2022 Fair Grove School Board Elections

The Fair Grove School Board is filling up open seats with an upcoming election. There are currently five candidates running for the positions at the election on April 5th, 2022.

The school board is a very crucial part of the school and has many different responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is to supervise the schools in the district and see that they are following state rules and regulations. The board is also in charge of responding to educational needs and financial issues. Since members have such a major influence over the school, the board members are chosen via an election process.

There is always a different number of seats open for the candidates who are running in the election. “This year we have two board positions open for a term of three years,” stated the Fair Grove School Superintendent, Mike Bell. He continued, “The two candidates with the highest vote totals are sworn in after all four counties certify the election results. The successful candidates are sworn-in at the April 2022 board meeting.”

This year, the five candidates are Josh Butler, Jennifer Harp, John Morris, Cheryl Kepes, and Jeremy George. Some of the candidates have held board positions before while others are trying to join for the first time.

Jennifer Harp is one of the candidates that has served on the board for multiple terms. Harp has been on the board for six years as well as being most recent Board Secretary for two years. She has also been the Board Treasurer for one year. The board is very crucial in her eyes. “Running for school board is important to me because it is an opportunity for me to give back to our community and to help guide decisions so that Fair Grove students have access to high quality instruction so that they can have the opportunities for their futures that they want to pursue,” explained Harp. 

Harp isn’t the only returning member. Another candidate who is re-running for a position is Cheryl Kepes. Kepes has served for a term of three years as the Board Treasurer and as the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) delegate. Kepes has enjoyed the time she has spent helping the community on the school board. “It is a blessing to be able to contribute to the education, achievement, and care of students in this community. My passion for education and the Fair Grove community fuels my desire to want to serve as a school board member,” Kepes commented. 

There are also new candidates for the board positions as well, one of which is Jeremy George. George has been a public educator for 25 years and is willing to bring his experience to the table for the school board. “I am committed to ensuring quality education for our youth and strong community backing for our teachers and administrators,” declared George. He continued, “I want to give back to our community as so much has been afforded to me. I am purposed to help keep our schools, the heart of this community, in a great position for all to be successful.”

Josh Butler is another candidate running who isn’t currently on the Fair Grove Board of Education. “As a father of two elementary school children in the Fair Grove schools, parents need a strong voice in their children’s education,” Butler, a small business owner, with a background in law enforcement, a Shriner, and  Fair Grove Fire District Board member, commented. “People live in Fair Grove because they have small town values of safety and community. It is important to me and my family that these values are present in the board that make decisions for our school.”

John Morris is also running this year. Morris expressed, “I know the importance and meaning of what a strong community is like and listening to the concerns of our kids and parents is vital in helping all children reach their full potential. We need to make sure we hear their perspectives and make the right decisions that put our resources in the right places for our children, for they are our future.” Morris was a Fair Grove graduate, has five children that go to Fair Grove, and shared that he is largely relying on word of mouth to campaign.

Fair Grove Board of Education candidates have been campaigning to get elected onto the board since as early as December of 2021. The election will be held on April 5th, 2022 from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM to decide which two candidates will take the open board seats.