On the eve of Tuesday’s municipal election, the race for three open seats on the West Plains R-7 Board of Education continues to take shape. While incumbents Reid Grigsby and Jodi Purgason, along with challenger Jim Laughary, participated in a public forum, reported in the March 11 edition of the Quill, candidates Ashton Atlas and Jim Thompson stopped by the Quill to share their priorities for the district's future.
Atlas, a 2017 West Plains High School graduate with a background in behavioral healthcare and public service, says she aims to bring objectivity and empathy to the board. She views the board’s primary role as oversight — ensuring district funds are managed transparently while acting in the best interest of every student.
• Top Priority: Addressing student mental health. “That’s a problem facing not just the district but the community as a whole,” Atlas said, advocating for the use of grant writers to fund support programs without touching classroom budgets.
• Fiscal Vision: Atlas expressed concern over legislative proposals to eliminate the state income tax, which could significantly impact local funding. She suggests protecting core academic and career programs while leaning more on community fundraising for athletics.
• Academics: She supports stronger career pathways and local partnerships. “Being a Zizzer has often been about extracurricular success, but we need to shift that focus to ensuring every student graduates prepared for adulthood,” she said.
Thompson is a former board president who served 36 years on the R-7 board and was recently inducted into the Zizzer Distinguished Hall of Fame. A West Plains native with an Master of Business Administration degree from Missouri State University, Thompson says his decision to run again stems from a desire to provide a steady, experienced hand for the district.
• Top Priority: Advocating for students above all else. “The common good for the kids is really what's important,” Thompson said. “Kids come first and foremost in every decision I've ever made as a board member.”
• Fiscal Vision: Thompson highlighted the complexity of school finance and the threat of shifting tax burdens. He noted that while the district may need to rely on reserves due to rising costs, he is reluctant to cut programs. “I don't know that there's anything that can actually be eliminated,” he said. “To me, extracurricular activities, I don't care if it's athletics or band or choir, whatever else they're in, are an integral part of a kid's education.”
• Academics: He views early literacy as a critical foundation and praised alternative paths like the Zizzer Pride Academy. However, he remains skeptical of standardized testing, calling the MAP test "a total waste of time" in its current form.
The other three candidates — incumbents Reid Grigsby and Jodi Purgason, and challenger Jim Laughary—addressed voters during a forum held in March.
• Grigsby emphasized continued investments in school safety and resource officers.
• Purgason highlighted the importance of parental involvement and the success of the district’s alternative learning programs.
• Laughary, a veteran educator, focused on teacher retention and expanding career and technical education awareness.
Three seats are available on the board in Tuesday’s election. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sample ballots can be found on Pages 6 and 7 of the March 25 and April 1 editions of the Quill.
