Gov. Parson reappoints Branson's Peter Herschend to state school board

A year after Peter Herschend was booted off the Missouri Board of Education by former Gov. Eric Greitens, he has been reappointed.

Gov. Mike Parson announced Tuesday that Herschend, co-founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, formerly Silver Dollar City, Inc. will return to the eight-member governing board. The governor also appointed Carol Hallquist, of Kansas City.

“There’s action that needs to be taken” and the board needs to have a quorum, Parson said Tuesday morning in Springfield. “That was one of the things that I felt early on — that we had to get that back up and running.”

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With the appointment of Herschend and Hallquist — who can serve immediately — the state board will finally have the quorum necessary to meet, as scheduled.

“Governor Parson’s decision to appoint Carol and Peter will help restore and maintain stability,” said Charlie Shields, president of the state board, in a news release. “As a board, we are ready to work together to give Missouri students what they deserve — the best public education.”

Greitens appointed a series of individuals, 10 in all, to the board during a four-month period in late 2017 that culminated with the firing of Margie Vandeven, the Missouri Commissioner of Education. Half of his picks either declined, resigned or were removed after complaining of pressure from the governor's office to fire Vandeven.

The state board was left with only three voting members, all appointed by former Gov. Jay Nixon, and has been unable to meet in 2018. The board, which is required to meet every June and December, typically met once a month and faces a massive backlog of work.

Herschend, who has a degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, previously served three terms on the state board, including two stints as president. In 2011, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce honored Herschend with its Education Supporter of the Year award.

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“We owe it to our students to provide the best, high quality public education in Missouri,” said Parson, in a news release. “It was important to act quickly to restore and provide functionality to the State Board of Education. We expect the Board will begin conducting a diligent national search, to find a capable, qualified candidate to serve as Missouri’s Commissioner of Education.”

Melissa Randol, executive director of the Missouri School Boards' Association, thanked Parson for making the appointments a priority.

"The extraordinary experience of the two appointees will enable the state board to resume its responsibilities quickly," she said, in a written statement. "We look forward to working with the state board on policy issues that will have a positive impact on the education being provided to Missouri’s 900,000 public school students.”

At the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Parson said he was a believer in both traditional public schools and charter schools.

"I think there's a need for both," Parson said. "That's one of the things that's important to me, to get a balance on that board, that both have good representation in how we move forward."

Hallquist is the founder of PrincipalsConnect, a nonprofit organization that matches retired business professionals with urban school principals. She retired as president of the Hallmark Corporate Foundation at Hallmark Cards, Inc. in 2016.

Hallquist’s community involvement focuses on education, diversity and women’s leadership. She currently serves as the director of SchoolSmart Kansas City, as regional board chair of Teach for America, as a trustee on the William Jewell College Board of Trustees, and as a board member of Turn the Page KC.

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“Delighted to see Governor Parson make balanced appointments to the State Board of Education,” said Missouri State Rep. Kathy Swan, chairman of House Education Committee, in a release. “I look forward to continuing to work with the State Board to provide the nearly 900,000 Missouri students the finest public education Missouri can offer.”

The members of the state board now include Charlie Shields, president of the board; O. Victor Lenz Jr., vice president; Michael W. Jones, member; and Herschend and Hallquist, members.

“We are pleased to welcome both Carol and Peter to the state board,” said Roger Dorson, the interim education commissioner, in a release. “We value their dedication to public education, and we look forward to working with them.”

The board, when complete, comprises eight citizens appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Members serve staggered eight-year terms so that one term expires each year.

No more than four members of the board may belong to the same political party.

News-Leader reporter Will Schmitt contributed reporting.