Voter guide: What Wichita school board candidates say about issues in District 2
Voters in District 2 of Wichita Public Schools can choose between three candidates for a seat on the school board.
Brent T. Davis and Valerie Most are challenging incumbent Julie Hedrick, who is seeking a third four-year term.
District 2 includes parts of east and southeast Wichita. Only people who live in this area can vote in this race. Voters can find out which board district they live in by checking the Kansas secretary of state’s VoterView.
Those who are elected to the school board will be responsible for the Wichita school district’s policies and for managing its nearly $1 billion budget. Members hold their positions for four years and are not paid.
The election is Nov. 4. Advance voting by mail is open now. Request a ballot here by Tuesday, Oct. 28. Advance voting in person starts Monday, Oct. 20 at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main, Suite 101, in Wichita. Go here for details and information on satellite sites opening Thursday, Oct. 30.
To help voters learn about the candidates, The Eagle sent a questionnaire asking each candidate to share biographical details about themselves and respond to questions ranging from their priorities to student achievement to whether to propose a new bond issue.
Here is what the District 2 candidates said. The responses have not been edited.
Brent T. Davis
Brent Davis did not respond to the voter guide questions. He owns a test preparation and tutoring business and said earlier this summer that his top priority would be to raise student outcomes. He ran for an at-large position on the board in 2021 and 2023.
Julie Hedrick
Age: 69
Occupation: Architect/Facility Manager
Campaign phone: 316-686-2440
Campaign email: jgh2007@outlook.com
Website: Julie Hedrick for BOE, JulieHeadrickusd259boe
Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision? Because of my eight years of impactful service in the position. My record shows I’m a consistent leader and a positive voice on the BOE. I persistently support teachers and staff. Prior to two terms (eight years) on the Board of Education, I worked in the Facilities Division of Wichita Public Schools for 28.5 years. I have insider facility and operations knowledge and experience. My vision is to always do what’s best for kids.
What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it? My top priority is to continue to provide quality education for students in order to give them the opportunity to thrive and to become ready for their futures whatever they choose that to be. Whether students are on a four year or more college track, a plan to go straight into the work force, a technical training plan or entry into the military, I want ALL kids to be planned and prepared for that next step on their road to a successful and fulfilling future.
Would you vote for the district to seek another public vote on a bond issue? Why or why not? I support another bond issue. I want the environments our students learn in and our teachers teach in to be adequate educational environments. In order to provide long term maintenance, building improvements, system upgrades, and technological enhancements it requires additional dollars beyond the annual capital outlay budget. Passing a bond issue is the formula in Kansas to provide these additional needed finances. And we can do that with a zero mill levy increase.
Would you vote to follow the facilities master plan and close more schools? Why or why not? Nobody wants to close schools, but the District can’t fund buildings with unutilized square footage. This happens as declines in population in Sedgwick County are forcing school enrollment declines across the area. The district may pursue ways of securing a larger market share of the students. Every option should be explored. Yet, school closures may be inevitable in order to reroute the available resources to adequately fund quality teachers, student resources, impactful programs, mental health initiatives and other needed educational supports.
The city and county both lowered their property tax mill levies slightly this year while the school district did not. Would you vote to cut the district’s property tax rate in the future? Why or why not? I have historically aimed to keep the mill levy level thus avoiding significant raises to nor significant cuts in the tax rate. The dollar increases to the taxpayer result not from the district’s decision but from the properties being worth more. Although I work not to significantly raise taxes, we also need to keep existing funding levels strong to continue to make gains in student achievement and success. I think our kids are worth it. They are our future.
How would you ensure the district is graduating students who are prepared with the thinking skills they will need in adulthood? Kansas education standards are set by the Ks. State BOE. The local BOE hires highly qualified teachers in order to teach to the state standards. Great teachers prepare our students with skills needed for their futures. In addition to academic graduation requirements our secondary asset requirement is above and beyond that set by the state. These efforts are making WPS the premier district in the state and our students future ready. Thus, prepared with the skills needed in adulthood.
Valerie Most
Age: 59
Occupation: Intern and Field Services Coordinator
Campaign phone: 316-990-5452
Campaign email: vmost99@gmail.com
Website: No response
Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision? I have been a high school Business Teacher for 31 years, and 29 of those years have been in USD 259. I have been in many leadership roles while teaching. My Vision - to encourage students to be live long learners and to help them find where their interest lie. While at the same time, encouraging our teachers and staff, because if they don’t feel successful, neither will the students.
What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it? A more consistent and classroom focused Truancy Policy. Students get behind because they aren’t in class . My plan is to have the parents and students kept accountable for attendance.
Would you vote for the district to seek another public vote on a bond issue? Why or why not? Yes, these buildings need help to keep them safe for our teachers and students. Before the move to the new Southeast, there were bricks falling out of the side of the wall in the small gym during classes.
Would you vote to follow the facilities master plan and close more schools? Why or why not? I believe that we need to work through the plan, and focus on the schools that are in the worst shape, and then move forward from there.
The city and county both lowered their property tax mill levies slightly this year while the school district did not. Would you vote to cut the district’s property tax rate in the future? Why or why not? No I would not. The cost to educate students has not gone down. There are more students with bigger needs in our district. The special education departments have grown, and our students are behind on their education because of how much everyone moves in today’s society.
How would you ensure the district is graduating students who are prepared with the thinking skills they will need in adulthood? I know as a district we have been working on problem solving and work skills for a very long time. I think we would need to take another look at them and up date them to today’s world. I also believe that having the students take personal assessments that would help guide them in their interests would help them focus on those, and they could learn more about it and what it takes to be successful.