Local elective hopefuls echo a needed focus on student safety, academics and improved communication from district

A trio of candidates filed for each of three available seats on the Medford School District board, up for grabs in the May 20 special election. 

With the district at somewhat of a crossroads following a year of turmoil between board members and culminating with the February resignation of Superintendent Bret Champion, the nine candidates vying for a seat at the table had similar reasons for seeking election or re-election.

Hiring of a new superintendent, improved communications and a focus on student academics all rounded out the list of campaign focuses for those interviewed by the Rogue Valley Times.

For position 1, being vacated by retired teacher Jeff Kinsella, three candidates will appear on ballots, which will be mailed out to Jackson County voters beginning Friday, May 2. Angela Zbikowski, a district parent and senior manager of supplier relations for Direct Travel, faces a race against district parent and small business owner Cheyla Breedlove and retired CPA Curt Ankerberg, a perennial candidate with no elected office experience.

Angela Zbikowski, position 1

Zbikowski, a 43-year-old mother of three, wants to “restore trust and accountability to the board,” prioritize students over board politics and ensure schools are “functioning as well as possible.”

Zbikowski said hiring the district’s next superintendent was a priority in addition to rebuilding the collapsed North Medford High gym and guiding a planned curriculum rollout amid changes to state and federal legislation impacting education. Zbikowski said the board, made up of “seven people who are representing 100,000,” should not be “unanimous on every decision.”

“The primary role of the board is supervising the superintendent and not necessarily running the schools but setting the practices and the policies and the budget that will directly control how the superintendent runs the school. …  We have to find (a new superintendent) that our district and our parents and teachers will get behind,” she said.

“There’s a lot to tackle — and the truth is that we can’t fix everything overnight — but what we can do, and what we must do, is to get aligned as a board and as a community around our top priorities. We have to work together, not against each other.”

Cheyla Breedlove, position 1

Cheyla Breedlove, wife of position 2 candidate Donovan Donnally, said her own experiences as a concerned district parent, prompted her to run for election. A Rogue Valley native and Crater High graduate, Breedlove has attended board meetings for over a year and campaigned on the platforms of rigorous academics, a safe learning environment for students and true transparency from district administration.

Breedlove said she would strive to improve communication with the community, teachers and district parents and work to ensure that students feel “safe and supported at school.”

Curt Ankerberg, position 1

The third candidate for position 1, Curt Ankerberg, did not respond to a phone call or text message requesting an interview with the Rogue Valley Times. Ankerburg’s name has been a familiar sight on election ballots — for special district, city and county elected offices — for over a decade, according to election records online.

Most notably, he ran for an election bid for State Senate District 3 seat in 2018, which he lost during the Republican primary. He’s ran for election to Medford School Board positions numerous times over the past decade. Ankerburg, via his campaign website, describes himself as a fiscal conservative who gets things done “in a timely manner” and won’t increase or waste tax dollars.

For position 2, being vacated by board member Suzanne Messer, architectural draftsman and district parent Donovan Donnally will face off against small business owner, district parent and recent mayoral candidate Logan Vaughan and Jackson Care Connect community engagement specialist Sandra Lanier McHenry.

Donovan Donnally, position 2

Donnally said if elected, he will advocate for improved outcomes for students, including expansion of college alternatives such as trade schools. A Central Point native, Donnally credited his upbringing for his career success and remembered that as a District 6 student, he built houses as part of his curriculum.

Donnally said he would also work for improved safety in schools and a reduction of the district’s administration-heavy hierarchy, according to his assessment.

“I understand that with a district this size you need a certain number of people to help run it, but I think there were a lot of jobs that were created that could be handed back to other people to make things more streamlined and put some of those resources back into the classrooms,” he said.

“Capitalism is OK in my book, but when it comes to the fact you’re doing less and earning way more, I think there are some things that we need to take a closer look at.”

Logan Vaughn, position 2

Also vying for position 2, Logan Vaughn admits he’s been a controversial subject at district board meetings and in other community elections, including a recent bid for Medford mayor, but he said his motivation to serve on the board stems from a desire “to bring common sense back to the classroom.” 

If elected, Vaughn said he would scrutinize district policies and “ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.” Vaughn’s Facebook group, Make Medford Great Again, includes details of an arrest last year, on allegations that he made threats that he said were related to his election bid, and his intentions if elected.

“Our district’s biggest challenge will be choosing a good superintendent that understands what we need for our schools at a local level without breaking the bank. There are good people out there that are not only motivated by money so finding a good superintendent is going to be really important,” he said, noting that he was “the only candidate who included my phone number in the voter pamphlet.

“My favorite saying is, ‘Evil prevails when good men do nothing.’ I encourage anyone who wants to know what I’m about to just call me. I’m accessible to everybody. … I’m in this for my kids and my grandkids and my neighbors, and I will hold true to my values and fundamentals. The district wants place holders up there to approve and do whatever it is they tell him to do but I won’t do that.”

Sandra Lanier McHenry, position 2

A third candidate for position 2, Sandra Lanier McHenry, sought a seat on the board to help steer the district back “in the right direction.” McHenry, a 41-year-old district parent who graduated from North Medford High, said her experience in marketing and communications would be an asset.

“I think there is a lot of distrust, and people aren’t really feeling heard by the district and the board. Maybe they do hear what people are saying … but they’re not conveying that back to community members, parents and teachers,” she said.

“I can see how, from the public perspective, they feel everything is rubber-stamped.”

Added priorities for McHenry include improved school safety and ensuring teachers have adequate support and needed resources.

“We are, as an entire country, more polarized than we ever have been, but I believe we all fit somewhere in the middle, more so than people want to believe,” she said.

“Being able to have conversations in a respectful way, and realizing we can have opposing positions, is important. The focus needs to be put back on the kids. We’ve been talking about a lot of other stuff that doesn’t have their focus in mind.”

For position 3, Board Chair Cynthia Wright, who has served a number of terms since 2003, is the only incumbent on the ballot. Wright faces a race against auditing and consulting business owner Erik Johnsen, and Taryne Saunders, a private caregiver and district parent who has been a vocal critic of the current school board. Wright said she chose to seek reelection due to the district facing “a critical time for students.”

Cynthia Wright (incumbent), position 3

“Many systems, practices and opportunities are now in place to elevate student achievement and expand post-high school pathways for all students. We are already seeing positive results, but these initiatives need time and steady leadership to take root,” Wright said in a written statement.

‘I am running for the board because I believe in the power of strong, experienced governance to drive meaningful progress for students,” she said. “With deep knowledge of how boards should operate, I am committed to ensuring the district stays the course in this important work. The upcoming hiring of a new superintendent is a pivotal moment, and I want to ensure we select a leader who will continue to move our schools forward.”

Erik Johnsen, position 3

Erik Johnsen, a principal for Cairn Investment Performance Consulting, is a past board member, president and treasurer of Madrone Trail Public Charter School, part of the Medford School District. Johnsen, a father of three Medford students, said his experience on the Madrone Trail board could be an asset for the embattled district board.

“I’ve been paying attention for the last couple years and feel like there are a lot of ways the district can improve education, but they’re bogged down in this internal conflict. … I felt called by my community to step up and do something about it,” he said.

“I feel like I have the skill set and the knowledge to bring people together,” Johnsen said. “My charter school background has given me insight as to why families leave the district, and I think the district could learn from charter schools on how to improve things.”

Johnsen said his priorities would include a focus on school safety and student behavior, and encouraging communication and functional relationships between board members and between the district and community.

“I believe there is a lack of trust and mutual respect and I think that needs to be the fundamental piece in place before we move forward,” he added.

Taryne Saunders, position 3

The third candidate for position 3, 40-year-old Taryne Saunders, is a familiar face at board meetings, having attended in recent years and been a vocal critic of decisions by the current board.

A private caregiver and mother of five and active in parent-teacher organizations at her children’ s schools, Saunders said her focus would be to ensure students “are healthy, safe and prepared for the future.” Saunders said the current administration “has been failing our school staff in many ways, which in turn leaves our students with a struggling education system.”

“Currently our students struggle with literacy and math, attendance and graduation rates are lower than average, and behaviors continue to be a daily challenge for both teachers and classmates, causing constant disruptions in their school environments,” she said.

“I have been attending school board meetings regularly for over three years, which has made me well aware of the issues the schools, staff and students are facing, and how they have been handled,” Saunders said. “I am wanting to bring teacher and student voices to the board meetings. I want transparency as well as increased parent and community involvement in our children’s education.”

All candidates on the ballot, except for Wright and Ankerburg, said they planned to attend a candidate forum scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Medford library, 205 S. Central Ave. The forum is hosted by Indivisible 2. 

To see a complete list of available positions and filings for various districts, visit the county elections website. Voters needed to be registered by April 29 to be eligible to vote in the May 20 election. Voter’s Pamphlets were mailed April 21 and are also available online.

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or buffy.pollock@rv-times.com. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal.