5 candidates running for 4 at-large Salina school board seats. Here's what to know

In the Nov. 7 general election in Saline County, voters will have the opportunity to choose between five candidates running for four open seats on the USD 305 Board of Education.

The four at-large spots are being sought by four incumbents and one candidate who would be new to serving Salina USD 305 schools.

With about two weeks until the election, here's what each candidate had to say about running and what issues they feel are most important in Salina schools.

Ann Zimmerman

After her first two terms on the USD 305 Board of Education, Ann Zimmerman said she feels that the board works well with one another and other school leadership.

While schools across the nation work to address challenges left over from the pandemic, Zimmerman said the board has worked together to find solutions to lingering local issues.

"I believe I still have value to add to the board and the district, and I want to make sure our progress continues, improving the learning opportunities for every Salina student," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman serves as a professional mediator in her free time, which she said has equipped her to help work toward agreement in diverse groups of people. She has a background in studying law and is a singer-songwriter in a Salina Arts and Humanities program that places artists in classrooms to supplement learning experiences.

She said that experience has kept her closely connected with students and teachers.

"I have most of a lifetime of experience with Salina and its residents. I care about how students develop, grow, learn and leave our schools and what kind of adults they become," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman has also stayed involved in the Salina League of Women Voters and Sunrise Presbyterian Church, helped found the Salina Initiative for Restorative Justice, serves on the Salina Arts and Humanities Foundation Board, participating in the Salina Rotary Club, was selected as a Woman of Achievement by the local YW Legacy Fund, and several other board seats through the USD 305 school board.

Top issues that Zimmerman would like to focus on going forward include addressing chronic absenteeism and continuing to keep math and reading curriculums on the right track post-pandemic. Zimmerman said the district has made strides in these areas, especially through partnerships with local post-secondary schools, but that there is still work to be done.

She also voiced support of public schools across the state, saying that Kansans should take care to elect legislators who support public schools.

"The power structure of our Kansas Legislature makes grand, negative statements – not based on full information – about our schools, our teachers, our curriculum and our policies," Zimmerman said. "Their attitude degrades morale among staff, decreases public regard for our schools, and convinces many legislators to object to full school funding."

Mark Bandré

Mark Bandré enters the race for school board with a sense of gratitude for the relationships he has built with teachers, administrators and other staff over his last term. He said he values the difference education can make in someone's life, and values contributing to the community in which he lives.

"When the four years of experience I possess as a board member are added to the cumulative relevant experiences my life provides, I hope the electorate values what I can bring to all school board discussions," Bandré said.

Bandré has a combined 35 years of experience as a higher education administrator and a doctoral degree in educational leadership. In addition to his fourth year on the USD 305 school board, he has kept involved in the community by serving on the Salina Education Foundation Board, Smoky Hill Education Service Center Board (including over two years as Board president), Salina Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, USD 305 district health council, and Salina Adult Education Center advisory board.

When his children were younger, Bandré served as team parent coordinator for Salina South soccer. He has coached over 30 youth sports teams and helps maintain Little Libraries across USD 305 properties.

Bandré said he believes it is a critical time for the future of public education, with issues like financing, employment of teachers and staff, and student experiences all grabbing his attention.

"In my opinion it is absolutely crucial for the future of Salina and beyond that we ensure excellence in our local schools, and I am excited about the opportunity to focus time and energy on how we can all work together to find the best solutions for so many related decisions," Bandré said.

Bandré said his time on the board so far has been informative on the district's fiscal health, with well-maintained facilities and robust goals for the future. He said he would like to see this continue.

Top issues Bandré said he would like to focus on if reelected include maintaining fiscal health of the district by informing legislators how their decisions affect Salina, creative thinking on how to attract educators into the district and support existing staff, partnering with the community to find ways to address the state of poverty among local families, and continuing to address the social-emotional health of students.

"Finances, employing the best possible educators at all levels, eradicating poverty and insuring mental health for all are extremely weighty topics, but if together we can make progress on each of them, then all involved will tremendously benefit," Bandré said.

Dana Kossow

As a current school board member, Dana Kossow said she has worked throughout her last term to understand the complexity of the school district and would appreciate the opportunity to use the knowledge she gained to continue to positively impact Salina Public Schools.

Kossow said her best skill is a willingness to go out into the community and ask how they feel schools are doing.

"I enjoy learning what we are doing well and what could be better. Gathering this information allows me to share those opinions with our district staff and the other (board of education) members," Kossow said.

Kossow said she has seen several positive changes throughout her four-year term. A large part of that progress, she said, has been easier with the drafting of a mission statement and strategic plan.

"As a group, we commutate well, disagree with respect, and individually bring needed perspective to the table," Kossow said.

Over the past 20 years, Kossow co-directed the School Marathon Program in all eight of Salina's public schools and three local private schools. She has kept involved in her children’s school buildings and served on various local committees and boards: the Salina Charities League, Community Health Investment Program, and Salina Initiative for Restorative Justice.

She is also a CASA volunteer, which is a special advocate role for children in foster care.

Kossow said that in many ways, she thinks Salina schools are thriving. She is excited about developments like creating community involvement and parental engagement, partnerships with community businesses and post-secondary institutions, and momentum on addressing chronic absenteeism.

Kossow is a champion of getting the district to its goal of just 17% of students being chronically absent by the 2026-27 school year.

More: Saline County general election races are set. See who's running

Top issues Kossow would like to focus on going forward include teacher and staff retention and communication with students and their families about opportunities in the district.

"Many times, constituents aren’t aware of the outstanding opportunities Salina Public Schools offers students and their families," Kossow said. "The district is engaging in a robust communication initiative to address these challenges. Knowledge is an incredibly powerful tool and USD 305 is working to make sure our families are better informed."

Paul Gebhardt Jr.

Paul Gebhardt Jr. is the lone candidate without previous experience on the USD 305 Board of Education.

Gebhardt enters the race with a desire to contribute to the community and students' future.

"I am a product of this school district and have benefited from many of the programs that it has provided in the past," Gebhardt said. "I believe in honor, integrity, and direction, and I am thankful that so many people whom I have spoken with believe the same and believe in me."

"I want to make Salina schools the best they can be for our children, grandchildren, and future, and it starts with quality education," Gebhardt said.

Gebhardt retired from the Navy after 24 years of service, with combined experience in Navy law enforcement, naval security forces, tactical boarding teams, weapons systems, and explosives safety and management, to name a few.

In the last five years since he moved back to Salina, Gebhardt has focused on his career, recently attending Kansas State University Polytechnic as a professional pilot and UAS Engineering and Technology student.

But after taking stock in his life, Gebhardt said, he realized a desire to be attentive in the ways the local community operates. This then led to a desire to serve and give back to the community. He started attending city commission meetings, school board meetings and other public board meeting to better understand the inner workings of the community.

"Some of the ways that I would like to get more involved are in the areas of creating a zero-tolerance drug culture, physical and mental health areas, and academic achievement promotions," Gebhardt said.

Gebhardt said he believes Salina showed its resiliency as a community when hit with adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there is still work to be done in the aftermath, he said.

"We still need to address the drop in grades that have become apparent since then," Gebhardt said. "It is imperative that we produce top performers throughout our schools to ensure that we are preparing our youth to integrate into society and excel."

Top issues that Gebhardt would like to focus on if elected are chronic absenteeism, creating initiatives that work improve academic scores, and have values of the district and community drive decision making.

"I believe that it is imperative that we reduce the amount of distractions and disruptions that have invaded our schools so that we can get back to focusing on the fundamentals that traditionally have been the foundation of education," Gebhardt said. "We need to assess what justly serves the students and adheres to established guidelines and community values to achieve the desired outcomes we seek."

Scott Gardner

Scott Garner said he wants to continue his service with USD 305 as a way to give back to his community and continue to be a voice for student athletes on the board.

Gardner said he is concerned about what is going on locally, statewide and across the nation with public schools and education as a whole.

In particular, he is focused on being an advocate for fully funding programs in the district.

"When we are not fully funded in one area, we have to draw from another area," Gardner said.

Gardner is involved in the community as a referee, coach and umpire for various sport activities around Salina. He also involved in church activities.

He works for the city of Salina as the director of computer technology, and previously held the city's process improvement director role.

Throughout his time on the USD 305 Board of Education so far, he said he has enjoyed the other board members' energy and the ability to work toward common goals, even when they don't agree on specific issues.

"USD 305 is in a good position and has a number of initiatives that will only enhance the efforts currently underway," Gardner said. "The district needs to continue to focus on getting things done."

Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @calfee_kc.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina USD 305 school board has 4 open seats. Here's who's running