April 5th, we’re having at watch party at Sparky’s Homemade Ice Cream on 9th St. We’ll get things started at 7pm and go until we get the results. Find out more via the Facebook Event
It’s been a couple weeks, but I want to thank everyone that was able to make it out to my campaign kickoff event on the 3rd. Click through for some photos of the event.
...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.”...
Incumbents, one new candidate elected to Columbia School Board
April 5th, 2011
Sessions has served one year on the board and received the second highest vote total. He is the owner of Tech 2, a computer technology consultation and management firm. Sessions grew up in Columbia Public Schools and received a degree in elementary education from MU.
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.”
As Columbia Public Schools committees are reviewing data on growth and working to develop a plan to displace trailers in use at the elementary level, it’s becoming clear that new elementary schools are in Columbia’s future.
A plan is in place to open a new elementary school in 2015, and the district is formulating a long-term plan to deal with growth and to possibly do away with trailers over the next five to 15 years. Once that is set, it will be up the Columbia Board of Education to approve final plans.
Of the six candidates running for three open seats on the Board of Education, most agreed that displacing trailers is an essential step.
“For far too long we’ve allowed trailers to be a stopgap,” candidate and current board member Jonathan Sessions said. “Look at Cedar Ridge. They almost have more kids in trailers … than in physical bricks-and-mortar buildings. It is a mistake to allow a stopgap measure to become the norm.”
Cedar Ridge, designed to hold 100 students, now has 196 students and has seven trailers.
Overall, the district has 153 trailers, including 90 at the district’s 20 elementary schools. Of 11 comparable Missouri districts, none comes close to rivaling Columbia’s number of trailers. The next closest, the Independence School District, has 13 trailers.
“Trailers are three times more expensive to operate per square foot than bricks-and-mortar buildings,” Sessions said, emphasizing maintenance and utility costs. “They are poor investments.”
Closing the achievement gap and making sure schools don’t become segregated when new attendance boundaries are drawn are among the top concerns for the NAACP in the school board election, local President Mary Ratliff said.
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…
The NAACP asked Columbia Board of Education candidates how they would support diversity in district employees and whether the district should hire a chief diversity officer.
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.”
NAACP candidate forum emphasizes achievement-gap challenges
March 23rd, 2011
Candidates Dave Raithel and Jonathan Sessions said encouraging programs such as the MAC Scholars program in place at the high schools would be integral to fostering student achievement. Raithel also said he talked to some school administrators about possibly starting a “mini-MAC” program in the elementary schools.
“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.”
“I like the idea of the suspension center,” candidate and current board member Jonathan Sessions said. “It provides a safe place for students to go to school and make sure they are getting their work done as opposed to having a vacation as a punishment.” He added that removing students from school entirely likely would only put them further behind.
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 Tribune’s View - School board, Three open seats
March 21st, 2011
Of the six people running for three available seats on the Columbia Board of Education, two are incumbents and deserve re-election.
Tom Rose and Jonathan Sessions are careful, conservative members who understand and support improvements in school governance since the arrival of Superintendent Chris Belcher. As members of the board during this transition, they can be expected to continue the good work. Their track records encourage their re-election.
The Columbia Board of Education in December approved the plan to run a pilot program of the suspension center from January to June at a cost of $10,159. The majority of the other candidates in the Columbia Board of Education race — in which three school board members will be selected April 5 — expressed support for the center.
“I like the idea of the suspension center,” candidate and current board member Jonathan Sessions said. “It provides a safe place for students to go to school and make sure they are getting their work done as opposed to having a vacation as a punishment.” He added that removing students from school entirely likely would only put them further behind.
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.
Schools could receive more local control, 3 elementaries are part of plan.
March 11th, 2011
As the Missouri House of Representatives debates a bill that would allow charter schools in any Missouri district — right now such schools are restricted to St. Louis and Kansas City districts — Columbia Public Schools is looking at a different approach.
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.
In addition to expanding charter schools, the Missouri General Assembly also is debating two bills supporting vouchers, which would allocate money set aside for public schools to go to pay tuition at private schools for parents who want an alternative choice on education for their children.
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.”
School Board candidates discuss student motivation
March 11th, 2011
At a forum Friday afternoon, Columbia School Board candidates talked about how restoring a child’s love of learning can help close the achievement gap. The Muleskinners, a Democratic organization, held the forum at Stephens College’s Stamper Commons.
School board hopefuls talk to chamber, Douglass, taxes part of debate.
March 8th, 2011
The six candidates competing for three open seats on the Columbia Board of Education met this morning for their first public forum of the election season.
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.
School board hopefuls consider tight budget, Summer classes seen as essential.
March 6th, 2011
...Current board members Jonathan Sessions, who is completing a one-year term on the board, and Tom Rose, who has served on the board for three years, each have some idea of steps to take.
“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 leads fundraising, Schools candidate has almost $7,000.
February 25th, 2011
Of the six candidates running for the Columbia Public Schools Board of Education, current board member Jonathan Sessions has raised the most money.
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.
...Filing closed Jan. 18 for candidates planning to run for the Columbia Board of Education. Six candidates filed for three open seats: Liz Peterson, Helen Wade, Dave Raithel, Sara Dickson and incumbents Jonathan Sessions and Tom Rose. Current board member Ines Segert did not apply for reelection…
...Incumbent board member Jonathan Sessions filed the first day filing opened in December. He recently ran for a one-year term, finishing out board member Rosie Tippin’s final year. He says he had no doubt he would run for re-election. Sessions says he thinks the primary issue this year will be the budget and its shortfall from the state. He says the district will have to be as “financially prudent” as possible….
Six candidates are running for three open seats on the Columbia Board of Education in April, but one familiar name won’t be on the ballot — Ines Segert, the board’s most questioning member.
Segert, Jonathan Sessions and Tom Rose will see their terms expire in April. But unlike Rose and Sessions, who put their names in the running, Segert will not seek re-election…
Six candidates to compete for upcoming Columbia School Board election
January 18th, 2011
Six candidates filed for election with the Columbia School Board by Tuesday’s deadline, including two incumbents, Tom Rose and Jonathan Sessions. The third incumbent board member, Ines Segert, had not filed for candidacy by the 5 p.m. deadline.
In addition to the incumbents, board candidates include Helen Wade, a family attorney in Columbia; Dave Raithel, who was most recently employed as a farmhand in Hartsburg; Liz Peterson, a doctoral student at MU; and Sara Dickson, programs and outreach manager for the National Newspaper Association.
Candidates will be elected April 5 to fill three seats on the board.
With less than a week left in the filing period, just three candidates have filed for three open seats on the Columbia Board of Education.
Helen Wade, Dave Raithel and incumbent board member Jonathan Sessions submitted their names when filing opened Dec. 14. The filing period will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
“I am quite surprised,” Wade said of the small number of candidates. “I would have thought that there were more people interested in participating in managing our public schools and making them better.”
But Deputy Superintendent Nick Boren said the limited response so far is not unusual.
Hospital board, town aldermen on ballot. Filing deadline is approaching.
January 9th, 2011
...There are three candidates so far for three open seats on the Columbia Board of Education. If no one else files by Jan. 18, incumbent Jonathan Sessions and newcomers Helen Wade and Dave Raithel will take the seats.
All candidates must be registered voters of the district they want to represent and have paid all of their taxes and fees….
Her prize will be top billing on the ballot in April’s election for three seats on the Columbia School Board.
“I’ll take any advantage the state will give me,” said Wade, a Columbia family law attorney running for the first time.
She is one of three candidates who filed on Tuesday, the first day they could do so.
Boone County follows Missouri’s statewide election laws. These laws assign ballot placement by lottery to election candidates who file on the first day. Candidates who file later are placed after the first-day filers.
The three spots up for grabs on the board are currently held by Tom Rose, Ines Segert and Jonathan Sessions.
Of those three, Sessions was the only one to file on Tuesday. Segert and Rose could not be reached on Wednesday to indicate their plans.
Three file for open seats on school board, All will campaign for 3-year terms.
December 15th, 2010
One current member and two newcomers have filed to run for seats on the Columbia Board of Education.
Helen Wade, Dave Raithel and incumbent Jonathan Sessions each submitted their names as candidates yesterday, the first day filing was open for the April election.
“I feel like I just finished doing this,” said Sessions, who was elected to a one-year seat in April. “I’m not looking forward to the loss of sleep, but I’m ready to jump back in.”
Sessions runs Tech 2 Consulting, a local information technology consulting firm. He is a Columbia native, graduated from Hickman High School in 2001 and earned a degree from the University of Missouri in elementary and music education. Despite the time commitment of running for re-election while serving on the board, Sessions said he had no hesitations.
The Columbia Board of Education held its regular meeting last night at the District Administration Building. Board members attending were Jan Mees, Tom Rose, Ines Segert, Christine King, Jim Whitt, Jonathan Sessions and Michelle Pruitt.
CONSENT AGENDA
Adopted agenda, voted to discuss changes to previous meetings minutes as new business
Approved the treasurer’s report, payment of the bills, personnel recommendations and business transactions
Columbia Public Schools will open filing for Board of Education candidates next Tuesday.
Three spots will be open on the board in April, the seats now filled by Tom Rose, Ines Segert and Jonathan Sessions. Applicants must be at least 24 years old, a U.S. citizen, registered to vote in Columbia and must have lived in Missouri for at least one year before their election.
All board members should also “have knowledge of and an interest in the welfare and educational opportunities of students,” according to district policy.
Sessions raised the most of any candidate in recent school board history — $17,284.24 — and spent almost all of it, leaving his campaign with $66.50 as of May 6, according to his 30-day-after election report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
“I had to work hard and make sure to get my name out there,” Sessions said, “and I think that will help when running again next year.”
The board then adjourned its first session. Board Secretary and Deputy Superintendent Nick Boren took over the meeting as the other four elected board members watched.
Boren swore in incumbents Mees and Jim Whitt and newcomer Jonathan Sessions, who all were on last Tuesday’s ballot.
With its new members, the board unanimously re-elected Mees as president and Tom Rose as vice president.
It’s Mees, Whitt and newcomer Sessions for School Board
April 7th, 2010
Jonathan Sessions, a newcomer to the Columbia School Board, secured a one-year term, after he started last-minute campaigning at 5 a.m. Tuesday. By the time he was declared a winner to about 35 people at his watch party at Uprise Bakery, he said he was exhausted.
Sessions got 11,597 votes, versus 7,570 cast for MU Law School professor Phil Peters. Sessions, a Columbia native and Hickman High School graduate, owns a technology consulting company in town. He plans to incorporate more technology education in the classroom and improve student achievement. After the results were announced, including voter approval of a $120 million bond issue, he said his first priority was to help develop a new high school.
Three take seats on school board Newcomer Sessions to join Mees, Whitt.
April 7th, 2010
In the competition for a one-year seat on the board, Jonathan Sessions bested Phil Peters, claiming 60.5 percent of the vote, or 11,597 votes, to the 39.4 percent, or 7,570 votes, that Peters received.
Sessions, 27, who runs and owns Tech 2 Consulting, which offers information technology services, used his age as a campaign advantage compared to Peters, a 60-year-old law professor.
“I liked the fact that he’s going to add another dimension to the board,” said Eryca Neville, assistant director of the University of Missouri’s College of Education teacher development program.
Sessions also raised the most money, $15,163.13. “I think I’ve worked hard, and I’ve ran an excellent campaign,” Sessions said last night at Uprise Bakery, the site of his watch party.
The campaign’s impact was evident on Sessions as he shook hands and chatted with supporters. His face was sunburned from walking door-to-door last weekend, and his voice was hoarse.
Supporter Tim Parshall said Sessions had reached some 1,200 homes in the past week.
“Jon’s not running an issue-oriented campaign,” Parshall said. “He’s saying, ‘I’m experienced but fresh.’ ”
In the school board race for a three-year seat, voters were asked to decide who would fill two seats. Jan Mees was the choice of 77 voters, Jim Whitt of 53 voters and Dan Holt of 48 voters.
The race for a one-year school board term pitted Jonathan Sessions against Phil Peters, and Sessions had a 67-35 vote margin.
School Board candidates offer their take on school lunch
March 31st, 2010
QUESTION ONE
What is your take on the quality of food the district serves its children for breakfast and lunch?
QUESTION TWO
Do you feel a responsibility as a school board member to ensure school lunches include more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and fewer high-fat, high-sodium and sugary foods?
JONATHAN SESSIONS:
1. In speaking with Laina Fullum, the director of Nutrition Services for Columbia Public Schools, and many CPS Nutrition Services employees during tours of schools in the district, it is clear that CPS provides a high-quality breakfast and lunch along with an excellent nutrition education.
2. It is clear to me that CPS Nutritional Services has made a priority of, and is already delivering, school lunches with whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Fullum recognizes the correlation between healthy eating habits and fighting diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Nutritional Services is working with vendors to provide food and educational opportunities from local food producers and farmers to reduce the impact CPS has on the environment and to educate students about where their food comes from. I believe these food and educational opportunities will help students creating healthy eating habits. The board needs to support Fullum and her team’s plans to continue to provide nutritious meals for our students.
ELECTION 2010: School board Q&A Candidates respond in their own words
March 31st, 2010
Q: For the 2009-10 school year, Columbia ranked ninth out of its 12 comparison school districts in starting teacher salary, which in Columbia is $34,353 per year. What specific programs or areas, if any, would you propose to slash or eliminate to increase teacher pay?
Sessions: Though the starting salary for teachers is lower in Columbia than some other districts, it is important to note, the top end of the salary schedule is typically much higher that other districts (Jefferson City Public Schools, for example). We must remember that 80 percent of the district’s budget is comprised of salaries; therefore, the only way to gain additional dollars for starting salaries is eliminating positions — a step I am not willing to take. Next year’s budget has already been finalized by the current board; hopefully, a year from now, with a turn in the economy, the board will be able to address the issue of starting salary without further reduction in programs or personal.
The competition for a one-year term on the Columbia Board of Education has generated more than $20,000 in campaign contributions, making it one of the most competitive school board races in recent history, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
Jonathan Sessions and Phil Peters are running for a one-year seat on the board.
Three other candidates are vying for two threeyear spots on the board: Dan Holt and board members Jim Whitt and Jan Mees.
Candidates filed their last financial reports before next Tuesday’s election yesterday — eight days before the election. A glimpse at the reports offers a look at how candidates have tried to fund their campaigns as well as tactics they’ve used to spread their messages.
ELECTION 2010: School board Q&A Candidates respond in their own words
March 30th, 2010
Q: Extended-suspension hearings, which are held after a student has been suspended for 10 days or more because of a “very, very serious” action, have more than doubled in recent years in the school district. How do you view suspending students from school as a form of punishment?
Sessions: While I understand the need to remove students from the schools for the safety of themselves and others, after reading (a Tribune) article, I worry that 10-day suspensions are viewed as more of a vacation than a punishment by some students. The administration should look at punishment options that keep students in school and options that detour this behavior before it happens.
Sessions brings tech background, young perspective to School Board race
March 30th, 2010
When Jonathan Sessions’ friends and family heard about him running for Columbia School Board, they asked him why he would want to do that at his age.
“That’s why I want to do this — because no other 27-year-old is,” he said. “I’m always looking for something to be challenging because it’s time for members of our generation to step up to the educational challenges facing our community.”
Sessions, owner of a technology consulting company, Tech 2, is running against Phil Peters to fill the year remaining in the late Rosie Tippin’s term. The election is April 6.
ELECTION 2010: School board Q&A Candidates respond in their own words
March 29th, 2010
Q: What level of emphasis should the school district place on Missouri Assessment Program scores?
Sessions: Assessment is vital for determining where the district stands academically. MAP scores provide the district with quite a bit of information about student performance collectively and by subgroups; however, MAP scores are only a snapshot of our students’ performance. The district should use MAP scores in conjunction with other forms of assessment when making decisions about student performance.
Merit pay system debated at school board candidate forum
March 19th, 2010
When asked for their opinion of tying professional compensation and rewards to student achievement, including test performance, the candidates responded:
Jonathan Sessions:
It looks good on paper, but until he sees an instance where it works in a public school setting and teachers approve of it, he would hold off.
Four of the five candidates for the Columbia Board of Education would cut a music program rather than a trade program if faced with the choice, they told about 50 people last night at a forum…
...Sessions said he teaches a course at the Columbia Area Career Center and also leads a music youth group.
“I’m on both ends of that spectrum,” he said.
He said his decision would come down to what would have the most drastic negative consequences for student learning…
Sessions touts tech expertise - Candidate cites youth as a plus.
March 12th, 2010
...J. Scott Christianson owns Kaleidoscope Videoconferencing, which has received IT help from Tech 2. Christianson met Sessions about six years ago.
“I think he’s got a real desire to do what’s right for folks,” said Christianson, who is running for Boone County presiding commissioner.
In his experiences, Christianson said governance boards composed of similar-aged, similar-thinking people perform worse than diversified boards. The broader the perspectives in an organization, Christianson said, “the better solutions they come up with in the end.”
No current school board member was born after 1966. Christine King, 44, is the youngest board member. Jim Whitt, 63, is the oldest.
“He brings kind of a different generation’s perspective to the school board,” Christianson said of Sessions.
Sessions also said his more recent high school experience gives him a better understanding of what students today are going through…
Parents’ interest seen as key issue Board hopefuls face off again.
March 11th, 2010
...asked what the candidates would do to incorporate low-income black families who might fear the brick and mortar of school buildings and the college degrees administrators and teachers have….Sessions cited a long-term goal of the district’s to improve its community outreach. He said the district should reach out to underserved populations, “open doors and make people feel welcome.”
League of Women Voters forum draws questions from community
March 11th, 2010
Andrew Twaddle, a retired resident, was concerned about parents ill-prepared to participate in their children’s education process. He asked the candidates how they would try to incorporate parents into decision-making…
Sessions said a better way of helping student learning rather than No Child Left Behind is intervention models in which schools react when a student might be struggling, citing the one used at West Boulevard Elementary. He said the law has good aspects, “but it may not have the best approach to solve the problems.”
School site a forum focus - First tilt in campaign has planning theme.
March 6th, 2010
Sessions said money was a factor, as well. He said he favors the bond issue, which will allow a new grade configuration in each high school, grouping grades 9-12 rather than grades 10-12 as Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools do now.
My appearance on the Mediacom Newsleaders program playing all the month of March on Headline News—Mediacom channel 43.
Who’s funding candidates in the April election?
March 3rd, 2010
Candidates for the April 6 municipal election filed campaign finance reports last week. Mayoral candidate Jerry Wade led all council candidates, receiving a little more than $23,000. Jonathan Sessions led all school board candidates with roughly $10,700…
School board candidate Jonathan Sessions (left, Missourian photo) leads his opponent Phil Peters, with $10,793 to Peters’ $2,533. Sessions largest donors include Russell Potterfield ($500); pharmacist Bob Kilgore ($250); and his own firm, Tech 2 Consulting ($950).
PS Gallery on Broadway was packed with local art and local supporters within a half-hour of the 6:30 p.m. start time. It was clear upon entering the room that Sessions is no ordinary candidate….
President Jan Mees and James Whitt, both running for three-year terms were, were in attendance, as well as Jonathan Sessions and Philip Peters Jr., who are running for one-year terms. Dan Holt was unable to attend. The candidates stood holding signs with their names on them, laughing and…
In a sentence, your educational philosophy: “The key to top-notch education is the interaction of students with their teachers both in and out of the classroom; such relationships provide a pathway to post-secondary education, a successful career, and a lifelong love of learning.”
...yesterday, filing closed for the three open seats on the seven-member board. Five candidates filed to run for the positions, all submitting within days after filing opened in mid-December.
Schools ballot is shuffled, Peters adjusts sights for seat.
January 18th, 2010
...Until yesterday, Mees, Whitt, Dan Holt and Phil Peters all had filed their candidacies for the three-year terms. DeSpain has said she will not seek re-election. Jonathan Sessions was the only candidate to file for the one-year seat now held by Whitt, who is serving out a term after former board member Rosie Tippin resigned in May for health reasons…
It’s the first day of filing for seats on the Columbia Board of Education, and already at least five candidates plan to run for three open seats. Two seats with three-year terms and one seat with a one-year term are up for election. They include the seats now held by board members Jan Mees, Karla DeSpain and Jim Whitt, respectively.
Jonathan Sessions, co-owner of consulting firm Tech 2 and teacher at the Columbia Area Career Center, speaks as a school board candidate at forum on June 10 in the Elm Street Ballroom.
The Columbia School Board votes on Thursday to replace a vacant seat on its board.
Wednesday evening, contenders for the seat answered questions at a public forum held at the Upper Crust in downtown Columbia. Each candidate had a two minute introduction followed by a question and answer period.
Columbia School Board candidates address issues at forum
June 10th, 2009
Seven of the eight School Board candidates to replace Rosie Tippin were questioned Wednesday night about challenges they might face and solutions they could offer.
“This is your opportunity to ask them whatever you want,” moderator Sean Spence said to the audience.
Eight candidates apply for open Columbia School Board seat
June 6th, 2009
Eight people have applied to take Rosie Tippin’s seat on the Columbia School Board. They are former board candidates Dan Holt and Sam Phillips, computer consultant Jonathan Sessions, professor emeritus John Miles, parent activist Robin Hubbard, youth basketball coach James Whitt, early childhood agency director Philip Peters and concerned mother Martha Tomlin-McCrary.
When Jonathan Sessions’ professors address his class, they usually begin, “Ladies and gentleman.” Sessions, an elementary education major, is the only man in most of his courses. He first enrolled at MU as a music education major, studying to teach kindergarten through 12th grade. But working with a children’s choir at a local church convinced him to focus on teaching elementary school students in the classroom.
