Chad Gillespie, (Central Nebraska Today, KGFW)
KEARNEY — Chad Gillespie is one of the nine candidates who are running for a position of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education.
Gillespie said he grew up on a ranch west of Amherst and attended school in the community. He is thankful for the work ethic and fiscal responsibility that was instilled in him while growing up on the ranch.
After graduating from high school, he earned a degree from Doane College and competed in football and track and field.
He said his career path has taken him from Lincoln, San Diego, Omaha and eventually back to Kearney in 2015.
Gillespie said he decided in December 2023 to enter his name in the race for the school board.
Gillespie noted that he is the father of five boys, four who attend Meadowlark Elementary and one who is a seventh grader at Sunrise Middle School.
Speaking to his experience, Gillespie said he has been heavily involved in some of the recent issues that have come up that he feels, “could have taken schools in the wrong direction.”
Gillespie said he was outspoken in his opposition to the comprehensive sex education that was considered by the Nebraska Department of Education and the issue of trans-gender student participation in sports of their choice.
“I want to be a safeguard for our kids against some of the radical liberal policies,” Gillespie said.
When asked about what he views as the most pressing issues affecting the district, Gillespie said he feels that Kearney Public Schools is headed in the right direction and wants to maintain this.
One main issue Gillespie sees is the hiring and retention of teachers and staff and he said the root cause is “students who present a lot more challenges in the classroom.” Gillespie said this could be due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or ongoing mental health challenges.
Gillespie said he has heard from several teachers who have left the profession, saying that this wasn’t what they expected from education.
When asked how the issues should be addressed, Gillespie said seeking the best candidates for teaching and then doing their best to retain them.
Gillespie also noted that KPS is considering a K-5 alternative school that would be like the Hanny Arram Center for Success for the 6-12 grade alternative students. He noted the board will be visiting similar centers across the state, but the big question is where this would be located.
When asked about the potential budget caps that have been floated through the Unicameral, Gillespie said the school board would have to take a two-pronged approach and press the needs and issues of the district with their state legislator. “They need to know our plight.”
He said if caps were put in place, Gillespie said the district would likely need to find an alternative source of revenue.
When asked what would influence his decisions on the board, Gillespie said that his five boys would be at the front of his mind.
Gillespie spoke of a recent conversation he had with someone who advised Gillespie that if elected, he couldn’t run the school board like he does his household.
Gillespie said he walked away from that conversation and thought, “why not?” He said that he teaches his sons to be kind, obedient, helpful and respectful and hopes that Kearney students could leave with those traits and a quality education.
In conclusion, Gillespie said he wants voters to vote for their values this election and said that he is the “conservative candidate.”
“I am not the guy who wants to put kids back in masks, I am not the guy who wants to bring back up the issue of ‘can trans-gender folks participate as they identify or as they were biologically born. I am not the guy who wants to come in and make huge sweeping changes for Kearney Public Schools. I think we are on a really good track,” Gillespie said.
Editor’s Note: Chad Gillespie appeared on 1340 KGFW and this article was written using information provided during that interview. The full interview can be found here.
