There are six candidates vying for three seats on the Warren County R-III School District Board in the Tuesday, April 4, Municipal Election.Listed below is information about each candidate:John CornellCornell, 48, Warrenton, is a claim center manager in the insurance business.He is, or has been, a coach in Warrenton’s Junior Warrior football league, the Holy Rosary youth basketball program, the Warrenton Recreation Department’s soccer program, Warrenton’s Little League baseball program and is a board member of the Warren County R-III Choir Boosters.Cornell is running for office, he said, to help improve the district.“Representing the views and desires of the community is very satisfying, and it is an opportunity to positively impact the key to our future; our youth,” he said.“Public service is both an honor and a responsibility that I take seriously. I have previously had the pleasure to serve the community, both as a law enforcement professional for 23 years and a prior city alderman, and I am looking forward to an opportunity to again serve.”Cornell was an alderman for the city of Warrenton from 2012 to 2014. He served as board president from 2013 to 2014.If he is elected to the school board, he plans to help improve it by “changing the culture of the board and administration to increase transparency and proactively seek out the concerns of the community and staff,” Cornell said.“The only way to improve on the product and service that we provide is to be aware of concerns. We should view concerns as just that, concerns instead of criticism. Instead of becoming defensive, let’s welcome the opportunity for positive change. We have a fantastic school district, but we should constantly seek improvement.”Cornell is married to Kristy Cornell, a middle school counselor in a different school district.Frances “Franci” SchwartzSchwartz, of Truxton, is a retired educator. She is a member of Central Grove United Methodist Church, Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Daniel Boone Area Retired Teachers. She is treasurer for the Agape Board of Directors and a volunteer at Agape Food Pantry. She is coordinator for the Warren County Fair Livestock Team and a co-leader for the Smith Creek-Central Grove Volunteers in Mission Team.“As a school board member, I will be a voice for all our students, regardless of abilities, interests, or socioeconomic situation,” she said. “My experience includes teaching at every grade level, working with students in special education, regular classes, and gifted programs. My husband, our son, and I are all proud graduates of Warren County R-III. I love our schools, and I am excited about looking for ways to make our good schools even better for everyone,” Schwartz added.She said these are actions she will support:• Considering the needs and best interests of students in every board decision.• Recruiting and retaining excellent quality faculty and staff members.• Implementing best practices supported by research.• Striving to use all resources of the district responsibly and wisely. Her husband is Stuart Schwartz, a survey technician at Lewis Bade, Inc.Laurie WenzelWenzel, 55, Warrenton, is running for re-election to the Warren County R-III School Board.She is part of the student mentor faculty at Western Governor’s University. Her memberships and activities include the Council for Exceptional Children, Kappa Delta Pi Alumni, Missouri State University Alumni Association, Pattonville Association of Retirees, Grace Bible Church Children’s Ministry, and Moms In Touch, a college and military group.“I want to give back in service to what this community has given me. I believe my giftedness is in the area of understanding good teaching and learning,” Wenzel said. “School board member is the best place for me to use my skills to serve others, especially children.”During her last three years on the board, she said, it approved the purchase of property on the north end for future expansion. The board also approved a $10 million bond issue for school security and facility improvements. The board approved programming and staff who worked to increase levels of achievement and attendance.And there is more work to do.“I plan to promote a strategic system that filters all decisions based on what is best for students district-wide,” Wenzel said. “I plan to promote a strategic system to improve the recruiting and hiring of high-quality staff to the district. I also plan to promote a strategic plan to retain high-quality staff in the district.”She is married to Christian Wenzel, an art teacher.Rodger Tucker Jr.Tucker 41, Warrenton, is a project manager and estimator for Marschel Wrecking, LLC.He also volunteers as a head coach and manager for two-year round select softball teams that are based in Warrenton. From 2012 to 2016, he volunteered as the Children’s Ministry director for a local church, where he started and maintained the kids’ program.“I am running for the board of education to make the district the best educational experience for all of its students. Like all schools, our school district faces financial challenges in maintaining and upgrading its school facilities and creating an operating budget that motivates and appropriately compensates our outstanding teachers. I will dedicate the time and experience necessary to support our superintendent, exceptional teachers, voters and students,” Tucker said. He has not run for elected office before. “I don’t have an agenda to put in place or any preconceived notions as to why things work or don’t work,” he said.“I can stay open minded in decisions that need to be made while holding true to my convictions. I’m not a single-issue focused candidate with an agenda; my interests solely lie in doing what is right for the kids and in the success of our school district.”Tucker said managing and operating proper facilities and providing staff and teachers superior compensation is a difficult balancing act with a limited budget.“An effective school board plays an important watchdog role in keeping schools on the right financial and educational track, and setting school policies,” he said. “The school board sets the vision and goals for the school district, and holds the district accountable for results. It’s a collaborative, team effort and an effective school board is made up of parents, teachers, business people and community members who all contribute their unique talents and backgrounds to work as a team. As a coach, I fully understand the value of a team.”Tucker is married to Katie Tucker, a marketing manager for First Financial Credit Union.Cary Tonioli Tonioli, 45, Jonesburg, owns and operates Gateway Specialty Contracting, Inc. The company installs and maintains Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS) across the country focusing in the North and Northeast.He is running for office to bring new perspective to the board.“While the current school board has done a great job growing and improving our schools, in the last year some issues have begun to surface. I would like to take my business and personal experiences to help balance a seemingly unbalanced board,” he said. “The time is now for new faces with new perspectives to communicate the needs of all parties. By doing this we will create a strong unified district.”His goal is to find out the district’s needs and prioritize them.“I am not about having a side or agenda prior to understanding the district’s business,” he said. “Knowing the facts, then make a list of priorities will be my objective.  I intend to listen and engage with teachers administration and parents.”He is married to Amy Tonioli, owner of Ultimate Hair and Spa.Anthony TillerTiller, 31, is a youth pastor. This is his first time running for public office.“As youth pastor, I have been supporting students in the community for several years now,” Tiller said. “I wanted to branch out into other avenues of support of young people in Warren County.” He said he wants to ensure that all staff, from teachers to administration, are held accountable to standards that will produce a culture of effectiveness for students. “I feel the role I have been involved with as youth pastor can help bring a perspective to the board that may not otherwise be there,” he said. “I feel bringing an understanding of how students see and engage in their world, can help with educational goals and make those goals continue to be a reality.”He is married to Stacia Tiller, communications director for Faith Christian Family Church.Tiller did not provide a photo.Warren County R-III School BoardJohn CornellLaurie WenzelRodger Tucker Jr.Francis "Franci" SchwartzCary Tonioli