of the decision-making process, but once the board has acted all involved should support and work for the best interest of the district.

Other experience: My father was a member of the Scott City board the year our school was built and continued his service to the school on the board for 30 years. Our school is the backbone of our community, and I want to see that the district is always meeting the needs of our children.

Main challenges: I think that the biggest challenge our district faces is keeping parents involved. We need to network with the parents and get them involved, in the education of their children and the decisions that affect their children. They need to have a voice, and I believe I have and can continue to help to that end.

Main assets: Our district continues to attract some of the best young educators in this state, and most of them stay with our district until they retire or move. This is what makes our school so great.

Communication: Being a local business owner, I am available to all who want who would like to visit at any time. I would, however, like to see improvement to the local access channel and the district Web site to make more information available to parents.

Kevin B. Hillemann

Age: 57

Spouse: Marsha

Children: Lucinda, 28; Karla, 23

Occupation: P&G, formerly owner and operator of Hillemann's Jewelry in Scott City

Education: Gem City College School of Horology in Quincy, Ill. (studied jewelry store management)

Memberships: Missouri School Boards Association Alumni Association, SEMO Iris Society, American Iris Society, Historic Iris Preservation Society

Reason for running: The scores on state assessment tests have been falling. Scott City test scores were once near the top in the area school districts, but are now close to the bottom. We need to do everything we can to see that our kids are getting the best educational experience possible.

Other experience: Former member of the Scott City School Board; former member of the board of directors and Executive Committee of the Missouri School Boards Association; certified board member training from the Missouri School Boards Association; chairman, treasurer and LYF Youth counselor at Eisleben Lutheran Church; former member of the Volunteer Fire Department in Illmo, Mo.; former treasurer of the Illmo Special Road District

Main challenges: One challenge is parental involvement. Students do much better when their parents are involved and make an effort to know what is going on in their child's' education and help them when they can. Another challenge is to provide a quality education for all kids with ever increasing cost and expenses, and at the same time facing more an more mandates from the state and federal governments without additional funding being provided.

Main assets: Highly qualified teachers and staff and state-of-the-art facilities

Communication: The school board needs to keep an open dialogue with the community and be accountable to them. I would encourage parents and staff to attend PTO meetings, school board meetings and parent-teacher conferences. Parents and staff could communicate with me by phone or e-mail.