By Lynn Horsley And Katy Bergen, Grassroots efforts both this summer and on Tuesday also brought in new board members to the Shawnee Mission school board.
Members of Education First Shawnee Mission said they were inspired to form the local group not just by the results of the national election, but the success of other grassroots organizations advocating for education issues, such as Stand Up Blue Valley.
Three first-time candidates endorsed by Education First Shawnee Mission — Heather Ousley, Mary Sinclair and Laura Guy — were overwhelmingly elected by voters on Tuesday.
“Our SMSD community is a better place because of the campaign process this year,” said board member Brad Stratton in an email. “For the first time in a long time, the issues affecting the district have had ample public debate and conversation and that makes us all more informed patrons of the school district.”