Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education has three seats open on the April 7 ballot with five declared candidates.

The same candidate questionnaire was emailed to all five candidates on March 25 to be returned by March 29 for the April 1 edition.

Declared candidates include incumbents Glenn Ely and Jason Crowe. New candidates include Kaylynne Niederer, Racheal Mooney, Mitchell Henderson. Ely, Crowe, and Niederer responded to the questionnaire.

1. Why are you running for office? What is your connection to the community?

Ely: “I’ve lived in Gasconade County for 35 years and currently live in Rosebud. With one child still in R‑2 and three graduates, I’m deeply invested in our schools. I’m running because our community values matter, and strong schools help keep them thriving.”

Crowe: “I feel that our school district is the heartbeat of the community and our children are the future of humanity.  What could be more important?  Beyond that, I have two kids of my own in the district, and both of my parents are former educators in the district.”

Niederer: “I am running to help move our district forward with honesty, responsibility, and a commitment to better outcomes for every student. I graduated from Owensville in 2003, and I’ve been a volunteer in the community for over 30 years.”

2. What is something the board is doing well or could improve?

Ely: “The board has taken strong steps by expanding early childhood programs, creating an on‑campus alternative school, investing in literacy coaching, expanding career tech offerings, and improving teacher retention support. We can continue to grow by meeting the community where they are and clearly explaining the reasons behind decisions.”

Crowe: “After six years of serving on the board, I have witnessed vast improvements in communication with the public.  We understood that much discussion happened outside of meetings for efficiency, and the public only saw the result. Moving forward, we continue to look at ways to shine light on the entire process.”

Niederer: “I believe the board has gotten better at being out in the community more. Seeing the people who make the decisions out and involved is refreshing and incredibly important.”

3. What is a specific project you would like to pursue in the future?

Ely: “I want to continue strengthening real‑world readiness by expanding career and technical education, building existing programs, and working towards building trades. All post‑graduation paths — college, skilled trades, agriculture, or military — have value, and students deserve clear opportunities that connect their interests to the future.”

Crowe: “I am most excited about our continued expansion of our CTE/Trade Skills program (wood shop, auto tech, welding, t-shirt design, greenhouse, etc.) coupled with our career counselors.  With these programs, our kids gain more opportunities to truly understand what they want to do after HS to thrive quickly.”

Niederer: “I’d like to work on strengthening the relationship between our amazing community and our district. Listening to our students, staff, and community and working toward common goals to make our district better.”

4. Do you support the Gasconade County R‑2 School District bond issue? How will you encourage support?

Ely: “Yes, I support the bond because it focuses on maintaining and improving existing facilities, addressing known needs, and expanding student opportunities. It was developed collaboratively with staff, students, and community members. I’ll encourage support by sharing facts and listening to concerns.”

Crowe: “Yes.  The bond is all about opportunity for every student to pursue something they are passionate about in a safe environment, right on our own campus. The listed projects will touch every student who comes through our district and ties directly to my previous answer about the trades.”

Niederer: “I support responsible, reasonable, and necessary maintenance upgrades. I also support educating our children and preparing them for the future.”

5. Free Space – Anything voters should know.

Ely: “I currently serve as Board President and have volunteered for over a decade with OAA, the Lions Foundation, and the Owensville Area Community Foundation. My experience, steady leadership, and commitment to community values guide every decision I make for our students and schools.”

Crowe: “I was born and raised in Owensville. I graduated from OHS and married my HS sweetheart shortly after. After college, we settled back in Gerald, and I started my business in Owensville. My motto is that you should aim for perfection, so when you miss, you hit excellence. I will accept nothing less than the pursuit of excellence from our district and our community.” 

Niederer: “I want to be an advocate for those students and families who don’t feel seen or heard. I also want to be an advocate for our teachers and ensure they are being heard and receiving the resources necessary to be successful in the classrooms.”