The Neelyville R-IV school district is holding an election Tuesday for its school board.
Six candidates will appear on the ballot. Of those six, the two who receive the most votes will be elected to serve on the board. One incumbent filed for re-election. Terms are for three years.
Each candidate was asked the same series of questions. They are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.
Travis Russom
Travis Russom believes his management experience gives him the ability to solve any problems that might arise if he gets elected. He believes that patience and getting to the bottom of any possible problem are important.
Staffing the appropriate teachers and administrative personnel are also important issues for Russom.
“Making sure they are the appropriate people and they are the right people in place is going to be vital. It’s all about the kids of course but if you don’t have the right teachers or the right administrators, then really what’s the school worth?” he asked.
Russom stresses his ties to the community as well. He has two children attending the district and wants to set policy that is best for not only his children but everyone else’s as well.
Ronald Hover Jr.
Ronald Hover Jr. is the lone incumbent running in this year’s race and he wishes to keep the school in a good financial position and look out for the future of the school.
Three of his children have either graduated or are currently going to school in the district. He also has two grandchildren currently attending, so he believes it’s imperative to him to watch what’s going on in the district.
Hiring and maintaining quality educators is a priority.
“The big issue is going to be teachers, in certain subjects there is a big teacher shortage and that will be part of the challenge, trying to find good, qualified people,” he said. “All we can do is keep our ears open and hope that situation heals itself as more people graduate. The teacher issue is definitely an issue. We’ve been lucky but there are things we struggle with too.”
Ashley Taylor
Ashley Taylor is running for a seat on the board for the first time and is the only woman in the race.
When she found out two seats were available and only one person was running, she thought about it and entered the race.
The problems that schools nationwide have experienced with COVID restrictions and distance learning concern her, as well as how to pay for the needs of the district. Neelyville has in the past pushed for bonds to be issued for capital projects, but Taylor wants to find a different way to meet the needs of both the public and the school.
Her experience is another reason she decided to run.
“This position is about volunteering to help the public, which is what I do,” she said. “I have experience working in the Poplar Bluff School District, so I get some of the ins and outs, and it helps you to see more than one side of a situation or issue that they might happen to be dealing with at that time.”
Justin Beaird
Justin Beaird ran for the board last year and has thrown his hat back in the ring this year. He wants to bring fresh ideas to the school district. Straightening out the budget and finding a way to provide more buildings for the students are a priority.
Beaird says his close ties and feelings about Neelyville are what make him a good candidate.
“I’m from Neelyville, which most all the candidates are, but my mother taught and retired from Neelyville,” he said. “I know several of the faculty there. I know a lot of the people from the community, and I’m willing to listen. I really love that school. I’m from that school. I graduated from there, my brother and sister graduated from there. My kids go to that school. I moved back to this school district for my family, so I love this school.”
Justin Pennington
Justin Pennington has always lived in the district. He grew up there, wants to help the community and the kids that live there and says that is why he is running for the board.
Pennington goes on to say, “I am a businessman. I’m used to running things as a business. That’s my qualifications. Being on the board requires a lot of business decisions.”
Calls made to a sixth candidate, Robert Fisher, were not returned.