Primary election for BOE is Tuesday
Editor's note: There are three people running for the District 7 seat of the USD 410 board of education. This week's story highlights one of them — Kevin Suderman. Last week's issue featured Rod Koons and Gary Andrews, the other two candidates. A primary election, to be held next Tuesday, will narrow the field to two men.
Kevin Suderman
Hillsboro native Kevin Suderman has seen many parts of the state while involved with the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program.
Now he wants to gain leadership experience by serving on the Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh board of education. He's running for the District 7 position, which is currently held by Reg Matz.
This is Suderman's first time running for public office.
Suderman grew up in Hillsboro and graduated from HHS. After spending five years away, he came back to town, where he now works as a crop management specialist for Cooperative Grain and Supply. He's married to Nicole, and the couple have no children.
Suderman sees Hillsboro as a "vibrant, forward-thinking" community with an excellent school system.
"The teachers care about our kids," he said.
Suderman wants to serve the community on the school board, although he admits he doesn't have all the answers. But that's the role of the board, he said — to come up with new ideas together.
"I enjoy being in the dialogue," he said.
Since he and his wife don't have children yet, Suderman says that he wouldn't go into the board with any "preconceived ideas" since he has no children in the district.
Because of that, Suderman says that he brings a unique viewpoint to the board. He wants to be a representative for younger adults, he said. Suderman is 29.
Looking at the budget difficulties that the district faces this year, Suderman says that different options will have to be discussed. He doesn't want to decrease staff, but that may need to be investigated.
"There may be other things we have to visit," he said.
The district also needs to look at funds spent on activities and everyday expenses, Suderman said.
But no matter the decision, he knows that the decision is bound to anger some people.
"I'm ready to take the heat," he said. "I don't want it, but I can take it."
Looking at the "pay to play" option, which would require students to pay in order to participate in extra-curricular activities, Suderman says that low-income families would be the ones hit hard. But it may be an option to consider one day, he said.
On the topic of school consolidation, Suderman sees the state pushing toward fewer and fewer districts, but he doesn't think that the number will get down to 40, as some have proposed. But consolidation may eventually affect smaller districts, he said.
"I am hoping that won't happen," Suderman said.
With his work in the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program, Suderman has seen how vital young people are to rural communities.
Having a good school system is one way of keeping them in rural areas, he said. When people are impressed with the school system, that's where they want to raise their kids.
And Suderman says that younger people — especially those in their 20s — need to be involved in community life.
"These people are the future of our town," he said.
Suderman is glad that the public has many choices in this spring's elections, he said. He hopes that people take the decision seriously, since each board member serves a four-year term.
