HSD Board of Education Candidates Feel Each Other Out at Forum

(HSD) parents interested in getting to know the candidates running for the open seats on the HSD Board of Education had the opportunity to do so Thursday night during a question/answer format.

During HSD's annual "Meet the Candidates" forum, approximately 25 people were in attendance including the event sponsor, the Hazelwood PTA Council, the event moderator and the League of Women Voters St. Louis.

There are currently on the board of education, and three individuals vying for a seat: incumbents Mark Behlmann and Desiree Whitlock, along with newcomer Keith Boykin Sr. 

The board candidates answered questions and discussed their opinions on various subjects including:

• Reasons for filing to run on the school board of education
• Stance on recruiting minority teachers
• Collective bargaining for teachers
• Residency requirements for district faculty and staff
• Open enrollment
• Handling children attending HSD schools illegally
• Student accountability for behavior and academic performance

Most notably the three candidates discussed a hot topic for area educational institutions: . The court case begins Monday, and a parent in the audience asked each candidate their position on the subject of open enrollment. 

Boykin Sr. said he didn't think the district would mind the influx of students.

"I've talked to some parents that have children in the Riverview School District, and they were asking if Hazelwood would have an issue with them coming over and I don't think they would," he said. "That's a large district so I could see how this would pose a problem."

Behlmann didn't take a stance for or against the measure.

"I think ultimately what's going to end up happening is that the Hazelwood School District is going to have to absorb these children," Behlmann said. "And we'll take them. We love them."

Behlmann also said that money isn't an issue but is a concern.

"Right now, we don't have a guarantee that we are going to get paid to put these kids through school," he said.

Whitlock said she is not in favor of open enrollment.

"I am not in favor of children on the outside coming into Hazelwood because that means our patrons foot-the-bill," she said. "I understand about accreditation but I hope (this law) does not pass."

The final question of the night asked each candidate's stance on the "No Child Left Behind" education law and its effectiveness, to which both Behlmann and Whitlock had similar stances.

"I believe that we are leaving kids behind," Whitlock said. "I don't feel that it's properly funded.

"I believe that the government knows we are leaving a lot of kids behind," she said.

Behlmann added that although school districts are stuck with it until the federal goverment changes it.

"It's done nothing but divide districts," Behlmann said. "Not of fan.

It's taken out locally controlled issues and sent it to the federal government," he said.

Boykin Sr. took a different approach on the matter.

"I'm a fan of it," Boykin said. "Every child deserves a chance to learn.

"And every child should have an opportunity to become productive adults," he said.

If you weren't able to attend Thursday's forum, be sure to tell Florissant Patch from your candidates as we prepare to interview each before the election.

The last day to register to vote in the April 3 election is March 7. Be sure to check back on Florissant Patch as we bring you profiles of each candidate in the upcoming weeks before the election.