Eight people apply for open Columbia Board of Education seat
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Eight people have applied for the open seat on the Columbia Board of Education.
The list of applicants includes former Board members Jan Mees and Della Streaty-Wilhoit. Former state Rep. Chuck Bayse and John Potter – both ran for a Board seat in the April 4 election – have also applied. Phil Stroessner has also applied. Andrea Lisenby --who ran for a Board seat in 2022 -- as well as James Patterson and Frank Aten were added to the candidate list Wednesday evening.
This comes after Katherine Sasser resigned from her position on the Board earlier this month. Sasser cited recent anti-transgender state legislation as a reason for her resignation.
Mees was elected in 2007 as a board member. She served four terms on the board, three of which she served as the president. Mees was also previously president of the Missouri School Board Association.
Bayse came in fourth in the April 4 election, just one spot shy of being elected. Bayse reached his eight-year term limit as a state representative in December. Bayse said if elected, he wants to put a heavier emphasis on education in Columbia Public Schools.
Potter is a native of Columbia and attended Hickman High School. He has three daughters who attend CPS schools and noted that he has attended almost every board meeting the last three years.
Wilhoit was elected to the board in 2019 and served as the president for some time.
Lisenby also has three children who attend school in the district. She serves on the district's special education committee.
Stroessner is a native of Jefferson City and graduated from the University of Missouri. He has three daughters and has worked as a loan officer for Veterans United Home Loans since 2011.
Patterson has been the district sales manager for SGC Food Service since 2017.
Aten is the managing director for the Public School Retirement System of Missouri. He's held that position since 2006.
Those who are interested in applying for the seat can still apply to be on the board until 4 p.m. May 31.
The Board of Education will start applicant interviews on Wednesday, June 7.
