Voter guide: What Wichita school board candidates say about issues in District 6

Voters in District 6 of Wichita Public Schools can choose between two candidates for a four-year-term on the school board.

Incumbent Hazel Stabler is seeking a second term. Amy Warren is making her first run for the board.

District 6 sits between I-135 and I-235 and includes downtown Wichita and Park City. 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 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 5 candidates said. The responses have not been edited.

Hazel Stabler

Age: 68

Occupation: International clothing designer

Campaign phone: 316-302-6733

Campaign email: stabler4schools@gmail.com

Website: No response

Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision? I bring leadership experience, collaboration, and a record of focusing on student achievement, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement. My vision is for every student to read by third grade, graduate with a plan for the future, and learn in safe, inclusive schools that prepare them for success in life.

What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it? My top priority is improving student achievement through early literacy. Reading by third grade sets the foundation for lifelong success. I’ll expand evidence-based reading instruction, strengthen family engagement, and provide teachers with resources and training to ensure every child reads confidently and is prepared for future learning.

Would you vote for the district to seek another public vote on a bond issue? Why or why not? I would support seeking a new bond only after a full and transparent review of facility needs, enrollment trends, and community priorities. If the plan clearly improves safety, learning environments, and student opportunities, I would consider it. Any proposal must include accountability and public trust before moving forward.

Would you vote to follow the facilities master plan and close more schools? Why or why not? I would only support school closures if data, equity, and community input clearly show it benefits students. Any decision must be transparent, fair, and include strong transition and reinvestment plans. Schools are the heart of neighborhoods, and closures should be a last resort made only when they truly improve learning and opportunity.

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 support using taxpayer dollars wisely while protecting classrooms and staff. I’d consider lowering the property tax rate only if it doesn’t harm instruction, safety, or student programs. My focus is on efficiency, transparency, and ensuring every dollar directly supports student learning and achievement.

How would you ensure the district is graduating students who are prepared with the thinking skills they will need in adulthood? I’ll ensure students graduate ready for life by supporting rigorous academics, real-world learning through Future Ready Centers, and strong social-emotional programs. These experiences teach critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication — skills students need to succeed in college, careers, and as active, responsible citizens.

Amy Warren

Age: 42

Occupation: Parent, Volunteer, Advocate

Campaign phone: 316-640-3334

Campaign email: Amy@WarrenForWichitaSchools.com

Website: WarrenForWichitaSchools.com

Why should voters consider you the most qualified candidate? What is your overall vision? As a parent of 3 current WPS students, I’m forever invested in public education. I want WPS to set the bar for prioritizing human connection in education. We have too much technology in place of pedagogy. To that end, my experience volunteering with state and national organizations will bear fruit. We also set our sights too low in understanding K-12 education as job preparation instead of adulthood preparation; we need to prepare our students to work, and we also need to prepare them to think.

What is your top priority and what specifically would you do to address it? We see the symptoms in our students: behavioral problems, limited social interaction, bullying, poor academic performance. We fail to make the diagnosis: the degradation of the attentional environment in our schools, especially by personal electronic devices. Other districts, near and far, are seeing substantial improvements by adopting more-effective policies. Whatever the challenges, I will work to make sure our district gives students access to the distraction-free education they deserve.

Would you vote for the district to seek another public vote on a bond issue? Why or why not? I voted for the last bond, and along with many people who voted yes, I desire to see a better option and more effective communication next time. Voters wonder how it makes sense to ask for more money just to turn around and close schools. I will vote to seek another bond issue, but we need one that meaningfully addresses feedback from the community about the last bond and the overall direction of the district. If we do that, we’ll see our bond pass with robust support from our community.

Would you vote to follow the facilities master plan and close more schools? Why or why not? We need to revisit the plan. I haven’t talked with a single person in District 6 who isn’t concerned with closing more schools. I worry about unintended consequences, for issues like absenteeism, when we expect more students to travel much further to get to their new school. Given how neighborhood schools provide connection and identity, we need to hear more parent and neighborhood voices in order to help us more realistically weigh the benefits of closure vs the less-visible costs.

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 fear looking back, 20 or 30 years from now, at this moment and thinking that we sacrificed tomorrow for the sake of today. Our local schools are one of the most important services we invest in. I can’t predict exactly how I’ll vote each year, because funding sources fluctuate over time, but I will always vote to provide our schools with the funding they need, with consideration for reducing the tax burden, and actively promote public education in Wichita.

How would you ensure the district is graduating students who are prepared with the thinking skills they will need in adulthood? The biggest threat to students’ critical thinking skills is rapid adoption of AI in schools. The frictionless thinking offered by AI may facilitate efficiency for professionals, but it degrades younger learners’ opportunity to develop their own foundational deep-thinking skills. While the district currently restricts access to many AI tools, we need to implement classroom practices now that anticipate and nullify AI’s appeal.