Meet the Lindbergh School Board Candidates: Goss, Holloway

Patch provided a questionnaire for candidates to use to help explain their candidacies for the Lindbergh Board of Education. The following are the responses submitted by candidates James Goss and Kate Holloway. Candidates Karen Schuster and George Rezabek's responses were posted earlier this week. .

Name: James Goss

Age: Not provided

Occupation: Semi-retired

Education: Yes

Family: (spouse/children and their schools) Heidi.  We have two children who attend Concord Elementary School

Years lived in the Lindbergh School District:  34   

Please provide a brief summary of your background, highlighting community involvement if applicable.  My wife and I are both Lindbergh graduates. I attended the University of Missouri. I spent 20 years in the residential building field in various capacities. A majority of my time was spent as a materials buyer.

Reasons for running: To always look out for the best interest of the children in our district. My main areas of focus will be.

• Ensure quality education for all students.
• Control spending.
• Maintain current teacher-student ratios.

What do you currently see as the biggest issue facing the Lindbergh School District?

I believe, flat or falling property values will continue to be a major problem for Lindbergh and other school districts as they try to fund their current and future budgets. If we can control our spending now it may save us from having to make the kind of drastic cuts Lindbergh was forced to make a few years ago.

How would you address the continuing uncertainty over state funding for schools?

This is something that will have to be dealt with when the situation arises. Percentage wise Lindbergh does not receive much money from the state and we could receive even less in the future.

In what areas does the Lindbergh School District need to improve. Are you satisfied with the way the district has been operating?

I am sure there are areas where Lindbergh could improve, but they are obviously doing a lot of things right. That is why we are the #1 rated school district in the state and why parents want to move into our district.

Assume you win the election. What single thing do you want to accomplish during your three years on the board? I would like to help Lindbergh School District continue to be a place where parents want to move to and be sure that their children are going to receive the best possible education in the state of Missouri.

Name: Kate Holloway

Age: 50

Address: 11043 Rambling Oaks Dr.  St. Louis, Missouri  63128

Spouse/Family: married to Steve Holloway for 24 years; five children: four Lindbergh graduates, youngest son is currently a sophomore (class of 2014)

Years lived in the Lindbergh School District: 20 years

Education:  HS and studied at Lindenwood University

Please provide a brief summary of your background, highlighting community involvement if applicable: Professional Background - Doc Holloway's Auto Repair: office manager; Public Relations membership representative for the St. Louis Regional Commerce & Growth Association;
physical fitness instructor teaching and promoting health and fitness; fitness promotional events coordinator

Community involvement - member of Concerned Woman For America; National Day of Prayer Board member - volunteer City Hall coordinator - Sunset Hills; member of Missouri Right to Life; Lindbergh project Graduation 1994-2005, Lindbergh Spirit Festival 2008-2009, volunteered with concessions at Flyers' football and Flyers' track

What do you currently see as the biggest issue facing the Lindbergh School District?
Preparing to meet the challenge of having adequate space with limited resources for the potential enrollment increases, depending on the outcome of the Turner case. Our elected officials continue to debate the potential consequences of this decision on surrounding community school districts. This issue also weighs heavily on Lindbergh's school administrators and Lindbergh's families.

How would you address the continuing uncertainty over state funding for schools?
It is important to recognize the economic downturn that has affected Missouri residents includes our Lindbergh community. Many of our senior residents and Lindbergh families have had to tighten their budgets and rethink their spending, which ultimately results in the Lindbergh School Board doing the same with their now limited available resources.

In what areas does the Lindbergh School District need to improve. Are you satisfied with the way the district has been operating?

We need to work with our elected state officials to fix the funding formula to insure the continued tradition of Lindbergh's high educational standards.  Lindbergh's School Board has always been unified in the efforts to provide optimal educational opportunities for successfully equipping all of our Lindbergh students with an exceptional education. Lindbergh is a community of families united in maintaining excellence in education and together we can continue to remain the number one school district in Missouri.

Assume you win the election. What single thing do you want to accomplish during your three years on the board?

To gain greater recognition of educational achievements in technical advancements to prepare students for a global economy.

Fostering community through the continued recognition of good citizenship by restoring the Glory Award Ceremony for our Lindbergh Glory Award recipients.

Emphasize the importance of maintaining local and state control of the educational process in the Lindbergh community.