In exit speech, school board member Scott Crise urges SPS, teachers union to mend rift

As Scott Crise exited the Springfield school board, he was praised by fellow board members as level-headed, calm and thoughtful in his words and actions.

Colleagues also noted that during tense moments or long meetings, Crise was often the one to interject humor. He did that again at the April 9 meeting, thanking his daughters Cynthia and Natalie for the experience he gained in the district while they were students.

"And for getting married during the summers of 2021 and 2023 when the agenda was light in SPS," he joked. "And to my daughter Cynthia, who helped me manage by Facebook account and hide any of the mean comments that were on there."

Crise was first elected in 2021 — alongside Danielle Kincaid and Maryam Mohammadkhani — but failed to win a second term. At that April 9 meeting, Kincaid and Mohammadkhani were sworn in along with first-time candidate Susan Provance, a retired Springfield teacher and coach.

In his final comments as a board member, Crise thanked Associated Electric Cooperative — where he works as the manager of gas plant operations — for the flexibility and time to serve. But he grew emotional when talking about his wife, Martha, and the role she played.

"Martha listened to me and let me vent and provided me with valuable advice and encouraged me to 'Just do the right thing, stay in your lane and be the better person.' I am a much better person because of her," he said. "She is simply the best."

Crise said he "gained a lot" from fellow board members and wished the best for them and Superintendent Grenita Lathan.

"I do ask that you follow the board norms to work together. I challenge you to go back and thoroughly review the board self-evaluation we've recently completed, do a deep dive into it," he said. "Please be respectful of each other, Dr. Lathan and her staff. Be the better person, work together with each other and Dr. Lathan for the betterment of the students of SPS."

In addition to Kincaid and Mohammadkhani, Crise served with current members Kelly Byrne, Steve Makoski, Shurita Thomas-Tate and Judy Brunner. Earlier in his term he served with former members Charles Taylor and Denise Fredrick, who were at the meeting along with former members Alina Lehnert and Bruce Renner.

In the past three years, the board hired Lathan, finished the projects in the 2019 bond issue and won voter support for the $220 million bond issue approved in April 2023.

Crise first got involved in SPS as a parent volunteer and PTA member. He started the WatchDOG Dads program at Sequiota Elementary, and served as a board member for the Foundation for SPS. He was part of a transportation workgroup and a liaison to the Community Task Force on Facilities.

Though much of Crise's exit speech was upbeat, he said "I can't leave without saying something about the grueling election process, especially the questioning" used by the Springfield National Education Association to select the candidates to endorse.

Springfield NEA endorsed Mohammadkhani along with Landon McCarter and Kyler Sherman-Wilkins, who did not win a seat. Crise was critical that the union did not endorse Provance, who won a seat, noting that she "dedicated her whole life to SPS students and made a difference in so many lives that she is in the SPS Hall of Fame."

More: Apparent rift between Springfield NEA, school district casts shadow over board election

Despite voicing those concerns, Crise noted the Springfield NEA — which represents 87% of employees in contract talks with the district — has a "very important place in Springfield Public Schools."

"The animosity that has developed between SPS administration and the SNEA leadership is not serving our students and families," Crise said. "As I exit this board, my greatest wish is that both sides can find a compromise, just meet in the middle and work together. Our district depends on it."

In the study session that followed the reorganization meeting April 9, Mohammadkhani and former board candidate Sherman-Wilkins — who addressed the board during public comments — also called for the district and Springfield NEA to figure out a way to work together.

Laura Mullins, president of the Springfield NEA, congratulated the newly elected or re-elected board members, She went over results of parent and employee surveys, which have not yet been made public, and said "immediate changes" are needed.

"Holding this district accountable is the role you are tasked with," Mullins said. "As always, we are happy to work with this superintendent and any elected board members."

Scott Crise called 'a good influence on this board'

As part of the farewell, sitting board members shared thoughts with Crise and his impact during the past three years of service.

Thomas-Tate said Crise was committed to doing "the hard work" and interjected humor so the board did not take itself too seriously.

"You have clearly been intentional in trying to provide balance and fairness, and that was appreciated," Thomas-Tate said. "I see your effort in maintaining relationships with everyone on the board. That's appreciated. It did not go unnoticed."

Mohammadkhani gave Crise a gift and thanked him for serving. Byrne described Crise as "a good man" who toiled over making difficult decisions.

"You have been a good influence on this board, especially when times were tough," he said. "You're always level-headed, rational, reasonable, intentional, best of intentions, so you really will be missed."

Brunner said she will miss Crise's engineering expertise, which provided another perspective as the board talked about school projects. "You asked great questions and I was in awe of what you could bring to that. And I really appreciate it."

She said it was clear that Crise was a careful listener and gave thought to what he was going to say.

Kincaid who was president of the board for the past year and was elected to continue in that role, said she valued Crise's service as vice president during that time. Brunner was elected the new vice president.

"It was an honor to serve in this team together. I don't think we could have gotten through this last year without that and I know part of that is also Martha so thanks for letting SPS borrow Scott's expertise for a while," she said. Then she joked that going forward "our phone calls can be fangirling over Taylor Swift."

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Exiting Springfield board member urges district, union to mend rift