2018 MACON R-1 SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

by BENJAMIN C. NELSON
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On Tuesday (April 3rd) voters and residents living within the Macon R-1 School District will be given three candidates in which they are to select two, to be on the Macon R-1 School Board. The three candidates are Incumbent Steve Burns, Felton Enyard, and Incumbent Donny Wyatt.

FROM (INCUMBENT) STEVE BURNS: “Currently pursuing my 3rd term on the Macon school board. I believe it is important for Macon’s young people to obtain the best education possible. Therefore, our district must maintain the best curriculum possible and provide the highest quality of teachers for our students. As one of the board members I am proud of the accomplishments and decisions we have made. We have put in place a strong administrative team with effective leadership skills which benefits both staff and students. The district continues to make plans for student/faculty safety. I would like to see these plans become reality. I am a 1987 Macon High School graduate and received an Associate of Arts degree from Moberly Area Junior College and a Bachelor of Health Science degree from University of Missouri-Columbia. I have held management positions at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia and Samaritan Hospital in Macon. Currently I am self employed as a sales representative for Pioneer Hi-bred International, along with my father Jim Burns (past school board member). My wife, Beverly and two sons, Hayden and Preston reside on our family farm in Anabel. I am a current Macon R-1 School board member, member of First Baptist Church-Macon, board member for Macon Rural Fire Department, member of Macon County Young Farmers and a past board member of the Longbranch YMCA. I would appreciate your vote April 3rd.”

FROM FELTON ENYARD: “I am a 2002 Graduate from Macon R-1. I recently married my beautiful wife Sarah and we are expecting our fifth child in July. I have been with BNSF Railway for five years. Sarah is a registered nurse as well as the administrator of the Schuyler County Nursing Home. My family are members of Bethlehem United Methodist Church. I am currently an active member of the Concerned Citizens. In my spare time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family as well as hunting and fishing with my son. I have two sons, Tyrel (a sophomore at Macon R-1 who plays football and is currently on the honor roll) and Tashaun (a seventh grader at Oakland Middle School in Columbia). Tashaun has humbled me the most of my children as he has Down Syndrome. Cadence (daughter) who is a fifth grader at Macon R-1 – she’s an active member in Art Club and enjoys many sports. Brooklyn (daughter) a second grader at Macon R-1, also enjoys sports and reading. I would like to provide fresh eyes on the school board. I am committed to bringing new ideas on ways to improve Macon R-1 for the students, be a leader in board accountability, update the belief that ALL student circumstances are the same, bringing a voice to the students, encouraging students to get involved in sports and clubs within the school, give troubled youth programs attention, and work on improvements to the special needs program.”

FROM (INCUMBENT) DONNY WYATT: “Donny Wyatt, wife Melissa and daughters Faith age 12 in the 6th grade and Brittney age 6 in kindergarten. Son of Dale and Julia Wyatt of Macon. I am employed by the Missouri State Hwy Patrol (mvi division). My wife and I own and operate Wyatt’s Carquest Auto, Truck and Tractor Parts store in Macon as well as own and operate a farm in the Ten Mile area. Proud Graduate of Macon R-1 Schools, Own and Operate with wife Melissa a business in Macon since 2009, Own and Operate the family farm in the Ten Mile area, Present School Board Member at Macon R-1 Public Schools, 2012 recipient of the Outstanding Young Farmer of Missouri, Former board vice president for Samaritan Hospital, Voted to expand and build a new updated Hospital without raising taxes, Former LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) Chairman for Macon County, and Former Board Member for the Macon County Farm Bureau. I am running for re-election for the Macon R-1 school board to continue to be a strong voice for All the children of the Macon R-1 School District. Continue to be good stewards of the tax payers money. Continue to hire and retain outstanding staff members. It has never been about a personal agenda, just care about how I can help improve the education and the future of ALL our children that past generation’s done for me. There has been a lot of good positive accomplishments in moving OUR school forward while serving on the board. We added Macon’s first ever wrestling program. We continue to update and improve safety and security district wide with many more improvements to come as funds are available. Since being on the board we have been able to improve salaries and benefits to all staff of the district that care for, teach and mentor all of our kids. We continue to do upgrades to the district facilities, such as updating the high school gym and locker rooms, better sound equipment and are in the process of replacing the lighting in the front of the school. We as a board continue to do all we can as funds are available while maintaining a 31% reserve fund, which is used in the event the state holds funding due to economy so that we can pay bills and salaries. Unfortunately, this day and age we have to think safety and security every day. One of the many things that come to mind that needs changed and we as a board are working on is updating and adding more security to our facility to protect Gods most precious gifts our children. We as a district have been hit with a few threats and I feel the board has and continue to take every threat seriously, by adding upgrades, informing parents and working with local law enforcement agencies to increase presence for a safe and secure learning environment. This will always be a top priority! It has been truly an honor and privilege to serve our children, parents, teachers, bus drivers, custodians, maintenance, cooks and ALL staff of the Macon R-1 school district and working with a very forward thinking Board of Education and Administration. It takes every individual to continue to move Macon R-1 forward for the benefit of ALL of our kids and our community. With your vote April 3rd I pledge to continue to be a strong voice to all of our children, parents and staff. Very Respectfully, Donny Wyatt.”

VOTE APRIL 3RD