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Daviess County Public Schools Board of Education
Editor’s note: Three of the five seats on the DCPS board are open this election. Each seat is a nonpartisan elected position. Candidate profiles have been edited only for spelling, grammar and punctuation, and otherwise appear as submitted.
DATE OF BIRTH Sept. 20, 1963
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ADDRESS 3359 Shadewood Terrace, Owensboro, KY 42303
EDUCATION business degree from Western Kentucky University
OCCUPATION Insurance in Daviess County
ELECTED OFFICES HELD Daviess County Public Schools Board of Education member (2016-present)
SPOUSE/PARTNER & CHILDREN Married; two children
TODD ANDERSON District 3
Do you support the decisions made on in-person classes vs. virtual learning during the COVID19 pandemic?
Yes. Our Reopening Task Force crafted a plan that follows the safety components expected by the state. I applaud their thoughtful and tireless efforts.
What do you see as the most important function of the board of education as a whole, and what strengths will you bring individually to enhance the board’s effectiveness?
Providing a quality learning experience in a safe environment for students and staff is the paramount function. My professional career in business managing a multimillion-dollar budget and overseeing employees brings a different background to the table as we approve the budget and establish policy that ensures efficiency and effectiveness.
What do you view as the greatest strength and biggest area of weakness in Daviess County Public Schools, and what will you do to enhance or improve upon these areas?
By far, our greatest strength is our employees. Next would be our education partners. The dual credit/early college opportunities with OCTC, KWC, Brescia and newly added Murray State provide enormous opportunities for our students that save our parents $1.5 million per year in tuition costs. One area of concern is the need we are seeing for more people to enter the teaching profession.
What do you view as the role of public education in a community?
The role of public education is to lay a strong foundation of fundamentals for each student and create opportunities for their individual success.
ADDRESS
135 Brownsvalley Redhill Road,
EDUCATION
DIANNE BURNS MACKEYDistrict 3
Do you support the decisions made on in-person classes vs. virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has highlighted the importance of in-person learning, and I support having students physically present at school to the maximum extent possible.
What do you see as the most important function of the board of education as a whole, and what strengths will you bring individually to enhance the board’s effectiveness?
Providing parents and teachers with tools to shape all children, of differing abilities, into productive citizens is the key function of the board. My experience as a teacher, past DCPS board member, and business owner are my key strengths and reflect my deep dedication to and understanding of our community. Of new importance, a female’s perspective needs a seat at the table.
What do you view as the greatest strength and biggest area of weakness in Daviess County Public Schools, and what will you do to enhance or improve upon these areas?
The dedicated teachers who devote time, talent and even personal funds to the instruction and
DCPS does not value our community’s hard-earned tax dollars. Owensboro reduced its property tax rate to the lowest mark in seven years, while our current board presided over multiple tax increases (four consecutive). I’ll fight to fund educational programs, not excessive, expensive construction projects.
What do you view as the role of public education in a community?
Education exists to prepare semi-disciplined students to be active contributors to society.
Utica, KY 42376
care of our students are our greatest strength. B.S. in elementary education and math, Western Kentucky University; MA in Guidance Counseling; Rank I (Guidance and Counseling) Gifted and Talented Certification
OCCUPATION DCPS teacher (35 years); Owner/ Operator of Masonville Food Center; Owner/Operator of Kentucky Konvenience Food Mart
EELECTED OFFICES HELD DCPS board member (2008-2016)
SPOUSE/PARTNER & CHILDREN Husband Jay Mackey; children JJ Mackey, Burns Mackey and Mari-Scarlett Mackey Hirte; four grandchildren
Editor’s note: Three of the five seats on the DCPS board are open this election. Each seat is a nonpartisan elected position. Candidate profiles have been edited only for spelling, grammar and punctuation, and otherwise appear as submitted.
DATE OF BIRTH June 5, 1942
ADDRESS 5141 Windy Hollow Road, Owensboro, KY 42301
EDUCATION College
OCCUPATION Retired
ELECTED OFFICES HELD None
SPOUSE/PARTNER Husband Devon L. Castle
SHARON CASTLE
District 4
Do you support the decisions made on in-person classes vs. virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was the correct decision, because a more direct approach is/was being taken.
What do you see as the most important function of the board of education as a whole, and what strengths will you bring individually to enhance the board’s effectiveness?
Push to have Daviess County, in Owensboro, Kentucky, be the first county in America to bring cursive writing back to all schools. I believe cursive was discontinued in a devious manner with a deliberate attempt to affect the next generation in a negative way. If you cannot write it, you cannot read it!
What do you view as the greatest strength and biggest area of weakness in Daviess County Public Schools, and what will you do to enhance or improve upon these areas?
I believe more counselors are needed placing high school students in local businesses the same way colleges channel their graduates into positions.
What do you view as the role of public education in a community?
Channeling high school graduates with staff counselors into jobs. Every graduate not going to college needs and will receive a good job! We are blessed in this community with companies that pay a living wage.
FRANK RINEY III District 4
Do you support the decisions made on in-person classes vs. virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I agree with the approach in reopening schools and back to five days a week soon. Training students with the A/B schedule is a reasonable method to teach techniques for safety, distancing and mask use. The virtual method is necessary for at-risk students. My disagreement is having fall break when we are (planning to get) into a traditional schedule.
What do you see as the most important function of the board of education as a whole, and what strengths will you bring individually to enhance the board’s effectiveness?
The board establishes goals for the district and provides the resources. Developing a budget and creating policy are legal requirements. My influence is controlling costs, realizing what is asked of taxpayers and being responsible to them.
What do you view as the greatest strength and biggest area of weakness in Daviess County Public Schools, and what will you do to enhance or improve upon these areas?
The strength of the system is our people, from teachers to classified staff. We promote high expectations and encourage high academic excellence. The difficulties we have involve financing. Lost SEEK money from the state creates pressure for local tax increases. I will continue my conservative approach to district spending.
What do you view as the role of public education in a community?
Our obligation to the community is developing a learning environment and ensuring quality instruction needed for successful students.
DATE OF BIRTH Aug. 7, 1946
ADDRESS 5651 W. Fifth Street Road, Owensboro, KY 42301
EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in accounting, Brescia College
OCCUPATION Retired Secretary/Treasurer from Hartz Construction Corporation
ELECTED OFFICES HELD Daviess County Public Schools Board of Education
SPOUSE/PARTNER & CHILDREN Wife Margaret Mary (Moggie) Monarch Riney; five children; five grandchildren
