A hotly contested race among seven candidates seeking three seats on the Springfield school board is the top item on most voters’ minds as they prepare for the Tuesday, April 2 election.
In Springfield, city residents also will vote on two changes to the City Charter — essentially the city’s constitution — including one that would change the term of mayor to be four years, instead of two. If approved, that change would take effect at the end of current Mayor Ken McClure’s term in 2025. The other charter issue would enact a code of ethics for elected officials, appointed officers, board members and city government employees, while allowing city staff to undergo disciplinary review, rather than be automatically fired, as a result of a conflict.
For the past several weeks, the Springfield Daily Citizen staff has been bringing you in-depth coverage of the competitive races on the April 2 ballot.
Now, as a public service, we provide this free Springfield MO Voting Guide, offering a quick recap of the decisions facing Springfield voters.
Election day basics: when, how, where to vote (click to expand)
When is the election?
Election Day is Tuesday, April 2. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
How do I register to vote or check my registration?
- The registration deadline to vote on April 2 has already passed.
- Check this website to confirm the status of your registration.
Where do I vote?
You can find a searchable map with a list of polling locations by scrolling down on this Voting Information page from the Greene County Clerk’s office.
What kind of identification do I need in order to vote?
You will be required to provide some type of valid government-issued photo ID (see examples) in order to vote on April 2. Examples include: a non-expired Missouri drivers license, or obtain a free non-drivers license issued by the state; a U.S. passport; or a military photo ID.
Can I vote early by absentee ballot?
A special two-week window allows for “no-excuse” absentee voting. Two locations are available:
- At the Greene County Elections Center, 1126 N. Boonville Ave., you can vote Saturday, March 30 (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), and Monday, April 1 (from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
- The Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave., was added as an early-voting location. You can vote there on Monday, April 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Springfield R-12 Public Schools: seven candidates for three seats on the board
Three incumbent Springfield Public Schools board members are seeking re-election — Danielle Kincaid, Scott Crise and Maryam Mohammadkhani. Four other candidates — Landon McCarter, Susan Provance, Kyler Sherman-Wilkins and Chad Rollins — join the incumbents in competing for three open seats on the board.
While the election has had partisan overtones, seats on the seven-member board are officially nonpartisan. They also are volunteer positions.
The three candidates who receive the most votes will be sworn in April 9 to serve three-year terms. The board sets district policies and budgets, and hires and evaluates the superintendent, who is their only employee. Superintendent Grenita Lathan is in her third year and the board in January voted narrowly, 4-3, to extend her contract through 2026-27 school year, and she will earn a salary of $334,234.30.
Incumbents Kincaid and Crise were joined by Judy Brunner and Shurita Thomas-Tate in extending Lathan’s contract, while incumbent Mohammadkhani was joined by Kelly Byrne and Steve Makoski in voting against the extension. Those opposed suggested their opposition was based solely on adding a third year to her contract.
The election promises to be the most expensive in Springfield schools history, as candidates have amassed more than $400,000 and outside groups had raised at least $160,000. This is for a three-year term as an unpaid member of the school board.
As the election season comes to a close, this contest has been a “clean” one compared to recent school board elections, when TV ads and mailers — including some paid for by Political Action Committees that have not disclosed their organizers or funders — attacked incumbent board members over policies such as equity and diversity.
This year’s race has revolved around concerns about school discipline, as well as recent academic achievement challenges faced by district students in a post-pandemic era. The growth in local private schools, and increased popularity of homeschooling, also drew the attention of candidates. Disagreements between the district administration and teachers union have also played into the campaigns, and the largest union went out of its way to not endorse two of the incumbents (Kincaid and Crise), while supporting Mohammadkhani, McCarter and Sherman-Wilkins.
A new group, United Springfield, with the support of several current and former community leaders from both Republican and Democrat perspectives, backs Kincaid, Crise and Provance — while a dueling PAC called Back on Track, supports Mohammadkhani, McCarter and Rollins.
You can read all of the Daily Citizen’s coverage of the 2024 school board race here.
Here is a roundup of profiles of the seven candidates (listed in ballot order), as well as a link to the page where you can access podcast interviews with all seven:
Who is Danielle Kincaid? Springfield school board candidate profile
Danielle Kincaid found one of the rare areas in practicing law that is preventive. A unique quality of Kincaid’s work in estate planning, she says, is that she helps the people she meets prevent problems, not solve them.
Who is Landon McCarter? Springfield school board candidate profile
Landon McCarter said he helped build several businesses to the point of profitability and sale. He co-founded Secure Agent Marketing, and recently sold that business to start another
Who is Susan Provance? Springfield school board candidate profile
Susan Provance worked for 30 years as a teacher and coach — 26 of those years were at Parkview High School, where she coached girls basketball, volleyball, softball and tennis.
Who is Scott Crise? School board candidate profile
Scott Crise, 58, is running for a second term on the Springfield Board of Education. First elected in 2021, he is currently the board’s vice-president.
Who is Kyler Sherman-Wilkins? School board candidate profile
Kyler Sherman-Wilkins, 38, is one of seven candidates running for three seats on the Springfield Board of Education
Who is Chad Rollins? School board candidate profile
Chad Rollins, 47, is director of operations for Health Direct, a pharmacy based in Ozark that serves nursing homes and hospice.
Who is Maryam Mohammadkhani? School board candidate profile
Maryam Mohammadkhani is running for a second term on the Springfield Board of Education. She was first elected in 2021.
Candidate Conversations: Podcasts with the 7 candidates for the Springfield Board of Education
Each Springfield Board of Education candidate was asked the same questions, which were developed with the help of our readers.
ON ISSUES: SPS board candidates present ideas for handling behavior
Every one of the seven Springfield Board of Education candidates has said it at some point — behavior is one of the biggest issues in the race, and one of the biggest problems faced in Springfield Public Schools. It might be the biggest.
ON ISSUES: What can school board candidates do to boost SPS as private, home options grow?
The options for K-12 education are growing — more private schools are opening their doors to parents, and since the COVID-19 pandemic, homeschooling has grown in popularity.
Springfield City Charter ballot measures
Springfield voters to cast ballots for pair of charter changes in April 2 election
The ballot measures ask voters whether the mayor’s term should be extended from two years to four, and for the enactment of a code of ethics for elected officials and city government employees.
Editor’s note: One of the co-chairs of United Springfield is Jim Anderson, who is also a member of the board of the Springfield Daily Citizen. The Board sets policies and budgets for the Daily Citizen, but is not involved in day-to-day news decisions. Several donors to the Daily Citizen have also contributed to various candidates for election. You can find a complete list of donors here.
