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Kenneth Ball
Age: 35
Candidate for: Glenpool Board of Education, five-year term
Birthplace: Tulsa
Lived in district: 10 years
Job Title/Employer: Valmont Industries, production control manager
Married to: Trang Ball
Number of children/schools they attend(ed): Two children enrolled in district schools
Leadership positions: Marine Corps and Navy section leader
Registered voter? Yes
Previously sought or held elected office? No
Highest level of education, name of institution, and year graduated: Master's in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University, 2005
Why are you seeking this position? Education is very important to a community; how a school functions, its facilities and the learning environment directly affect students' willingness and ability to retain the knowledge educators teach. The last 18 years there have only been 1,545 votes cast for the school board (the last election only 111 votes). The seat I am running for hasn't been opposed since the late 1980s. I believe a fresh perspective would be good for the board.
What do you believe are the chief responsibilities of a school board member? The school board should bring other points of view, be good stewards with the limited resources available, bring outside knowledge, and they need to act as a check and balance. The school board should listen to the community and encourage parent participation.
How much time would you plan to spend in the schools in your voting district on a weekly basis? As much time as needed to accomplish the task at hand.
What should the relationship of the school board be to the superintendent? The relationship should be professional and have mutual respect; there should be trust and a feeling of openness to be able to ask honest questions without it becoming territorial.
What are the greatest strengths of the school district? The students and the different backgrounds they bring. Education is more than book work. Schools also teach students how to function in our society and deal with different points of view and expose our kids to the real world. Glenpool is in a very good position right now because the community is growing and the school will have an improved revenue stream in the coming years.
What are the greatest weaknesses of the school district? The ability to keep pace with the current and projected student population growth. The school needs attention and the need for new buildings cannot be met with the current bond packages. The city of Glenpool has a very high tax rate and it is hard to explain to the citizens of Glenpool the need to raise the millage (portion of property tax) to build new facilities quicker. People see that new business are moving in and automatically think the school will have an influx of money, but the money takes a couple years to filter down, so we will always have lag time unless the millage rate is increased and the high tax rate is a roadblock.
What changes and/or new initiatives, if any, would you like to see in the district? People to get involved if they can, Glenpool is full of great people that have a lot of knowledge we could share. Citizens to take the time to understand the schools limited capital funding resources.
Do you have any other comments or concerns about the school district? Invite people to move to Glenpool to raise their kids.
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