Three seats are open on the Oklahoma City School Board

What is the greatest challenge facing the district? The inability to meet the needs of today’s student population. We live in an information-saturated society where things are changing all the time, and yet I don’t believe that our school district really has the ability to respond to those changes in a timely manner, which is almost predictable when you have a large, bureaucratic organization that is disinclined to change. ... In order for them to meet the needs of a rapidly-changing demographic student body, I don’t know if we’re up to the task. There are people with good intentions and big hearts but you’re asking people in the district at every level to change. ... Change is one of the most difficult challenges that we have, and yet in order for the school system to compete in the 21st century, it has to be much more flexible, much more patron-oriented. ... There are good things happening, innovative things. We just need more of it.

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Name: E. Jann Maultsby

Job: retired social worker

Website: None

Why are you running? I’m retired and I’ve always wanted to look back and help those that needed help. That was the way I was raised. ... We have these small children over here and I just like to see a little bit more being done for them than I’ve seen. I don’t think they’re really being educated. Education to me is learning but in a fun situation, a feeling that teachers and whoever’s there is there for them. It’s not just sitting in a classroom. I wanted to see what I could do to reach out to the children because I am retired. ... What I’ve seen in the school system, even as a substitute teacher, there’s a need for someone to speak out for these children. ... It’s easy to look the other direction rather than focus on what’s going on there.

What is the greatest challenge facing the district? To me, there are quite a few challenges, things that have been going on so long. Like a sore, if you let it go on for so long, it starts festering if you don’t take care of it early on. ... There are so many people out here supposedly helping children and I’m not seeing any results anywhere. I know what I’ve gone through and seen organizations say, ‘I’m here for the children,’ but I haven’t seen any effects of these organizations and what they do. ...

District 2

The district covers part of northwest Oklahoma City, all of Nichols Hills and part of The Village. District 2 encompasses seven elementary schools: Horace Mann, Johnson, Monroe, Nichols Hills, North Highland, Putnam Heights and West Nichols Hills. The district is also home to Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School.

Name: Justin Ellis

Job: factory representative

Website: www.facebook.com/FriendsofJustinEllis

Why are you running? To better the education of our children. I have two kids. One is in public schools (Nichols Hills Elementary) and one is 2 years old so he’s not there yet. It’s the betterment of the future of Oklahoma City and our children.

What is the greatest challenge facing the district? The greatest challenge now I feel is the performance, the grade level that they have gotten. In my eyes, a D is not good enough for Oklahoma City. To be able to get our children to fit into society, an education is of the utmost importance.

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Name: Gail Vines (incumbent)

Information: Vines has announced she will not serve if elected. She said she only filed for a third term because she thought she was running unopposed, but after meeting her opponent, she said she endorses him to take her spot. However, her name will still be on the Feb. 12 election ballot. If she wins and chooses not to serve, the school district likely would appoint someone to fill the vacancy.