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School-board candidates debate priorities, DEI and vouchers at Excelsior Springs forum
Summary
Four candidates and incumbent board members discussed priorities — including teacher pay, academic achievement and school safety — and disagreed on topics such as diversity-equity-inclusion policies, displaying the Ten Commandments and school vouchers during a candidate forum moderated by the chamber.
Four candidates for the Excelsior Springs school board and current board members debated priorities, community engagement and hot-button topics at a public forum moderated by Brian Rice of the Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Trey Harkins, a longtime board member who said he has served 15 years, told the audience his top priorities are increasing test scores, teacher retention and keeping school facilities up to date. "Teacher retention, however we have to do it. That's top 3," Harkins said.
Kaitlyn Good, who said she has served on the board for six years, said her priorities are academic success, teacher wages and addressing bullying. "Our teachers feel undervalued, underpaid, overworked," Good said. Anna Sue Spahn, a long-time resident and candidate, emphasized reading and basic academic skills and said she would prioritize community engagement and fact-finding.
Candidates differed on several policy questions…
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