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Ozark R‑VI school board candidates face questions on class sizes, pay and Senate Bill 3 at PTA forum
Summary
Seven candidates at an Ozark R‑VI PTA forum outlined their priorities on class size, playground accessibility, mental‑health policy and teacher pay and differed on how to respond if Senate Bill 3 reduces local property‑tax revenue by an estimated $2 million.
Ozark R‑VI school board candidates answered questions from PTAs and residents Tuesday night, outlining how they would address class sizes, playground accessibility, teacher pay and the possible local impact of Senate Bill 3.
Moderator Cindy Kzer, speaking for the Ozark District PTA, ran the meet‑the‑candidates event and explained the timing rules for answers. Incumbent board member Christina Tuning said she is seeking re‑election and emphasized transparency in board work — "there has to be more transparency" — noting the district added clickable agenda links and more discussion in recent years. Other candidates described varied backgrounds: one named Maggarott cited legal and business experience and service on local boards; Amber Bryant highlighted HR work for Christian County and PTA leadership; Patrick Sullivan described 35 years in education and his role as a teacher educator at Missouri State University; Cindy Baker cited decades in early‑childhood and mental‑health services and operation of local counseling practices.
On class sizes and staffing, PTA members described elementary classrooms approaching or exceeding 25 students. Candidates largely agreed on monitoring enrollment trends, considering boundary adjustments when necessary and pursuing grants or other funding to prevent overcrowding. Tuning and others said recent redistricting relieved pressure in some schools but that demographic forecasts showed flat or slightly declining enrollment in the near term.
When asked about monthly building walkthroughs, candidates said attending school walkthroughs helps board members see needs and build relationships with teachers and staff. Several candidates said walkthroughs reveal issues not visible in board reports and help set priorities for facility and instructional resources.
On playground accessibility, PTA leaders pressed for site‑level audits and funding to make play areas inclusive for students with disabilities. Candidates recommended hiring accessibility experts, forming volunteer grant‑writing teams and seeking community or sponsor support; some said the cost of inclusive playground equipment is high and may require bond measures or phased work.
Asked about Senate Bill 3, which a PTA question framed as potentially reducing district revenue by roughly $2 million, candidates described uncertainty about the bill's language and timing. Several noted the measure would affect property‑tax collections beginning in the 2026 tax year and that projected impacts differ by county. One candidate said, "I find Senate Bill 3 to be unconstitutional," and others proposed setting aside surplus in good years, trimming noninstructional spending and advocating with state legislators. Candidates warned the district could face hard budget choices if the loss occurs, and some said protecting classroom positions would be a priority while balancing budget adjustments.
On teacher pay, community questioners recalled a recently passed levy that voters expected would help raise compensation. Candidates described recent salary increases (they cited raises of about 8–11% during the current board's tenure) and said they would continue to look for ways to keep the district competitive with neighboring systems, while acknowledging state funding uncertainty and potential constraints if SB3 or other cuts materialize.
On bullying and mental health, candidates said the board's role is to set clear, current policies and ensure consistent oversight while respecting administrators' expertise; they also emphasized counseling resources, SRO relationships and follow‑through on reports of incidents.
No formal motions or votes were taken at the forum. The event closed with reminders about the upcoming school board election and information for voters.
The forum featured multiple PTA representatives (including Laura Elliot of Ozark West PTA, Sherah of Tiger Paw PTA, Kristen Kringler of North PTA, Britney Matthews of East PTA, Julie Ka of South PTA and Ashley from the middle school PTA) who posed questions, and candidates repeatedly returned to funding constraints, community engagement and protecting classroom resources as organizing themes.
