The Fulton Community Teachers Association is hosting its annual School Board Candidate Forum at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Fulton High School commons area.
Candidates in attendance will face questions on a series of topics generated by district staff: tenure/teacher evaluation, Missouri Learning Standards, goals as a board member, curriculum knowledge, continuing education, school and community connection and board member time investment.
Fulton has seven candidates vying for two open, three-year seats: Incumbents Dennis Depping and Kristi Donohue and challengers Clay Caswell, Charles Baysinger, Chad Bristol, Darren Dzurick and Woodrow Foster. As of Tuesday night, only Depping, Donohue and Bristol had confirmed they would be at the forum.
A brief roundup of the school board candidates:
Dennis Depping Depping, who is finishing his ninth year with the board, said he decided to run for a fourth term because he wants to see a continuation of recent efforts to get students more engaged in their education.
"What's going on at the high school is really encouraging, and I think we can do the same thing at the middle school to achieve success. I think our elementaries are the best in the state," Depping said. "I take great pride in our district and want to continue that."
Depping said the school boards he has worked with for the past five years have been the most proactive he has worked with, which he said has benefited the district.
"I think we're going in the right direction," Depping said. "I really feel we're getting positive results for more kids ... keeping kids involved. I'm really proud of that."
A 1983 Fulton graduate, Depping has had two children go through Fulton Public Schools - his daughter is a senior this year.
Kristina "Kristi" Donohue
The current school board president, Donohue is finishing her first three-year term. She said she decided to run again because that experience will help her to be more active in helping the school district now that she is familiar with how the school board works.
"It's overwhelming at first - it takes a little bit to get a handle on things," Donohue said. "I feel like I'm getting a grip on things to be able to move forward to advance more and do more."
Donohue, who has lived in Fulton since 2000, has to children in the district. She works at Naught-Naught Insurance Agency and is the board president for Safe Spaces, a teen suicide prevention group.
Timothy Clay Caswell
Caswell, who grew up in Fulton and graduated from Fulton High School in 1990, said he decided to run for the board this year because he wanted to get involved with the school system.
"I have three kids there, my wife is a teacher, my wife and I are both graduates," Caswell said of his vested interest in the district.
Caswell has been the director of parks and recreation for the city of Fulton for the past 10 years. He said he wants to use that experience to help lead the school district.
"I think there are a lot of issues facing the school system," he said. "I just what to help them out and be involved in the decision making."
Charles Baysinger
Baysinger also said he decided wanted to have a voice on the school board.
"I just wanted to put in my input on some of what happens with education and do my time with helping my children's education," Baysinger said of his decision to run for election.
A 1988 graduate, Baysinger has two children at the high school and another who is a Fulton graduate. He is an electrical contractor.
Chad Bristol
Like the other candidates, Bristol grew up in Fulton - he is a 1990 graduate of Fulton High School.
Bristol has two children in the district and - also like the others - said he wanted to get involved with the school board so he could have a hand in helping direct their education.
"I just want to see how the system works so I can interject my opinions," Bristol said. "I just want to make sure we have a good school system."
Bristol is the owner of Alelco in New Bloomfield.
Darren Dzurick
Dzurick, a local electrician, also gave a similar reason for his decision to run for the school board.
"I just wanted to better the education of our kids and try to make some changes that will benefit their education," Dzurick said. "I want to be part of making sure our kids are getting the best education possible."
A 1991 graduate of Fulton High School, Dzurick has a child at the middle school and has had one graduate.
Dzurick has coached youth baseball and football for many years.
Attempts to contact Foster were not successful by press time.