Thousands of citizens across Chesterfield went to the polls on April 4 to cast their votes in the newest cycle of city-wide elections. Headlining the ballot were three positions for the RSD Board of Education as well as the fate of Proposition Thrive.

Prop T proposed a $95.5 million bond issue, which will provide funding for a new elementary school to house a burgeoning population of students in Eureka and also fund the completion and retrofitting of the STEM wing at MHS.

Dr. Knost said the passing of Proposition T will help allow the district to continue its commitments toward lowering class sizes and keeping the high quality of education across its borders.

He said STEM education will be addressed in a variety of ways with the passing of the bond issue, including the expansion of the nascent 1:1 laptop ratio which is currently in use by freshmen in the ALAR/P and reading strategies classes.

“The STEM pieces kind of crossover,” Dr. Knost said. “At MHS, we’re currently building an addition to house newer classrooms including new science rooms. Part two of that will be to renovate existing classrooms inside of the school.”

Also on the ballot were five candidates who ran for three positions of the RSD Board of education. Two incumbents, Dr. Keith Kinder and Lynne Midyett, as well as three first-time candidates, Randy Miller, Tamara Jo Rhomberg and Sudhir Brahmbhatt. Of the candidates, Dr. Kinder (25.7 percent of vote), Midyett (25.5 percent of vote) and Miller (22.5 percent of vote) were elected to the board (names listed in order of votes). All three winning candidates were endorsed by the Rockwood National Education Association, an organization representative of the teachers and staff at Rockwood.

Miller said the endorsement served as an important boost to his candidacy.

“I think it was a huge deal,” Miller said. “The teachers and staff of Rockwood, that’s what gives us our end product, which is students who are ready to take on the world.”

Miller previously spent 16 years in the smart home industry. He said he hopes to use his knowledge and passion for technology to push the board toward a more active stance on STEM education.

“STEM is a really big part of who I am,” Miller said. “I’m really big into technology and I think that’s going to drive where most of our students take their careers when they leave us. I think I can certainly add my expertise in the technology industry.”

Dr. Kinder will serve a third consecutive term on the board after his re-election. Dr. Kinder said while his re-election was an honor, he’d spent election night closely tracking the passage of Proposition T.

“I knew that whoever got elected to the board, we were gonna have three qualified winners,” Dr. Kinder said. “I knew we needed the proposition and I know that Rockwood voters have pulled through in past elections.”

Dr. Kinder said the passing of Proposition T will stave off qualms from family members and students in the future.