Kennedale school board
Star-Telegram
The school board is responsible for hiring and firing the superintendent and setting the budget. Voters will select two at-large candidates. They serve three-year terms and are unpaid.
Name: Lori Glovier (incumbent)
Age: 53
Occupation: Physician
Online: none
Background: Glovier has degrees from the University of Maryland in College Park, Columbia Union College, Georgetown University and the University of Maryland in Baltimore. She served in the Air Force as a flight surgeon.
About the candidate: Glovier has been on the school board since 2004. She said she wants to focus on preparing students for life after high school instead of standardized tests. She wants to improve academics and improve how the district works with children with learning disabilities. She supports the proposed tax increase to fund teacher raises.
Name: Greg Mahnesmith
Age: 49
Occupation: Senior software engineer
Online: none
Background: Mahnesmith grew up in Illinois and graduated from Saint Joseph's College in Indiana. He helps coach the basketball team at Holy Rosary Catholic School in Arlington.
About the candidate: Mahnesmith said the board has done a good job of keeping the district on track but needs to do a better job of informing the community about what is going on in schools. This is his first run for public office. He is against raising taxes to fund teacher raises.
Name: Eddie Patterson (incumbent)
Age: 48
Occupation: Power company crew foreman
Online: none
Background: Patterson grew up in Kennedale, where his father and grandfather also served on the school board. He has been a school trustee since 1996.
About the candidate: Patterson wants to finish construction projects and work on the next bond package. He said the district is doing well and wants to focus more on improving academic performance. He supports the proposed tax increase to fund teacher raises.
Name: Romona Smith
Age: 45
Occupation: Homemaker
Online:mona4schoolboard@sbcglobal.net
Background: Smith has degrees from what was Bauder College in Arlington and Dallas Baptist University. She has been active in Kennedale PTAs and served on the district's education improvement council for two years. She has worked in management at an airline and was a substitute teacher last year.
About the candidate: As a mother of elementary schoolchildren with dyslexia and Down syndrome, she said she wants to make sure that school officials understand that all children learn differently. She wants to promote district unity and increase PTA participation. This is her first run for public office.
