Four people are seeking the two available seats in the April 6 election on the Grandview R-2 School District’s Board of Education.
Cynthia Modrosic is running for a second three-year term while the other incumbent, Bob Gearhart, decided against seeking a third term.
Joining Modrosic in the chase for the two seats are Amie L. Merz, Gary E. Bohler and Heather (Langhans) Bodnar.
School board members are unpaid.
MODROSIC, 46, lives in Fletcher. She and her husband, Bill, have two children. She is a self-employed doctor of audiology in Union. She graduated from O’Fallon (Ill.) Township High School in 1992, received a bachelor’s degree in 1996 from St. Louis University, a master’s degree from Illinois in 1998, a master’s degree from the Central Institute for the Deaf at Washington University in 2001, and a doctorate in audiology from A.T. Still University in 2017.
MERZ, 51, lives in Hillsboro. She and her husband, Tony, have two children. She is an account manager, employee assistance program consultant and counselor for Personal Assistance Services. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Louis University in 1992 and a master’s degree in counseling from Webster University in 1996.
BOHLER lives in Hillsboro. He has four children. He declined to supply his age. He is a professional commercial real estate broker, specializing in advanced investment transactions and financial negotiation and analysis. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. His wife is a former employee of the district.
BODNAR, 38, lives in Dittmer. She has four children and is self-employed as a natural health professional and customer service representative for DME. She is a graduate of Grandview High School graduate and received a certificate as a natural health practitioner business from Academy Epic.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Modrosic: In addition to my term on the board, I am a member of the Union Rotary Club and the Union Chamber of Commerce. I also serve on the Union Rotary executive board. I volunteer at Give Kids a Smile. I have been a volunteer substitute teacher at Grandview this year and have participated in the elementary parent volunteer group.
Merz: I am on the Board of Directors of Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Advocates. I am the founder of Teen Leadership Conference at Grandview. I have been on the executive board and was chair of the Jefferson County Drug Prevention Coalition, have been a member of the Project Cope board and am a founding member of the Jefferson County Resource Network. I have worked for 30 years in mental health for families, schools and organizations.
Bohler: I have held many leadership positions within the Junior Achievement and Boy Scouts of America organizations and am still a leader for Boy Scout Troop 547 in Hillsboro. I am an elected trustee for my subdivision property association, dealing with liability, litigation, mitigation and budgeting.
Bodnar: I am a graduate of Grandview High School, where I served in student government.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Modrosic: A lack of corporate financial support significantly affects our budget as our tax base is lower than most other districts. There is not a good way to solve this problem other than to ensure good financial stewardship. We need to stay vigilant that we continue to improve our curriculum and instruction and sustain recent improvements, especially with proper early literacy and math instruction to give our students a proper base.
Merz: The past year has been one of the biggest challenges for schools, businesses, families and students there has ever been, and the residual effects are not yet known. Grandview has had to balance the obligation to provide education with the safety and well-being of all involved. People are tired. We will need to address educational requirements while balancing student and teacher morale and capacity for change. My experience in mental wellness with individuals and families as well as from an organizational standpoint will allow me to provide insight to what people are capable of handling.
Bohler: Like all schools, “normal” is being defined day by day and finances plague the district, along with teacher retention and communication. I would like better educate myself on these struggles and offer my professional and personal experience. Communication among board members while teaming with critical subcommittees offer the most efficient forms of communication.
Bodnar: Budget and funding, I intend to offer suggestions and solutions for a balanced environment.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Modrosic: I have learned a significant amount about schools and what it means to be a board member over the past three years. I will carry this knowledge forward and continue to keep the best interest of the children of our district as the focus of all of my decisions.
Merz: I am good at looking at the big picture, not just the parts and pieces. If the board is considering a goal or a change, I will be able to identify things to consider from multiple perspectives so initiatives are realistic and can be successful for all involved. My goals are:
■ To make sure that district changes and expectations are realistic in our current psychological climate.
■ Our district remains academically balanced for all students.
■ All students and staff feel they are heard.
■ We continue to bring pride to our community.
Bohler: I am fair and honest but more important I am passionate about education and the challenges our children will face in their careers. My experience, both professionally and personally, meshes the needs to organize, rationalize, communicate, direct, advance protocol and advance education. There is absolutely nothing more important than a young mind. My goals include, but are not limited to:
■ Educate myself on the financial impact of the pandemic.
■ Identify and improve communication deficiencies.
■ Build and provide an atmosphere for young minds.
Bodnar: I intend to help our community as a voice for our children and parents.
What letter grade would you give your school board on its policy regarding virtual vs. in-classroom learning during the current school year, and why?
Modrosic: A-minus. Our district gave families a choice of virtual or in-person. The in-school protocols in place are proving to be effective by current research. Decisions are being made by evaluating current data. Keeping both in-person and virtual students in the same online curriculum ensures that there are no differences in material learned, while also allowing our students to go virtual at a moment’s notice.
Merz: A. There has not been one right answer this past year and I have worked with 20 school districts that have all done it differently. There have been pros and cons to every approach; teachers, students and faculty have had good and bad days at all districts; and Grandview has worked hard to make the best decisions it could. I have worked remotely for the past year and virtual school with a special education student has been challenging, but Grandview has excelled at communicating with us. I appreciate the flexibility and personal touch that a small school provides.
Bohler: A-minus. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a playbook instructing schools to address a pandemic. Chaos loomed and our parents were looking for answers, some of which could not be provided, because there weren’t any answers. Someone needed to step up as we looked to our first responders, government and even to each other. But what we didn’t recognize right away was that our heroes were the teachers, secretaries, administrators, janitors, maintenance personnel, bus drivers, superintendents and even the school board members. Each of our Grandview employees and volunteers made professional and personal decisions to provide a safe educational environment.
Bodnar: B. They have tried their best to follow the guidelines and restrictions from health advisers through the past school year.