Introduction to the Mandan School Board candidates

MANDAN, N.D. (KFYR) - The Mandan School Board election is broken down into three openings. A one-year unexpired term, two three-year terms, and a rural three-year term.

There are four candidates running for the one-year term.

Incumbent Tim Rector was elected for five consecutive terms from 2007-2022 and served as Board President for half of that time. He said he chose not to run in 2022, and when a vacancy came up in 2023 he applied and was selected for the position. Rector said if re-elected, he is looking to review the strategic plan for school safety, educational growth, and response to population growth.

Victoria Vayda-Hammond is a lifelong resident of Mandan and serves on many commissions and other organizations. She said she decided to run for school board after she developed a personal interest in preserving and improving the quality of the school district. Hammond said if elected, she is looking to create more career technical education programs, balance school curriculum and boost teacher recruitment and retention.

Julie Cronin Skaret works as a marketing and media specialist and used to work as a journalist. She has one child in the school district. Skaret said she got interested in what was going on in the school system after being an education reporter. She said her top priority if elected is safety in the classroom. Skaret said she doesn’t just want to stand on the sidelines, she wants to be an active part of making decisions for the public school system. She said the school board needs to work together and be a united front.

One candidate in this category did not get back to us. That was Jake Schmidt.

There are four candidates vying for the two open three-year terms.

Incumbent Rick Horn has served on the school board for ten years and is the Vice President. He said he is running for re-election because he is committed to the children and community of Mandan. Horn said if re-elected, his top priority is to address the growth in the school district. He said the board must continue efforts to attract and retain high-quality teachers and school staff.

Incumbent Caroline Kozojed did not respond to our request for an interview. She works as an Assistant Professor at the University of Mary’s business school. Kozojed has served on the school board since 2015.

Amy Schanandore works as a physical therapist and has five children in the Mandan Public School system. She said she is running because she is immersed in her children’s educational journey at every level. Schanandore said if elected, she is hoping to improve children’s understanding of their personal health and wellness for continued future success, continuing to stay in connection with progressing technology, and finding a more effective bridge between the middle school and high school transitions.

Maureen Wanner has had three children who attended Mandan High School. She is a small business owner, serves on many boards, and is involved in community organizations. Wanner said she is not looking to fix any certain issue as the board is already doing a good job.

There is one candidate running unopposed for the rural three-year term with one seat open.

Incumbent Sheldon Wolf is a rural resident of Mandan. He works as an Assistant Accounting Professor at the University of Mary and has a small insurance business. He has served on the board since 2013 and is the board president. Wolf said he is running for re-election to finish the work he started, which includes the new high school, the near-site clinic, and continuing to build on education support and administrative teams. He said there are not any issues to fix, however, there are improvements and tweaks that can be made.

The primary election is on June 11.

To find out more about the candidates or where to vote, you can visit the North Dakota Secretary of State’s website and click on elections.