GRAVETTE — Three candidates are vying for a seat on the Gravette School Board and share reasons for running and views below: John Ekstrant

John Ekstrant, of Bella Vista, married to wife Amy for 11 years. They have two daughters, Emily, 6, who is in the firstgrade at Glenn Duffy Elementary, and Savannah, 12 weeks old. Has lived in Bella Vistasince 2006. His parents and brother also live in Bella Vista.

He is a native of Illinois where he attended public schools. Attended U of A for three years in pre-pharmacy and received his Doctorate of Pharmacy in 2005 from U of A Medical Sciences. Has worked for Walmart 13 years where he started as a pharmacy technician and is now manager of Sam’s Club in Bentonville. He served as preceptor for pharmacyinterns. He is a member of Shepherd’s Chapel in Gravette.

Goals for the school district: “to keep the conservative values of our district strong and ensure the Bible class is protected. Want to be involved in building the Highlands Elementary in Bella Vista and will strive to make Gravette the best school district in Arkansas.”

He said his reason for running for the position is “I want to contribute to our community. I have a vested interest due to having two children, my oldest in first grade at Glenn Duffy Elementary. I want to help see Gravette continue to be a strong school district. Our future is our children and I want to help as best I can to see them become prominent members of society.”Susan Santos

Susan Santos, Bella Vista, has been married 35 years to husband Bob. Parents of two children, Steve, a network specialist for a manufacturing firm, and Jennifer, an professor of English literature at Virginia Military Academy, two grandchildren.

Ms. Santos grew up in Russell, Kans., and graduated from KU. She wasadministrator of a large school district many years where she was IT Coordinator and Curriculum Data Manager. Serves on Board of Trustees of Bella Vista Library and co-chairs the library expansion task force.

“I would like to see an across the board effort to foster strong home-school connections which will result in raising expectations for students,” she said.

Among goals she notes that we must act as good stewards of our tax dollars, continue to strengthen curriculum and encourage involvement in athletics, art and music programs.

We must continue to utilize technology as a teaching and learning tool.

She gave as her reason for running for the position, “I am deeply committed to public education as the means to prepare our students for their future as contributing members of our community, country and world.”

Jonathan Watson, of Bella Vista, is married to wife Jennifer. They are parents of daughters, third grader Whitney and first graderElise, in Gravette schools.

Mr. Watson has pastored the Bella Vista Assembly of God Churchfor about 10 years. He has three more classes in order to complete his Master of Arts degree in Civilization Ministries (MACM).

Watson said, “I am not campaigning on any specific changes (in the school)” but noted that “growth causes problems to arise that need strong leadership.”

He lists expansion of facilities and infrastructure as important goals and providing leadership and programming to meet the needs of our growing district as essential.

He said the reason he is running for the position is “to be a representative of working families with children and to offer my help in administering our school system.”

News, Pages 5 on 09/14/2011