Schools

Parkway School Board Candidates Guide 2012

Get to know your candidates for the Parkway School District's Board of Education before April 3.

With municipal elections approaching next week, Patch presents another look at our three Parkway School District Board of Election candidates. The district school board has two open seats for three active candidates, who have discussed for the district and issues about to date.

Kim Appelbaum of Ballwin is the sole newcomer up for election, while incumbent Helen Casteel of St. Louis County will be completing her second 3-year term next month following her first election in 2006. Fellow board member Beth Feldman of Chesterfield was elected in 2009.

Learn more about the candidates below, and be sure to tell us your thoughts in the comments section following the article. Municipal elections take place Tuesday, April 3.

Editor's Note: The candidates are ordered alphabetically and placement does not reflect ballot order nor endorsement.

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Kim Appelbaum, Ballwin

Please briefly describe your bio (occupation and name of your employer/s, family, etc.
I  have a BA in Psychology from Lindenwood University and was in the IT  Contract Management field for over 15 years.  I just recently changed  careers to become a Business Development Manager for TechnoSmarts, Inc., which is a staffing provider of IT, Biotechnology and Accounting & Finance professionals for contract, contract to hire, and/or direct placement.

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I have been happily married to Paul for almost 17 years. We have two sons, Matthew, who is a Freshman at West High and plays percussion for the marching band; and Nicholas, who is a 7th grader at West Middle and plays the baritone for band.  We have a dog named KC Lynn who is a chocolate lab mix we adopted from Mostly Mutt Rescue. We also have an orange tabby cat named Charlie.

I have always been active with my kids’ schools by participating as the Room Party Parent, PTO Secretary, Spirit Wear Chairperson, and Cub Scout Den Leader while they attended Henry Elementary; Grade level Party Planner while at West Middle; and am currently part of the West High Band Boosters, on the West High Spirit Wear Committee, and Treasurer for Boy Scout Troop
In whatever free time I find, I enjoy scrapbooking, card-making, reading, and being a band mom!
 
How long have you been a resident of the Parkway School District?
I have been a resident of the Parkway School District since my husband and I were married in October of 1995.  We chose to live in Parkway because of the excellent reputation of the schools.

Why are you running for the Parkway board?
I decided to run for a position on the Parkway Board of Education because I still have two kids in the Parkway School district and will for several more years. I want to be a voice of concerned parents who are upset with the perception that the current board is acting unilaterally. I believe the board has a very difficult job and by serving as a board member and obtaining a more informed understanding of the issues presented, I will greatly help other parents understand that the main responsibility is and always will be for the kids and our tax payers.

What do you hope to accomplish? Please be as specific as possible.
The three things I would like to accomplish this year are: 1) assure the necessary budget cuts balance revenues and expenses; 2) assure as reductions are made in math and reading, the support continues to meet our children’s intervention needs; and 3) creatively think of ways to add revenue and assure an educational future for all Parkway kids.

 What is the biggest issue the Parkway School District faces in the year ahead? Again, please be as specific as possible.

What is the biggest issue the Parkway School District faces in the year ahead? Again, please be as specific as possible.
I believe one of the biggest issues facing the Parkway School District for the upcoming year is the reductions made in math and reading specialists.  I plan to work closely with administrators to assure kids continue to receive the support they need in these areas by monitoring their progress frequently and propose appropriate changes when necessary.

What was the last book you read?
"Double Take" by Catherine Coulter

 

Helen Casteel, St. Louis

Please briefly describe your bio (occupation and name of your employer/s, family, etc.
Helen is a retired teacher who has been involved in Education for over 40 years. In addition to her Masterʼs Degree in Counseling, she also holds a real estate brokerʼs license as well as an insurance license. Helen has also spent sixteen years in the banking industry.

Helen has been married to Walter, a Union carpenter, for twenty-seven years, and they have two sons. Matthew, 25, is employed as a production assistant in New Yorkʼs theatre district. Adam, 21, is an actor in Los Angeles. Both are graduates.

During the twenty-six years Helen has lived in the Parkway School District, she and her family have been active volunteers in the community. From chaperoning field trips to building sets for plays and musicals, everyone has participated in some way to help build a strong community.

Helen has enjoyed traveling to forty-four states with a goal of visiting all 50 as part of her bucket list. Other interests include camping, photography, free-lance writing, bowling and attending St. Louis Cardinals games.

One of Helenʼs long-term goals include continuing to share her valuable experience and knowledge towards the education of Parkwayʼs students, thereby ensuring a community of capable, curious, and confident contributors to an ever challenging world.

How long have you been a resident of the Parkway School District?
I have been a resident of Parkway for 26 years.

Why are you running for the Parkway board?
As a retired teacher, I truly enjoy the privilege of being able to continue in the education field with the ultimate goal of helping students reach their full potential.  I personally feel that when someone is running for an elected office, one is doing so because of their passion and commitment to that office.  I hope to continue my passion and commitment not only to the students of Parkway, but to the community as well. 

What do you hope to accomplish? Please be as specific as possible.
My priorities for Parkway include the following:  reducing operating expenditures through restructuring in several areas for improving efficiency, maintaining low class sizes, providing a healthy and safe learning environment for our students, retaining a highly qualified and diverse staff, improving the achievement gap, and providing consistency in the curriculum.  We also need to construct a strong anti-bullying policy which contains consequences for violations of that policy.

What is the biggest issue the Parkway School District faces in the year ahead? Again, please be as specific as possible.
Currently, the biggest issue facing not only our school board, but many others across the state of Missouri, is the Turner v. Clayton case.  To require an unaccredited school district to pay to send its students to other school districts is neither cost effective nor healthy for the students involved.  There should be resolutions to fixing the problems, not tear down a school district and the community surrounding it.  Providing resources and guidelines to improve the whole district is a better solution. Another issue facing our district, as well as others, is our own Missouri Legislature.  To enact a law which bundles the school funding formula, vouchers (under the guise of "scholarships"), charter schools, virtual schools, and teacher tenure under one package deal says, "My way or the highway" to the citizens of Missouri. Our children should not be used as political pawns. 

What was the last book you read?
"The Element" by Ken Robinson, Ph.D.

 

Beth Feldman, Chesterfield

Please briefly describe your bio (occupation and name of your employer/s, family, etc.
I am married to Buddy Feldman and have two children who attend Parkway Central High.  I have not worked full time since my children were young, but I was a paralegal for a large multi-national inventory finance company.  Currently, I do freelance paralegal work from time-to-time.  

How long have you been a resident of the Parkway School District?
We have lived in Chesterfield (Parkway) since 1990 when we got married.   

Why are you running for the Parkway board?
I have a vested interest in Parkway being the best it can be; my children, neighbors and community all benefit.  I have enjoyed the challenges and rewards of serving on the board over the last four years.  I want to continue what I've started, seek solutions for problems.  I examine issues from different perspectives (parent, taxpayer, community member, board member).  

What do you hope to accomplish? Please be as specific as possible.
I hope to continue working towards full implementation of the work of Project Parkway, our strategic planning initiative.  Specifically, educate the whole child, help students to achieve at the highest level possible, maximize instructional time, maintain fiscally responsible use of resources, attract and maintain the best teachers.

What is the biggest issue the Parkway School District faces in the year ahead? Again, please be as specific as possible.
Parkway faces many issues, but the biggest one I foresee is the unknown.  We can work to control many things, but decreasing funds, potential open enrollment, unfunded mandates, impossible requirement set by state and federal agencies can post major problems.  

What was the last book you read?
The most recent book I read was "Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots" by Deborah Feldman (no relation).


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