Four candidates seek three open school board seats in the Nov. 4 general election.

Gabe Grant and Bonnie Schamberger are running for re-election, while Amy Freelove and Dana Johnson are new candidates.

Registered voters can access their personal sample ballots and polling locations on Voter View.

Gabe Grant is a real estate professional who has served on the board since 2017 and sees student achievement and success, staff recruitment and retention, and budget pressure as the biggest challenges coming the district’s way.

“All school districts are competing for the same shrinking pool of talent,” Grant said. “Work must be done to bolster the perception of teaching as a career, and it must be done at a higher level than just Salina Public Schools.”

Grant said the board takes test scores, daily absences, kindergarten readiness and graduation rate into account for budget decisions and district goals.

“Having served in this role for nearly eight years,” Grant said,” I would hope to continue to provide steady leadership to our district’s staff and students with continuous learning on my part, asking questions to understand problems, and bringing people to the table to help solve them.”

An ever-tightening budget and an ever-growing to-do list will necessitate tough budget decisions, Grant said.

Bonnie Schamberger has served on the board since 2022. She is a former teacher, a mother of two and a grandmother of ten.

“I’ve seen that it takes a team effort and vision to keep improving and reaching goals in our education system here in Salina,” Schamberger said. “Children need to be loved, accepted, valued and listened to in order to thrive in this world.”

Schamberger’s priorities are addressing parent community and involvement, funding for special education and chronic absenteeism.

“Working together, we can educate our children to be all they can be and help them find their gifts and talents,” Schamberger said. “We come alongside our students and give them the tools they need to be able to read, do math, discover science, communicate with others, love their country, and give them the opportunity to be the best they can be.”

Teachers, administrators, and employees are valuable and hold the future of society and country in their hands, Schamberger said.

“Working in the public school system, I’ve seen and experienced the struggles teachers have,” Schamberger said. “Their ability to change with the times, different curricula, working with the public and parents- teachers wear many hats.”

Amy Freelove, a new candidate, is a parent, volunteer and former athletic trainer.

“As a parent, I have been in classrooms, on field trips, and had interactions with principals, teachers, support staff, and students,” Freelove said. “All of those allowed me to see the inner workings of different classrooms and schools.”

Freelove said the school board requires the assessing and prioritizing skills she learned as an athletic trainer, just in a different setting.

“While I know I have invested in my children, I also believe Salina schools and teachers have too.  My children wouldn’t be who they are today without all of us working together.  All children deserve that support and investment.”

Freelove said she aims to learn and understand the challenges faced in the education community and approach them with an open mind.

“A healthy public school system in Salina, where people know their children can learn, grow, and build a foundation for success, makes for a thriving Salina,” Freelove said. “A strong and vital Salina helps ensure our community can not only continue to entice new businesses, people, and teachers, but also help our young citizens want to return and stay.”

Good leaders listen without judgement and work toward solutions that work for everyone, Freelove said.

“Life experiences are a valuable resource in any board member, and the variety of those experiences makes for a well rounded, diverse board,” Freelove said. “Much of my life I have been a supportive behind-the-scenes person, and I’m good at it. I’ve learned over the years that being a good support person requires all the qualities a good leader needs.”

Dana Johnson is also a new candidate. She is a mother of current USD 305 students and has been a substitute school nurse since 2022. 

“Teacher satisfaction, parent engagement, and funding management impact our families’ lives and our Salina community daily,” Johnson said. “I see every day how decisions made at the board, from district calendars and school events,to test scores and teacher emails, affect families through conversations at my dinner table.”

 Reasonable workload expectations and support can be just as impactful to retaining high-quality staff as managing teacher salaries, Johnson said.

“When it comes to the school budget, my top priority is investing in people. Good educators are worth keeping, and retention is not only more cost-effective than constant recruitment, but it also strengthens school communities.”

Funding and budget systems affect student to teacher ratios that directly impact test scores, classroom management, and graduation rates, Johnson said.

“Fulfilled and balanced teachers are able to show up consistently, create a positive learning environment, and build relationships with students,” Johnson said. “Teacher retention builds community within a school when families can share positive experience of past years with rising students.”

Johnson said her experience as a nurse has given her a unique perspective on the well-being of students in the district.

“I’ve seen the challenges our kids face, like mental health needs and food and clothing insecurities,” Johnson said. “I will ensure that the academic, physical, and mental health needs as well as socioeconomic and family support system differences are considered when making each decision.”

Johnson also said that special education must remain a top priority, with the state legislature stepping up to fully fund it so local districts are not forced to make impossible trade-offs between legal obligations and other facilities, programs, and services.

“As a school board member, I would advocate for balanced, transparent budgeting …” Johnson said. “Our district must be prepared to navigate the challenges ahead and make bold and strategic choices when necessary.”

Voting opens on Nov. 4, both for the USD 305 School Board and city commission.