Turnout light at polling places as Springfield, area districts vote for school board

At about 9 a.m. Tuesday, voter turnout at the James River Church polling place along West Bypass was much like the weather: A steady drizzle.

Voter Sue Baggett-Day was one of the few who came out today and she encouraged others to do so as well.

“Just get out and vote,” Baggett-Day said, adding that municipal elections are just as important as national elections. “(Voting) is quick and painless.”

In Springfield, the hotly contested school board election is likely the biggest draw. Voters will pick three school board members from a field of seven candidates: Landon McCarter, Chad Rollins, Susan Provance, Kyler Sherman-Wilkins and incumbents Scott Crise, Danielle Kincaid and Maryam Mohammadkhani.

The three candidates with the most votes will be sworn in April 9. The board sets policy, approves an annual budget and hires and evaluates the superintendent.

Baggett-Day said that her support for the LGBTQIA community was part of what informed her choices for school board members. Other voters at the James River Church polling place who declined to share their names said they made choices based on their values or the Back on Track PAC’s voter guide. The conservative group, which has backed candidates in the past several school board elections, endorsed incumbent Mohammadkhani as well as McCarter and Rollins, both of whom ran unsuccessfully for the board a year ago.

Former teacher Jo Palmerton cast her vote at The Well Church in north Springfield. She said discipline in schools is the issue on the forefront of her mind this election. She said schools need to be tougher on students, and more parents need to be involved with their children's education.

"They need to answer to some consequences for their behavior in school and have tougher standards," Palmerton said.

Kathy Steel came out to vote despite the drizzle and wind at Darr Agricultural Center. As a young woman, she said, she felt she didn't know enough about politics to participate in elections. Now, however, she makes it a point to vote.

"I just need to do the best I can to inform myself," Steel said. "A big thing for me is the women's right to vote — women waited so long to get the right to vote. I (vote) in big part because of that, regardless of what we come out here for."

This election, she got information from a friend on which candidates were Christian, which informed her decision.

"So those are the three I voted for, and that made it easy for me," Steel said. "I'd seen them on television and I don't know any of them."

More: The News-Leader's coverage of Springfield, area school board races, free to all readers

This election, Springfield voters will also decide whether to adopt two amendments to the Springfield City Charter.

One asks if the charter should be amended to require enactment of a code of ethics to be reviewed annually by the city council. It would also revise a provision to address employee violations with disciplinary action — up to and including termination — and add a legal defense to the forfeiture of office or the termination of employment as long as a prior, written advisory opinion from the city attorney was obtained and relied upon in good faith.

The other proposed amendment would allow the mayor to serve a four-year term, instead of a two-year term. The change would start with the 2025 general municipal election, if approved. However, the mayor will still be limited to serve eight consecutive years.

Despite her efforts to stay informed, Steel wishes that issues on the ballot were written more simply.

"One of my problems with voting for issues sometimes is that the language is so obscure that you can't tell if it's good or bad. I have a real problem with that, but nothing ever changes."

What else is on the ballot in Springfield and surrounding areas?

Voters in Republic, southwest of Springfield in Greene County, will weigh in on six proposed amendments to the city charter.

They will determine which city leader appoints the city attorney, set a staggered schedule for electing members of the city council, set new rules for city council meeting agendas, make capital planning part of the annual budget, and bring the public utilities temporary permit issuing process into line.

Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller predicts a final turnout of 14% to 16%.

Nearly all the area districts — including Ozark, Nixa, and Willard — will have competitive school board races, meaning there are more candidates running than open seats.

Voters in Fair Grove and Republic will decide sales tax issues.

Billings, Highlandville, Pleasant Hope and Nixa have marijuana taxes on their ballots.

The fate of proposed tax-related school issues, either levy increases or bond issues, will be decided by voters in Ava, Bolivar, Clever, Fair Play, Halfway, and Sparta.

There are also a smattering of other measures on area ballots, including a public safety question in Bolivar and fire protection district in central Polk County.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: What's happening on Election Day as Springfield elects school board