On April 8 area voters will choose Missouri school board members, deciding who will represent them on issues of academic progress, state and local funding, and meeting the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

The Star today makes recommendations in selected races. The choices appear in bold face. No endorsements appear in uncontested races.

North Kansas City (2 seats)

Jan Kauk, the school board president, and Philip R. Holloway, vice president, deserve re-election. Their experience is needed as the district works to solidify its funding in the face of revenue reductions from local tax-increment financing and business-development decisions.

Kauk, executive director of the Northland Community Foundation, is involved in Northland and Clay County chamber and economic development groups.

Holloway is a lawyer familiar with school district legal matters, as well as an active parent in the schools. Also in the race is Joann Davis.

Lee’s Summit (3 seats)

Steady board leadership shows results in this fast-growing district. Three incumbents are prepared to continue: Jeff Tindle and Jon Plaas have been on the board three terms and two terms, respectively, and Jack Wiley joined them in 2005.

Tindle, a hospital administrator, has been board president and vice president. He was formerly with the Missouri School Boards Association and knows what it takes to be an effective educational leader.

Plaas, a retired Marion Laboratories executive, is a real estate developer. He’s the TIF Commission representative for the district and involved in various business groups. He is past president of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council.

Wiley, a technical writer with an oil and gas company, served on the district’s Citizens Advisory Committee to plan for growth and other committees.

Also in the race is Sherri Tucker.

Hickman Mills (3 seats)

David Buie, an attorney in private practice and Metropolitan Community College trustee, is an excellent choice to return to the school board.

Also qualified are two other incumbents, Bonnaye Mims, retired forensic services coordinator for the state Department of Mental Health, and Luther Chandler, a financial consultant.

Stable leadership is needed for the district as it continues to wrestle with inadequate state funding and the need to improve student performance.

Buie is past president of the Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees. Mims has been active in a variety of community organizations. Chandler has been involved in school district activities and the Southern Communities Coalition, among other groups.

Also in the race are Edward Perry Jr., and Debbie Aiman, who has teaching experience and wants to work to retain good teachers. However, the incumbents have earned re-election.

Raytown (3 seats)

Incumbents Rick Moore, Cathy Mack and Terry Landers are the best choices.

Moore, who works for the U.S. Department of Education, knows the community from his tenure as a Raytown alderman.

Mack, the board president, has been on the Raytown Charter Commission.

Landers is a retired teacher and administrator with the district, giving him a valuable perspective.

Former board member Dean Bray also is seeking another term.

Strong school boards make for strong neighborhoods and communities.

Residents should take the time to vote on April 8.