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School board candidates stress funding, family outreach and tech policies at Vermillion forum
Summary
At a VCDC candidate forum, incumbent Ryan Johnson and challenger Bill Ames discussed school funding tied to enrollment, strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism and the need for policies addressing technology and AI in schools.
At a candidate forum hosted by the Vermillion Chamber of Commerce (VCDC), school board candidates Ryan Johnson and Bill Ames outlined contrasting priorities focused on funding, family engagement and preparing district policies for new technology.
Ryan Johnson, who said he was appointed last September and is running for a full term, said funding is the district’s most pressing challenge because state formulas link dollars to enrollment. "A small dip in enrollment, each student that we don't enroll, that's thousands of dollars in reduced funding to the school district," Johnson said, adding he would consult teachers and administrators to prioritize limited resources.
Bill Ames, a parent and former Penn State systems administrator, pointed to technology and budget pressures. "Right now that's AI. So that's going to be a challenge," Ames said, and he warned the district needs a "steady hand on the tiller" to manage spending. He also cited an opt-out obligation, saying "We've opted out to the tune of $800,000," as a specific fiscal pressure the board must manage.
Both candidates emphasized outreach to families as central to improving attendance and outcomes. Johnson said the district must "listen to those voices" that may not be loud and make sure families with fewer resources are heard. Ames urged personal outreach and partnerships with local institutions including the University of South Dakota, noting the campus’s psychological clinic as an example of an available resource.
On chronic absenteeism, Ames recommended community-based, personal-contact approaches and partnerships with local nonprofits. "I'll go to the homes. I'll meet the people in McDonald's or Starbucks and say, hey, how can I help you?" he said. Johnson linked attendance and achievement and called for continued support for teachers to keep students engaged.
Moderator Dr. Carrie Oyan framed the event as nonpartisan and focused on giving voters direct access to candidates’ perspectives. The school board race on the June 2 ballot has one seat contested by the two candidates present.
The forum moved on to city and mayoral races after the school board segment concluded; no formal votes or endorsements were taken at the VCDC event.
