...Board President Jan Mees stopped to congratulate Wade on her win after spending time at Sessions’ party around the corner at Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream, 21 S. Ninth St. “I’m interested to see if he continues to be on the board; he’s a former student and a longtime friend,” she said of Sessions. “But I’m not favoring anybody.”

Sessions, who received 26 percent of votes, said he was excited to serve a full term after being elected to a one-year term last April. He said the achievement gap is one issue he plans to address.

“We’ve all had to answer questions about the achievement gap in 40- to 90-second sound bites, but it’s a complicated issue that’s not given enough focus,” he said.

Sessions’ watch party attracted supporters young and old, including Dixon Barnes, a senior at Rock Bridge High School who attended with his mother and sister.

“I like the ideas Jonathan Sessions brings,” Barnes said. “He brings a fresh perspective and really has a good grip on how students interact.”...

When asked if he was prepared to handle upcoming district challenges, Sessions said, “Yes, and the areas where I might not be as informed as I need to be, I am going to make sure I am.

“I am thankful that the citizens of Columbia have elected me to continue to serve on the Columbia School Board; I am honored.”

The six candidates running for three open seats on the Columbia Board of Education had the chance to address both issues last night at a public forum hosted by the NAACP at Second Baptist Church, 407 E. Broadway.

The majority of candidates agreed early childhood education is essential to closing the achievement gap…

Complete coverage of the April 2011 elections
Jonathan Sessions: “Dr. Belcher is actively working with our teachers and minority teachers on how to create more diversity. In terms of a chief diversity officer, that’s a conversation I’ve honestly had with the administration and asked why we don’t have one.”

“It’s cliché to say I was really impressed,” Raithel said. “The fact is, I was really impressed.”

“We need to expand and support programs like the MAC Scholars,” Sessions said. “We need to continue to increase programs like that that encourage our black students to be successful.”

But suspension, Sessions said, sometimes can be a necessary punishment. “Sometimes there is a reason that a student needs to be removed from the classroom for a period of time to make sure they know how to behave appropriately and work on how to not repeat that behavior,” he said.

The idea is to allow three elementary schools — Benton, Lee and Ridgeway — to have more control over staffing, curriculum, governance and school calendar. Peter Stiepleman, assistant superintendent of elementary education, proposed the idea to the Columbia Board of Education in December.

Also under the plan, Benton would become a science, technology, engineering and math — or STEM — school, and Lee would have more freedom to focus on arts.

Jonathan Sessions: “I’m not a fan of vouchers. … What you’re doing is taking taxes you do pay that you know are dedicated to a project or program that is responsible to you as a citizen through your state representatives and school board representatives and directing it into private programs that are not accountable to anyone or have very questionable accountability systems.”

Columbia Chamber of Commerce forum leaders asked the candidates to address their primary reason for running before delving into deeper issues including the Columbia Public Schools’ budget.

“I’m impressed with all the candidates,” Stephen Gaither, a member of the chamber education committee, said after the forum. “With the current members and these candidates, the board is in good hands.”

The key issues this election, Gaither said, are looking at meeting the needs of every child within the constraints of the budget, early childhood education and the achievement gap.

“We need to make sure we pay our teachers and follow salary schedules. That needs to be priority number one,” Sessions said.

Other priorities, he said, will be making sure the district is ready to operate the new Battle High School, being a good steward of taxpayers’ money and avoiding cuts that will harm student achievement…

Sessions had $6,908.65 on hand when the filing period closed yesterday and had raised nearly $8,500 total. Helen Wade, the candidate with the closest amount of money, reported $2,163.66 on hand, and Sara Dickson reported $1,272.46. Wade’s total raised so far is $3,880, and Dickson’s is $1,877.

PS: Gallery, which hosted Sessions’ campaign kickoff event, and Bleu restaurant, which catered it, contributed a combined total of $850, but the majority of Sessions’ reported contributions came in $150 and $200 donations from individuals, including $200 from Columbia City Council candidate Fred Schmidt, who is serving as Sessions’ deputy treasurer.