The Platte County R-3 School District Board of Education race features three candidates, including one incumbent, vying for two spots on the board.
The district also has a question on the ballot, seeking to issue $62 million in general obligation bonds for the second phase of reconstruction of Platte County High School, site amenities at Platte Purchase Middle School, playground facilities at Pathfinder Elementary School and parking improvements at Compass Elementary School. The passage rate for the bond issuance is four-sevenths. See the full ballot language on Page 4 of this issue.
Candidates for the board include current board president Shawn Chiddix as well as former board member Alisha Elliott and newcomer John Ready.
CHIDDIX
Shawn Chiddix, 47, is from Kansas City. Married, he has two teenage children and has worked as a regulator within the securities industry for more than 25 years.
Originally from Lexington, Mo., Chiddix said he appreciates the sense of community a small town provides.
“As I complete my three-year term as a member of the Platte County Board of Education, I am honored to have served in leadership roles, including vice president and my current position as president of the board,” Chiddix said. “In addition, I have contributed to several key committees, including the Community Advisory Steering Committee, the Audit and Internal Controls Committee, and the Community Technology Planning Committee. Over the past three years, I have gained invaluable experience and remain committed to giving back to the community. I deeply value the opportunity to hear and represent a diverse range of voices, recognizing it as both a privilege and a responsibility. I am truly grateful for the leadership opportunities I have been given.”
Both of his children have attended the Platte County School District since kindergarten. In addition to experiencing the district as a parent, he said he has the unique perspective of being married to a teacher at Platte City Middle School.
“This connection has given me valuable insight into multiple stakeholder perspectives, including those of parents, educators, community members, and the local workforce,” he said.
He said he is running for the board again to focus on the long-term success of the district, beyond the short-term issues. He wants to prepare students for success beyond high school and wants to support educators to that end.
“Maintaining a competitive salary and benefits structure is crucial in attracting and retaining the most qualified educators,” he said. “In a time when teacher shortages are a growing concern, we must remain proactive in making Platte County a district where top talent wants to stay and grow.”
He said if re-elected, he would advance the district’s strategic plan and work to improve student achievement as well as attracting and retaining quality staff.
ELLIOTT
Alisha Elliott, 46, is from Winchester, Kan. Married, she has two teenage children and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas.
Elliott said she’s running for the board to give back to the community and contribute to the improvement of the schools and district.
“I served on the school board from 2019 to 2022 and have been actively involved in the schools, as I have daughters in both middle and high school,” she said. “As a parent, I stay informed about what is happening in our schools and understand the perspectives of teachers and other members of the district community.”
Elliott said the growth within the district is exciting, but it also brings challenges regarding how to effectively educate the influx of new students.
If elected, she said she would ensure that the schools are not overcrowded by keeping class sizes manageable and adding schools and teachers as necessary.
READY
John Ready is retired and has been married for 48 years. He has three grown children and served in the Army, where he designed equipment and conducted research at the National Security Agency. He recently retired from management at Evergy (formerly KCPL) as a project planner.
Ready said he has always been involved in the communities he’s lived in and has served for 10 years in office in Country Club Village in Andrew County where he served as chairman, and on the Planning and Zoning Board.
He said he is running for the board to promote reading proficiency, particularly in the early grades.
“A quality education affects our way of life, our community and our future as a nation,” Ready said. “We must find ways to improve.”
He said he raised his children in Missouri public schools and was always involved in their education. He also traveled across northwest Missouri teaching electrical safety to second graders while working for St. Joseph Light and Power.
Ready said while Platte County R-3 schools are excellent, he feels there is room for improvement in literacy.
“While 50 percent of Platte County R-3 third graders are reading at grade level, there are 50 percent of third grade students who are reading below grade level,” Ready said. “Statistically, the kids who struggle with reading in third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school. It is profound to realize that reading proficiency in the early grades has a life-long impact. I think we can do better than 50 percent.”
If elected, he said he would contribute to policy, budgets and schedules and use his influence to encourage and to enhance literacy programs in the early grades.