Politics & Government

Webster Groves Board of Education Candidate Q and A: David Addison

Webster Groves Board of Education candidate David Addison responds to several questions from Kirkwood-Webster Groves Patch.

Editor's note:Kirkwood-Webster Groves Patch sent the following questions to each of the four candidates for the Webster Groves School District Board of Education. Friday we ran responses from candidate .

Candidates are running for three open spots on the school board. Board members serve three-year overlapping terms. The election is April 5.

Please provide a brief description of your educational and professional background.

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I received my MBA from Washington University in Saint Louis, where I graduated Beta Gamma Sigma. My undergraduate degree is from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in Great Britain where I received a Bachelor’s in Statistics and Computer Science, with Honors. I am a qualified actuary (Fellow of the Society of Actuaries) and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

I work for RGA Reinsurance Company, in Chesterfield, where I am a vice president and actuary in the company’s Global Financial Solutions division. I work with clients to design strategic solutions to complex financial problems.

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How long have you lived in the district?

My wife and I have lived in the Webster Groves School District for 11 years, during which time our children have attended Clark Elementary, Steger Sixth Grade Center, and  . 

If you would like to, feel free to provide a brief description of your family and where your children attend, or attended, school?

My wife, Rhona, and I have three children: Emma, a freshman at Webster Groves High School, Sarah an eighth-grader at Hixson Middle School and Christopher, a second-grader at Clark Elementary. Before we started our family, my wife had been a teacher for a number of years, and my mother was a teacher as well. 

My wife and I have been active volunteers in the schools since our oldest daughter, Emma, was in Kindergarten at Clark Elementary. During that time we have taken on significant leadership roles within the schools as well as serving on numerous committees and fund raising groups.

I currently serve on two Webster Groves School Board Committees, the Legislative Advocacy Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. These have given me a role in understanding and responding to the many and varied challenges facing our district.

I currently also serve as Treasurer High School Central Board, Auditor Hixson PTO.  My wife is currently co-chair of the High School Garden Tour, the major raiser for scholarships for the freshman class.

My wife and I are past PTO presidents and I have also served as treasurer as well as auditor for the Clark PTO in the past. I have also served in a leadership capacity on various professional groups.

The school board requires a substantial time commitment to serve the community properly. For the past 11 years, my wife and I have demonstrated that we have that time and that we are prepared to invest it in our school system.

Please provide a brief summary of your reasons for running.

First and foremost, I’m running for the Webster Groves School Board, because I believe that I can make a difference for the good of our schools and our community.  The role of the board is to provide guidance and leadership to our administrators to ensure “the Academic and Personal Success of Every Student." The board’s role is not one of Accountant, Lawyer or Chief Financial Officer.  We employ highly qualified staff to fill these roles. Rather we are the Board of Directors, who can look beyond the single issues and see the big picture. I believe that my background especially suits me for that role. 

My wife and I have a long history of involvement. In that time we have earned the trust of teachers, parents and members of the community. After I missed election a year ago, many of these individuals asked me to run again. I believe it would be an honor and a privilege to be allowed to serve on the school board, and I hope to have the opportunity after the election on April 5.

What role do you think the Webster Groves Board of Education should play in the community?

The public schools are at the heart of any community, and especially of the communities of the cities that make up the school district, Webster Groves, Rock Hill, Shrewsbury and Glendale. The schools are very conscious of the privileged place they enjoy. The schools and the community work together and the school board should continue to encourage that partnership. The community makes a large investment in our schools, and is happy to do so because of the return shown on that investment, evidenced by the great graduates we turn out every year.

The community has high expectations for our schools and the school board’s role is to ensure that our staff is positioned to continue to deliver great results. As a board, we should continue to work with the various city councils, community groups and citizens to align our efforts for the good of the community.

What do you currently see as the biggest issue facing the district?

Funding continues to be the biggest issue facing the district. The state currently provides about $1,000 per child, but given budget concerns in Jefferson City, even that is threatened. We spend about $12,000 a year per child. The implications of Turner and Open Enrollment center on local control, but ultimately the issue there is a financial one. We are blessed with a great community but not with a strong commercial or retail base from which to draw taxes.

The community has always been ready to support strong schools because they see the value of that investment. As a board, we will be faced with difficult decisions as to how to utilize our limited resources. The board needs to include members with a strong business background, who will be able to provide leadership. Board members need to understand where the district has come from in order to help decide where it is going. This requires a history of involvement over many years.

Assume you win the election. What single thing do you want to accomplish during your term on the board?

The Board of Education acts as a group, not as individuals and it is important not to come to the table with a personal agenda. We have many challenges facing the school board, including continued tough financial times, threats to local control as a result of Turner and the Open Enrollment bill, an ever present achievement gap, instances of substance abuse and bullying. The school’s administration, with guidance and support from the school board, is working to address all of these issues.

I believe that the key role of the school board is summed up by the District Mission Statement “…committed to the Academic and Personal Success of Every Student."  If we set policy and make decisions with this in the forefront of our minds, I believe that our students will have the opportunity to become great citizens and that our schools will continue to thrive. If we achieve this goal, I believe the entire board will have succeeded.


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