Five candidates are running for three positions with the Gallatin School Board.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
Sandra L. Alden
Sandra L. Alden, 48, has been a resident of Daviess County for 47 years. She and her husband Doug have two sons, Levi, 22, and Casey, 19.
She is a graduate of Gallatin High School and received her Associate of Science degree at Missouri Western State College.
Alden was employed at USDA-Farm Service Agency for 27 years.
She has served 12 years on the Gallatin R-5 Board of Education, currently serving her fifth year on the Missouri School Board’s Board of Directors as Leadership Development Chair for Region 2.
Alden is a member of the Daviess County Livestock Show board.
What are your reasons for running for the position?
"My reasons for running for the Gallatin R-5 School Board are many, the least of which is the fact that I care about our youth, and want our school to be the best, offer the best, in all arenas. I am interested in hiring and keeping quality teachers and administrators to accomplish this."
Why do you feel you are qualified?
"I have served for 12 years on our local board of education and feel that through sound decisions of the board, we have been able to maintain programs and accomplish the majority of the goals set for the district. I have attended board training provided by the Missouri School Boards Association which has been helpful in guiding decisions regarding budget decisions, staff evaluation, safety concerns as well as curriculum and strategies to improve test scores for the district."
Tim Tadlock
Tim Tadlock, 43, has been a resident of Daviess County for five years. He and his wife Tiffany have one daughter, Johnna.
After graduating from high school at Maryville R-2 in 1986, he attended Northwest Missouri State University and received a B.S. degree in marketing and business management in 1991, and a master’s of business administration in 1993.
Tadlock was an Investment Representative with A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. 1996-2006; and a State Farm Agent from 2006-present.
What are your reasons for running for the position?
"We have a first class school system that does great work and represents our community well. If elected, I would hope to bring whatever skills I have to help navigate through future challenges and maintain the high standard that currently exists."
Why do you feel you are qualified?
"I understand the complexities of organizations and how to move forward in a difficult operating environment. Additionally, my education and career experiences have given me exposure to a variety of situations that could transfer well to a school board position."
Priscilla Whitt
Priscilla Whitt, 33, has been a resident of Daviess County for 26 years. She has been married to Jared Whitt for 11 years and they have four children, Harley, Bronco, Zora and Magnolia.
She is a 1995 Gallatin R-5 graduate and attended Culver Stockton College after graduation.
Whitt is currently employed as the human resources manager for Landmark Manufacturing. She has served in this position for the last seven years. Previously she was the payroll manager for Landmark Manufacturing for four years.
Since 2004 she has been a member of the Gallatin First Baptist Church.
Whitt was nominated and selected by the county commissioners in 2004 to serve on the Workforce Investment Board for the Green Hills region. In 2009 she was elected as the secretary of the Workforce Investment Board and continues to serve today as the secretary.
What are your reasons for running for the position?
"I feel the most valuable asset in the Gallatin School District are the citizens of the community. If I am elected as a Gallatin R-5 School Board member, I would interact with staff and students to remain informed in order to have a positive influence on school decisions. There are a number of difficult decisions facing our current administration concerning budget cuts and ever changing legislation. I believe an informed, objective, and unbiased board must work together with school administrators to insure the best options are chosen and presented to the community. As a professional in the community, I feel we must encourage the administration, staff, and students to always strive to set and achieve worthwhile goals that will continue to make our community strong."
Why do you feel you are qualified?
"I feel I am qualified for this position, serving as Human Resources Manager at Landmark Manufacturing for seven years. At Landmark, I have demonstrated the ability to make informed decisions as a result of thorough research of issues that affect the long term health of today’s business. Serving on the Workforce Investment Board for the past seven years has also helped me understand the need for a strong workforce which is based on a solid foundation beginning in our school systems."
Tim Bradford
Tim Bradford, 41, has been a resident of Daviess County for 12 years. He has been married to Rachel (Worrell) for 12 years. They have two daughters, Zoe, 10 and Ella, 6.
He graduated from Osborn High School, and went to college at Central Methodist College, Fayette, Mo.
Bradford’s work experience includes Ventura Foods, LLC – controller, operations finance; ConAgra Foods, Inc. – controller; Continental Grain Co./PSF – assistant production controller.
He is currently serving his first three-year term as Gallatin school board member.
Bradford is active in his children’s activities and has coached several sports teams in recent years. He is also an active member of the First Baptist Church and is involved in various activities there. As he works out of town, his professional affiliations are not local groups.
What are your reasons for running for the position?
"I am running because it is a way for me to give to the community and be involved in shaping the future for our children. Our schools are currently facing many financial obstacles and I would like to have the opportunity to continue to work through them. I foresee that the economic situation will continue to be critical for the next couple of years and I would like to help lead Gallatin R-5 through those times. We have a school system that we should all be very proud of and I would like to see the district continue to provide an environment which provides a safe and positive learning experience. Because I know the reality of the current economic situation, I know that the board will continue to have to make decisions that are not always popular. However, I have and will continue to make decisions that support our long term goals while remaining objective. A personal example of this is the fact that we are unable to financially support the enrichment program at the grade school next year. My daughter is directly affected and was upset. It is valuable curriculum that benefits several children and we hope that we will be able to offer the program again in the future. It was an unpopular decision at my house but one that was necessary to balance our budget next year."
Why do you feel you are qualified?
"First, as a current school board member, I have learned a great deal about policy, curriculum and school finance during this term. This knowledge base will continue to be beneficial as a future member of the board. Secondly, my skill set as a controller gives me the tools needed to provide assistance in managing the financial issues that we will continue to face over the next few years. Third, and perhaps most importantly, I want Gallatin to continue to have a school system of which we can be proud. We are facing some tough obstacles right now but we have some great faculty and staff and I know that together we can make educated decisions to insure a bright future for Gallatin R-5."
Donald M. Smith
Donald M. Smith, 49, is a life-long resident of Daviess County.
He was employed at Simon-Johnson in Kansas City, Kan., as a journeyman machinist until he retired in 2001. He is presently on the Gallatin R-5 Board of Education. He has served on the Gallatin Park Board and was on the Access II Independent Living Board for four years, president for two of those years. He is a member of the Jameson First Baptist Church and has been with the Gallatin Men’s Club and the Gallatin Theatre League.
What are your reasons for running for the position?
"As I feel that my past experience as a school board member has given me the insight needed for the critical times that the school districts are facing in our current uncertain economy. As I stated in my initial candidacy, I have a sincere desire to see our school district continue to succeed as I am a graduate of Gallatin High School and a life-long member of this community. I am willing to take any measures necessary that I feel will benefit our administration, staff, and, most importantly, our students. I realize that there are many families struggling with financial hardships. I want to do my part in seeing that their tax dollars are put to the best possible use for both educational and extra-curricular purposes. However, my priority will continue to be the best use of funds for the continued achievements and advancements that we all as a community strive for."
Why do you feel you are qualified?
"I feel that I am qualified to serve on the Board of Education as I now have three years of experience of serving the Gallatin School District. As I previously stated, I am fully aware of the financial crisis we are facing. Budget cuts have had to be made and I am fully aware of how painful these cuts have been. However, I am committed to working with my fellow board members and administration to keep informed on fiscal policies and updates so that we can continue to make sound budget decisions while ensuring that our educational priorities are in order. I feel that I kept the promises I made to the voters in my first term and value the trust the taxpayers of this community put in me. If re-elected, I welcome your questions, comments and input as we work together to continually strive to improve where needed to make our school district as strong as we can possibly make it."