Five candidates have filed applications to fill two three-year positions on the Fulton School District 58 Board of Education on the April 5 ballot.
The two incumbents, Andy Bonderer and Rodney Latty, will be running to retain their seats. They will be joined in the race by Verdis Lee Sr., Alethea Dzurick and Timothy Caswell.
"A seat on the Board of Education is a tremendous time commitment and has a substantial learning curve," wrote Bonderer in an email. "I believe any past board member will confirm that statement."
He went on to say, "I have committed the time to understand the policies and standards and will continue to commit the required time. It is not easy to understand the constantly changing environment of education today and make decisions that have a immense effect on youth and ultimately our future."
Bonderer has served a total of four years on the Board of Education, serving one one-year term and one three-year term.
Bonderer also said that he thinks it has taken him some time to thoroughly understand the demands faced by the district and its staff, and listed several issues they have worked on such as the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, the Professional Development Plan, the Unit of Instruction and the multitudes of constantly changing state standards.
"All of these items require time and a tremendous amount of effort by the staff of our district," Bonderer wrote. "I plan to continue working with administration to identify legal requirements, students needs and reasonable faculty expectations."
Incumbent Rodney Latty also has a number of years of experience behind him in his run for the seat after serving five terms to equal 15 years on the board.
"I continue to have a passion for-and an interest in-the school, in education and in the children" said Latty. "Being around the students and educators is an inspirational experience."
Latty also spoke to the amount of time needed to learn what is necessary to be an informed member of the school board.
"I'm willing to put in the time and effort it takes," he said. "It's a positive experience. I can't think of a better way to give back to the community."
Alethea (Lea) Dzurick came to Fulton 24 years ago as a student at William Woods University. She said she loved the community so much she decided to stay, and along with her husband she raised two children here. With one son in the eighth grade at Fulton Middle School, Dzurick says she maintains an active role in the community and school district.
"I have and continue to volunteer my time to both the YMCA and the Parks and Recreation Youth programs in our community," wrote Dzurick in an email. She said she has also been involved in the local Boy Scout program.
"I feel it is now time that I take an even more active role in supporting our community, our teachers, our staff and most of all, our students of the FPS District," wrote Dzurick. "It is time that new individuals and new ideas become a part of our district so as the district can move forward with our changing community and the needs of those within our district."
Verdis Lee Sr. says he also has the time to commit to a seat on the Board of Education as he has retired from a military career.
"I think I'm a strong leader," he said. "And I have a strong voice. I'd like to be a voice for those who don't have the means to be heard."
Lee also said he is good with children and has always had a relationship with them via coaching and being involved in community events.
"It's time to stop standing on the sidelines," he said. "I hear a lot in the community. People talk to me, so I decided to run. It's about the kids and the future of the Fulton School District."
Efforts to reach Caswell for this story were unsuccessful.