VOTING GUIDE |
The April 4, 2023, election includes a competitive race for the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education.
One current board member, Shurita Thomas-Tate, is seeking re-election on April 4, and three others — Landon McCarter, Judy Brunner and Chad Rollins — are looking to fill one of the two open seats on the board.
Get to know the SPS board candidates in these profiles
Who is Judy Brunner? SPS board candidate 2023
Judy Brunner is up for an open Springfield Public Schools board seat. Do you align with her?
Who is Landon McCarter? SPS board candidate 2023
Landon McCarter is up for an open Springfield Public Schools board seat. Do you align with him?
Who is Chad Rollins? SPS board candidate 2023
Chad Rollins is up for an open Springfield Public Schools board seat. Do you align with him?
Who is Shurita Thomas-Tate? SPS board candidate 2023
Shurita Thomas-Tate is seeking re-election for a seat on the Springfield Public Schools board. Do you align with her?
Recent Springfield Public Schools board news
OPINION: Your vote counts — So, vote!
The freedom to vote and choose is exercised as Americans, and historically, many people fought for these rights. The question is, how informed are we about who we choose during elections?
Possible limit to city property access up for debate in Springfield
Though no specific instances were mentioned, the Springfield city attorney said, “city staff deals with very difficult people very often.”
Letter: School board should reject Pipkin site that is distant, isolated and unfriendly
The proposed site for a new Pipkin Middle School is distant, isolated, and unfriendly. The school board should find a new site in the Midtown neighborhood.
Letter: School Board should promote civil discourse and look for common ground
The League encourages the Board to engage in productive civil discourse by being transparent, moderating tone, being attentive and considerate of opposing points of view, finding common ground, and differentiating between facts and opinions
Letter: School board member wrong to try to silence critics by calling them out by name
by Jeremy Dean, Springfield I was appalled during the June 27 Board of Education meeting while watching one of our school board members call out not one but two private citizens by name in an attempt to silence their voices and discredit their advocacy simply because they disagree. Not only did this board member call…
Springfield superintendent unveils plan to address student discipline next school year
If a student is feeling upset, anxious or on the verge of an outburst at Reed Academy, the middle schooler has a preventative space to address emotions before they get them in trouble. It’s called the calming center, and it’s near the school counselor’s office by design. Students can flash a “Take 10” card to…
Springfield school board sets stage for discussion on student behavior
Student discipline is a subject that came up regularly during the 2023 board election cycle, and one that Kelly Byrne has recently called for fellow board members and district leaders to address.
Hourly pay changes concern some SPS employees, and one school board member took unique steps to hear more
Some Springfield Public Schools employees are persistent in raising concerns about a pending shift in how they get paid, prompting Board Member Kelly Byrne to strike out on his own fact-finding effort.
In split vote, school board decides against purchase of 2,000 Chromebooks for Springfield kindergartners
In a survey of 63 Springfield Public Schools kindergarten teachers, 56 said they wanted each of their students to have access to a Chromebook or similar device during the school day. In a 4-3 vote on Feb. 28, the school board voted against such a purchase. The district had proposed the purchase of 2,000 touchscreen…
Springfield school board member Shurita Thomas-Tate dismisses allegations of self-dealing leveled by former school board hopeful
Springfield Public Schools and board member Shurita Thomas-Tate challenged allegations made Tuesday by the leader of a local watchdog publication, who said Thomas-Tate had violated state ethics codes when voting to approve a $15,000 district contract with a nonprofit she founded. J. Michael Hasty, founder of Queen City Watchdog, called a press conference before Tuesday’s…