Parkway School Board Candidate Q&A: Beth Feldman

With municipal elections approaching next week, Patch presents another look at our three Parkway School District Board of Election candidates. The district school board has two open seats for three active candidates, who have discussed cost-saving measures for the district and issues about public education access to date.

Kim Appelbaum of Ballwin is the sole newcomer up for election, while incumbent Helen Casteel of St. Louis County will be completing her second 3-year term next month following her first election in 2006. Fellow board member Beth Feldman of Chesterfield was elected in 2009.

Today we're continuing a three-part Q&A series to help you learn more about the candidates. Municipal elections take place Tuesday, April 3.

Editor's Note: The candidates are ordered alphabetically and placement does not reflect ballot order nor endorsement.

Beth Feldman

Please briefly describe your bio (occupation and name of your employer/s, family, etc.

I am married to Buddy Feldman and have two children who attend . I have not worked full time since my children were young, but I was a paralegal for a large multi-national inventory finance company.  Currently, I do freelance paralegal work from time-to-time.  

How long have you been a resident of the Parkway School District?

We have lived in Chesterfield (Parkway) since 1990 when we got married.   

Why are you running for the Parkway board?

I have a vested interest in Parkway being the best it can be; my children, neighbors and community all benefit. I have enjoyed the challenges and rewards of serving on the board over the last four years. I want to continue what I've started, seek solutions for problems. I examine issues from different perspectives (parent, taxpayer, community member, board member).  

What do you hope to accomplish? Please be as specific as possible.

I hope to continue working towards full implementation of the work of Project Parkway, our strategic planning initiative. Specifically, educate the whole child, help students to achieve at the highest level possible, maximize instructional time, maintain fiscally responsible use of resources, attract and maintain the best teachers.

What is the biggest issue the Parkway School District faces in the year ahead? Again, please be as specific as possible.

Parkway faces many issues, but the biggest one I foresee is the unknown. We can work to control many things, but decreasing funds, potential open enrollment, unfunded mandates, impossible requirement set by state and federal agencies can post major problems.  

What was the last book you read?

The most recent book I read was "Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of my Hasidic Roots" by Deborah Feldman (no relation).

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