In recent years, local residents have wanted a seat on the troubled Kansas City, Missouri, School Board like they wanted a hole in the head. Gathering signatures and running a campaign to earn a spot among the political infighting and a responsibility to turnaround the struggling school district was hardly appealing.
Three years ago, there wasn't a single challenger to the slate of incumbents. Last year, not a single person filed for a vacated post in Sub-District One and only one seat was contested by a newcomer.
That newcomer was Airick Leonard West. He took the at-large seat when the incumbent dropped out of the race -- and he's brought a whole lot of others into the process on his coattails. Over the past year, West pioneered a School Board School, day-long workshops that give parents and activists the basics on how the board functions and what it takes to win a seat. Not only that, but he's also offered himself as a political strategist and even web design consultant, coaching potential candidates on messaging and marketing.
It seems to be working. Not only are people filing to run in the upcoming April election, but last night, several candidates camped out at the district's headquarters downtown to be the first in line.
A little after 7 a.m. this morning, the scent of donuts wafted through the lobby of the KCMSD headquarters and a meeting room buzzed with a dozen smartly dressed residents discussing their hopes for the district. West knew all six of the candidates, pointing out each by name and the district they hope to represent. He recalls past elections' dismal participation and smiles. "Now, juxtapose those two recent memories with the reality you see this morning," he says. "It's a new day."
In fact, some of the candidates were so eager they arrived last night.
Kyleen Carroll was so determined to get her name at the top of the ballot for the at-large seat that she showed up at 7 p.m. Monday and camped out in her car. A former middle school teacher, she says, she's running to bring more value to the district for parents, teachers and students. "Being a former teacher, I know the potential of academic excellence," she says. Being a former team leader for the Obama campaign, she knows a little bit about political races, too. But to prepare for this endeavor, she first went through the School Board School.
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