While newcomers will be joining the ranks of Crawford County’s school boards following the April 6 consolidated election, voters in Hutsonville, Palestine and Oblong will have few choices to make when at the polls.
In fact, everyone running for the boards of units 1, 3 and 4 are unopposed.
Hutsonville Unit 1
Three candidates are running for three seats on the Hutsonville Unit 2 board. They are Chasity Austin, Chad Weaver and Katie Miller Parker. 
Austin is running for Hutsonville School Board for the first time.
“I’m so proud of our school in Hutsonville,” Austin said. “It is evident our kids are loved and truly cared for.”
 “I was once a student at Hutsonville and had many community members serving to ensure I had the best education and environment to become successful,” she said. 
“It is evident this last year has brought many challenges to our school system and I think it is more important than ever to step into a role that preserves the values I hold,” Austin explained. “It is an honor to serve God and my community in this way and there is no place I would rather serve.”
Incumbent Weaver is seeking a second term on the board.
“During my first four years on the board, we experienced a lot of challenging situations where I gained a much deeper understanding of our school system,” Weaver said. “There are a couple of areas that are developing which I feel need particular attention.
Weaver places students’ social and emotional needs as the “first and most urgent” matters facing the board.
“The last 12 months of life have seen significant change and uncertainty for our students,” he explained. “Being out of school, as well as the restrictions once school began, has disrupted the structure, routine and social interaction students need to thrive. Students of all ages have not only been hit in this area, but the loss of instruction time has also had a negative impact on learning.”
Another important issue is increasing vocational education,
“There is a significant need for qualified workers in all kinds of trades,” Weaver said.
“Vocational-based education also gives students alternative paths through our school,” he continued. “I recognize not every student is college bound and high school is an excellent opportunity to set these students up for success.”
Weaver, who is Robinson police chief, also plans to continue utilizing his background and experience to ensure a safe school environment.
“A safe school is required as a foundation for high-quality learning. Additionally, I would continue to work with the board to navigate the rapidly changing landscape as it relates to new legislation.”
Palestine Unit 3
Incumbent Susan Hawkins is running unopposed for re-election. However, two other incumbents, J.R. Dunlap and Shari Eckert, are not running again.
Damien Tingley is running unopposed in Eckert’s area and Tyler Inboden is running unopposed in Dunlap’s area.
Hawkins has been a board member since 2006. She is an Environmental HES Professional at Marathon Petroleum Company Corporate Refining Environmental Assurance, based at the Robinson refinery.
 Hawkins is married to Ron Hawkins. They have two children and one grandchild. She is a Palestine High School graduate of the class of 1986.
“The current board in place is dynamic and well aligned on fiscal responsibility,” Hawkins said. “The next four years will be exciting for Palestine schools with the fresh and very talented administration.”
“The administration and faculty in place at the high school and grade school are professional, tech savvy and enthusiastic,” she said. “These pioneer characteristics are what it takes to provide our students with a ‘best in class’ education.”
As the chair of the boards building of grounds committee, Hawkins would like to see them utilize state and federal grants to finish the building priorities at PHS.  
“We are well on our way,” she stated. “It is also my hope that we upgrade the heating and cooling in PHS building. I also advocate for more technical courses for trades and encouragement of students who are not college bound to have the exposure of the many employment opportunities that are out there.”
“My family and I have lived in Palestine for 20 years, and my daughter is a sixth grader at PGS,” Tingley said. “My wife and I are both active in the school system, her with PTO and myself with the Academic Foundation.”
“I hope to continue to offer our students the best education possible, with an emphasis on new technologies and methods, to further the long standing tradition of graduating students that continue on to accomplish great things,” he said.
“We live in a great community that goes above and beyond to support the school system in any way possible, and I have no doubt that will continue,” he said. “I am excited at the possibility of becoming a member of our school board.”
Inboden said he believes his skills will benefit the district.
“I have no doubt that my vocational skills and mind set are up for any task at hand,” he said. “I will apply my skills and knowledge to the situation and make the best possible decision not only for my kids, but the kids in our district.”
“We need strong leaders in today’s society and with your help electing me to the CUSD 3 Board of Education, I can bring the mind set and work ethic it takes to do the right things,” he stated.
“I have been married to Aubrie Inboden for seven years and we have three beautiful girls; Addyson, who is eight, Landry, who is one and Everlee who is one month old,” Inboden said. “For the last seven years I have worked for the Marathon Pipeline Construction and Maintenance division as a welder.”
“I have always had an interest in our schools and community but when my daughter entered the school system, I saw a greater opportunity for me to be involved,” he said. “When this seat opened up, I was eager to use this chance to represent a great community and even better school district.”
Oblong Unit 4
Voters in the Oblong school district will see two familiar faces and one newcomer to voters but who has already been serving on the board when they go to the polls next week.
Chad Pusey, 46, was first elected to the Unit 4 board in 2009.
He is married to Mary Lou Pusey and they have five children, Loren, Logan, Alexis, Erica, Codie and Lyndee Lou.
Pusey has been the Oblong chief of police since 2002 and has been a police officer for 22 years.
Todd Musgrave, 55, is the other incumbent running for re-election and was also elected to the board for the first time in 2009.
He and his wife, Marla, have a daughter, Taylor, and a son, Tyler.
In addition to the school board, Musgrave is also a member of the Oblong School’s Academic Foundation, the Oblong Chamber of Commerce and the Crawford County Development Association.
Elijah “Abe” Lemmon is the new comer on the ballot but is already serving as a member of the Unit 4 Board of Education. Lemmon took over the remainder of the unexpired term of Mike Higgins when he had to resign from the board.
He is a graduate of Oblong High School and is a Refinery Operator at Marathon.