North Kansas City School District

Parents should always have a role in their children’s education – make your voice heard!

The North Kansas City School District will hold an election for two School Board seats on April 5, 2022. Eight candidates will appear on the ballot for two seats. Voters will be able to select two candidates on their ballot.

CANDIDATES

Click on each candidate’s name to learn about their positions. 

Bartsch says the District has “defended school library books that are pornographic or close enough to it.”

 

Bartsch does not support Critical Race Theory being taught in school. 

 

Bartsch believes masks should be optional and up to the family.

 

Bartsch says closing schools in response to Covid was a mistake and “NKC knew that lock-downs / hybrid schooling were academically devastating to students.”

 

Bartsch has not voted in Republican or Democratic primary elections and has made no political donations.

 

Visit Duane Bartsch’s website or Facebook to learn more.

Duane Bartsch is a father of four and a lawyer. He previously served as a U.S. Army Officer as well as general counsel for an inner-city charter school in Los Angeles. 

Wagner has made many donations to the Midwest Region Laborers’ Political League and ActBlue, a fundraising platform for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot, progressive organizations, and nonprofits.

 

Wagner is the Executive Director for the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET). 

 

Wagner touts endorsements from many unions: Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, Greater Kansas City Construction Building and Trades, and Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council, Laborers Local #264, Ironworkers Local #10, and IBEW #124.

Laura Wagner has voted in Republican primary elections.

 

Visit Laura Wagner’s website to learn more.

Laura Wagner is a mother of two and communications professional. 

Bechthold is running for school board with a focus on transparency and accountability.

 

Bechthold does not support Critical Race Theory.

 

Bechthold says there is “adult material” present in school libraries and is frustrated that the District has done nothing to address it.

 

Bechthold does not support mandating masks or vaccines in response to Covid.

 

Bechthold has not voted in Republican or Democratic primary elections. He has made one donation to ActBlue, a fundraising platform for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot, progressive organizations, and nonprofits.

 

Visit Josiah Bechthold’s website or Facebook to learn more.

Josiah Bechthold is a father of four and former U.S. Army intelligence analyst and combat veteran. 

Ward is currently a school board member.

 

During a previous school board campaign Ward was endorsed by the North Kansas City National Education Association, a local chapter of a national union.

 

Ward has made numerous donations to ActBlue, a fundraising platform for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot, progressive organizations, and nonprofits. He has also donated to failed Democratic congressional candidates Barbara Bollier and Jill Schupp.

 

Visit Terry Ward’s Facebook to learn more.

Terry Ward is a father and a graduate of the North Kansas City School District. 

Corrao says “representation matters” and is running for school board to “show our young people that people of any color, sex, background, and socioeconomic status can have a seat at the table.” 

 

 

Corrao has voted in Democratic primary elections. He has not made any political donations.

 

As the District debated controversial books which “depict sexual situations among boys and sexual abuse” and “contained sexual acts with women and abuse,” Corrao said “banning books that speak to real stories” is “wrong.”

 

 

Corrao supported the District’s decision to ignore guidance from the Missouri Attorney General to eliminate certain Covid protocols noting “this is the absolute 100% right move.”

 

 

Visit Andrew Carrao’s Facebook to learn more.

Andrew Corrao is a father and teacher in the North Kansas City School District. 

Yang was appointed to the school board in 2021 to fill a vacancy.

 

Yang has cited promoting diversity and inclusion as challenges facing the District, “One of the challenges that I’ve always faced is really being able to recognize diversity and inclusion.”

 

Yang points to her background as an educator which qualifies her to make “evidence-based decisions” and “listen to parent and student concerns.”

 

Frances Yang has not voted in Republican or Democratic primary elections and has made no political donations. 

 

Visit Frances Yang’s website or Instagram to learn more. 

Dr. Frances Yang is a mother of two and is a professor at the University of Kansas. 

Wartick has been endorsed by the North Kansas City National Education Association, a local chapter of a national union. 


Wartick has voted in Republican primary elections. He has not made any political donations. 


Visit Daniel Wartick’s Facebook   to learn more.

Daniel Wartick is running for school board as “an experienced educator who wants to continue to make a difference.” 

Susan Hines has not voted in a primary election and has not made any political donations.

Susan Hines has not voted in a primary election and has not made any political donations. Susan Hines does not appear to have any information online about her school board candidacy.

Click here to see the map of the North Kansas City School District. You can locate your polling place by visiting the Missouri Secretary of State website.

Paid for by Free to Learn Action. This website is a project of Free to Learn Action. It is not affiliated with, associated with, or sponsored by the North Kansas City School District. The official government website for the school board can be found here. | © Free to Learn Action 2021. All rights reserved.