SPS Board candidates pick up packets next week; who we know is in or out as of now

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The race for Springfield School Board seats is underway.

The first day for potential candidates to pick up packets and petitions to help gather signatures to get on the ballot ahead of next year’s Springfield School Board election is Friday, November 1.

“November 1st is the first day that candidates can pick up a packet of information that includes petitions that they can then circulate and they need to receive at least 500 signatures from registered voters who live within the school district’s boundaries,” Stephen Hall with SPS said. “The first date that they can return those petitions is December the 10th and the final date to return those is December 31st. After that final deadline, the board secretary will then certify all of those signatures, verify that they are authentic signatures from registered voters within the school district’s boundaries, and then that information is certified and turned over to the Greene County Circuit clerk for preparation for the April election.”

There are two seats up for grabs, seats currently held by Kelly Byrne and Steve Makoski.

Makoski says he will not seek reelection and explore other opportunities, sending the following statement to OzarksFirst:

“It is a privilege to serve in such a capacity as a Board member is one of the most important positions within our community. As our district mission continues, I am committed to the well-being of each student by providing high-quality academic opportunities, and I intend to support our mission beyond my departure in April 2025. As part of SPS’ vision, it has always been my initiative to make SPS the choice district where our students can pursue their goals and highest potential as an engaged contributor to society. Nevertheless, barriers such as DEI, safe space stickers, cell phones in school, discipline issues, and woke agendas continue to distract from our real purpose of educating our students. It is my hope that our next school board election can be successful in electing candidates that will not have an agenda and keep activism off our Board of Education. Candidates that have the intestinal fortitude to make decisions that will be in the best interest of our teachers and students. Candidates that can see through the distractions and find equality not equity. I am honored to be a part of our Board of Education and thank those that have supported me with this unique opportunity to serve. There is work yet to be done to meet SPS’ Mission and Vision. Thank you for your confidence and support.”

OzarksFirst has reached out to Byrne but we have not heard back about his plans prior to the publishing of this story.

The seats are three-year terms on the nonpartisan board, and Hall says the biggest surprise newcomers may face is the amount of time it takes to successfully campaign.

“In addition to the two meetings each month, there is a great deal of time that goes into preparing for those meetings, reviewing information, engaging with constituent stakeholders in the community. That is why for candidates, we offer an orientation that just really outlines what it means to be a board member and what that commitment really looks like,” Hall said. “The surprise that we get oftentimes is just the amount of information that comes to a board member on any given month in preparation for a meeting and what that time commitment can mean. We’re just very appreciative of people in the community who are willing to serve in this capacity because it is a commitment, it is a volunteer role, but it’s a very important role that guides our district in setting policy and reviewing the budget and hiring the superintendent.”

Hall says it’s not uncommon to hear more names attached to campaigns as the open period starts.

“This is the time of year when conversation begins to pick up, and certainly when that November one window opens, that’s when you hear more and more conversations, people begin to circulate the packets,” Hall said.

One of those names is Gail Smart, who has lived in the area for decades and has experience with several different community organizations.

“I have lived in Springfield for over 30 years, and during that time I have volunteered and I was heavily involved in the PTA. I had volunteered in the community and with my husband retiring at Missouri State. This seemed like a good time to get back into volunteering with K through 12,” Smart said.

Smart says there’s a shyness factor for her first endeavor into local politics, but feels her campaign is happening at the right time.

“I have the time and the passion to dedicate myself to being on the board. I have time to attend the workshops and in the study sessions to put in the homework that I need to do to learn about the issues that are important,” Smart said. “Being at Missouri State, I have seen the importance of a strong supportive board, how important that is to the leadership team and what a difference that makes.”

As Smart is the first outsider candidate to announce her plans, Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins, who ran in April 2024 but didn’t win, considered running again next April but decided instead to focus on his career, knowing he wouldn’t be able to invest 100% of himself in both ventures.

“I was offered a new position at Missouri State University, funded by the National Science Foundation. If I’m going to throw myself in any kind of position, I need to make sure that it’s my full self,” Sherman-Wilkins said. “School board campaigns are expensive. They’re expensive both in terms of money, but also time, and I don’t want to take away from the work at the university that I’m doing. I also want to make sure that whoever becomes one of the next two board members has all that energy and focus for the important work of the district.”

Sherman-Wilkins says he is still paying attention to local politics but shared some advice for newcomers who run for SPS School Board.

“The most important piece of advice that I would give to anyone running is to remember your ‘why’. These races are increasingly high-stakes and divisive. They’re now very similar to what we would expect in a partisan race. I would just encourage people to remember their ‘why’ with public education. I think it’s also important to understand that when you’re sitting on the school board and representing the entire community, that means not taking any voters for granted, not taking any communities for granted, and making sure that when you are campaigning and putting forth your priorities for the district, and you’re part of this as a board member, that you’re taking to account what the unique challenges for the most vulnerable populations might be and what kinds of things you will put in place to support those communities, all in collaboration with the district administration and our awesome teachers who are doing all the work really on the ground.”

The SPS School Board election is on April 8, 2025.

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