💬 We asked readers to share questions they’d like us to ask the candidates. Their responses helped us select the questions for candidates this year.
Center school board candidates shared their perspectives on how the school district can maintain its full accreditation after several years of low scores.
Voters will see four candidates on their ballots April 7, seeking three open spots on the board.
Incumbent Ira Boydston IV said he planned to respond to a questionnaire from The Beacon but had not completed it by the time of publication. The other three candidates — Melissa Bellante, Marsha Brown and Kristin Stokely — did respond.
According to its website, the Center 58 School District serves more than 2,000 students in part of south Kansas City. It’s bounded by State Line Road on the west, the Blue River on the east, 114th and 115th streets on the south and 77th and 85th streets on the north.
We asked the candidates about their backgrounds, policy positions and priorities ahead of the election.
Their responses have been edited for clarity, grammar and AP style.
Click on a link to jump to a section of the questionnaire:
- School spending
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement in schools
- Teacher pay
- School choice
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- The most important issues facing the district
- Maintaining accreditation
Meet your Center school board candidates
Melissa Bellante
Occupation: Blue Valley School District — special services/Medicaid specialist
Background and qualifications: Third-generation Center alum. Has been working most of career in public education, working in and out of the classroom for the last 15 years in various roles and capacities.
Favorite school-related event: Any school functions that invite alumni back — homecoming football game, Hive Basketball Night, etc.
For more information see: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586961013919
Marsha Brown
Occupation: Retired educator
Background and qualifications: I was an educator for nearly 50 years in a variety of settings.
Favorite school-related event: National Junior Honor Society induction and events.
For more information see: https://www.vote411.org/ballot?lwv-ballot-widget-raceid=6716354
Kristin Stokely
Occupation: Attorney
Background and qualifications: I was an attorney for the state of Missouri for 11 years. During that time I represented four boards and commissions. Most recently I served as general counsel to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the State Workforce Development Board.
Favorite school-related event: I am partial to Hive Night and watching my child perform at halftime with the school mini-cheer clinic.
For more information see: stokelyforcenter.com
Ira Boydston (incumbent)
Boydston did not respond to the questionnaire by the time of publication. He is a current board member who joined the board in 2023. According to his school board bio, he and his wife have lived in the Center school district since 2007. He is a graduate of Park University and has worked for Oracle Health since 2013. He has experience volunteering with local charities and as a former track coach for a charter school. His bio says he “is committed to transparency and empowering parents to help their scholars succeed.”
Multiple-choice questions
School spending
In my district…
- We’re spending too little on schools, at the expense of students.
- We’re spending too much on schools, at the expense of taxpayers.
- We’ve struck a good balance on taxes and school spending.
Bellante: Did not respond.
Brown: This is an either/or question and the answer lies in the middle. The district has been working on it and continues to work toward the best possible balance.
Stokely: School funding is a critical issue in the Center School District due to state underfunding and the fact that the district is a small urban district. As a result, students suffer.
Boydston: Did not respond.
Immigration enforcement in schools
If Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials show up at a school, my district should…
- Cooperate as much as possible without getting into legal trouble.
- Cooperate as little as possible without getting into legal trouble.
- Other (please explain)
Bellante: Our staff have to pass a background check prior to employment. Two core values are “Safe and Respectful Schools” and “High Expectations for Student Success.” These cannot go together if people are coming in and out of the schools at any given time.
Brown: The pre-K-12 school setting is not the place to manage immigration issues.
Stokely: The district’s first priority must be protecting students while at school, and it should not allow ICE agents on school property. Students deserve the right to feel safe and protected at school.
Boydston: Did not respond.
Teacher pay
Teachers in my district…
- Need a significant pay raise.
- Are paid too much already.
- Are making about the right amount.
- Other.
Bellante: I believe that all school level employees, not just the teachers, deserve to receive living wages.
Brown: Raises should keep the district competitive with other districts in order to retain our experienced staff. Clearly, the plan for raises must be considered within the overall budget.
Stokely: Teachers do not make enough money. Their profession is incredibly difficult, and their happiness directly impacts the future of Center students and, as a result, the city, state and nation.
Boydston: Did not respond.
School choice
Missouri lawmakers have proposed law changes to expand charter schools, allow students to switch school districts more easily and pay for more students to attend private schools. As a school board member, I would…
- Generally support these efforts.
- Support some, but not all, of these efforts.
- Generally oppose these efforts.
- Avoid advocating one way or another.
Bellante: By expanding charter schools and allowing students to move districts, it is only going to further take away from our already strict budget that we receive from the state. We already struggle as it is to make the budget stretch for the year.
Brown: Did not respond.
Stokely: Local public schools are incredibly important in the community. The state should focus on funding the Foundation Formula instead of spending taxpayer dollars (or offering tax credits) for students to attend private school.
Boydston: Did not respond.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
My school district….
- Overemphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).
- Underemphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).
- Puts about the right amount of emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).
- Other
Bellante: I look forward to seeing how the district puts emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).
Brown: Did not respond.
Stokely: Center serves a highly diverse student population. Students need DEIB education to build skills for working with people unlike themselves. Because staff is less diverse, DEIB training is essential to effectively support all students.
Boydston: Did not respond.
Short answer
Name up to three specific things you would do on the board to address the most important issues facing the district.
Bellante: 1. As a district, we need to look at why the test scores are still so low.
2. As a district, we need to work on overall family engagement.
3. As a district, we need to look at staff and student success outside of test scores.
Brown: 1. Establish clear priorities for student learning and stick to those in board decision-making.
2. Focus on recruitment and retention of highly qualified, successful staff to educate the students.
3. Collaborate across all our schools to set policies and practices that build up the family/school partnership.
Stokely: 1. Find ways to optimize funding to support teachers.
2. Volunteer with staff to publicize district-provided opportunities to support families through difficult times such as homelessness.
3. Try to increase awareness of the Parents as Teachers program to engage families early and get children into the Yellowjacket Early Learning Center.
Boydston: Did not respond.
The school district is one of only a dozen in the state that have scored below the range for full state accreditation for the past three years. The State Board of Education will consider lowering districts’ accreditation status in early 2027. If elected to the school board, what will you do to help the district remain fully accredited?
Bellante: Hold the superintendent accountable for our test scores in our new strategic plan. “Progress will be measured annually using DESE APR results, with a districtwide increase in the percentage of Performance points earned of at least 7 percentage points each year.”
Brown: The school board’s role is planning and policy while both supporting and holding accountable the superintendent and staff.
Stokely: The primary reason for the low score is because previous administrative staff incorrectly reported many data points to the state. Dr. Hogg and his staff are correcting these reporting issues in the next round. Other than that, I will focus my platform on finding ways to encourage attendance and fully engage students in test taking.
Boydston: Did not respond.
