Know Your Lindbergh School Candidates: Schuster, Rezabek

Patch provided a list of questions for the four candidates seeking a position on the Lindbergh Board of Education. In ballot order, here are the responses from the first two candidates. The election is Apr. 3.

Name: Karen Schuster

Age: 42

Address: 31 Sappington Acres Dr.; St. Louis, MO 63126

Education:    Lindbergh High School 1987, Bachelor of Science in Accounting 1991, University of Missouri – Columbia

Spouse: David Schuster

Children: daughter/junior at Lindbergh High School; son/8th Grade at Truman Middle School; daughter/3rd Grade at Long School and son/2 years old.

I've been a resident of the district for 39 years with the exception of 5 months after marrying in 1992.

Professional Background: I began my career with Ernst & Young, a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services in 1991.  I joined Southwest Bank of St. Louis in January 1996 as the Director of Internal Audit & Compliance.  In my 15+ years with Southwest Bank, now M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group, my roles also included branch manager and business banker.  In August 2011, I assumed the role of executive director for the St. Louis Society for the Physically Disabled.

Community Involvement:

• Lindbergh Schools 2000 to Present – Lindbergh Schools Foundation board (treasurer), Prop R and Prop L Committee (treasurer), Bandstander volunteer, Community Budget Committee, Crestwood PTO board (treasurer)
• Crestwood Sunset Hills Rotary Club 1996 to Present – president, secretary, interact advisor
• St. Lucas United Church of Christ 2005 to Present – Contemporary Music Team, Cherub Choir director, Chancel choir member
• Previous community involvement – Webster Kirkwood YMCA Board, St. Louis Society for the Physically Disabled, First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, City of Crestwood TIF Commission, Whitecliff Summer Playhouse member, Crestwood Sunset Hills Chamber of Commerce (board president, 2003 Business Person of the Year)

I am running for the Lindbergh Schools Board of Education for two reasons.  As someone who received an excellent education from the Lindbergh School District, I believe it is important for me to give back to the community that helped to shape my life.  As parent of four children who have/will attend Lindbergh Schools, I want to play an integral role in ensuring the tradition of excellence continues.

Biggest Issue: Maintaining the balance between quality education and prudent use of resources with enrollment numbers increasing.

Address continuing uncertainty surrounding State funding: While the Board of Education should remain current on state level education issues and plan for decreases in funding, Lindbergh Schools receive minimal financial support from the State of Missouri.  I believe the Board of Education should focus on its primary local funding sources.

In what areas do Lindbergh Schools need to improve? Am I satisfied with current operations?: I am very satisfied with Lindbergh Schools’ current operations.  I think our biggest challenge is limited space in an environment of growth.   

Assuming I am elected, what do I want to accomplish during my term?:  I will be an active participant in board decisions, thoroughly examining all sides of the issues put before the board and keeping our kids’ education as top priority.

Name:  Dr. George Rezabek

Age:  52

Address: 8 Kahlia Way Court, Sunset Hills, MO.  63127

Occupation: Pediatrician, Mercy Clinic Pediatrics- Fenton

Education:  High school:  Edwardsville Sr. High

                     College:  BS Pharmacy  St Louis College of Pharmacy

                     Med School:  Midwestern University, Chicago Illinois

                     Residency: St. Louis U (Cardinal Glennon)

                     Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship:  St. Louis U

                     (Cardinal Glennon)

Family:        Wife:  Cherlyn

                     Daughter: ( Sarah) 2010 grad Lindbergh, Soph Mizzou

                     Son: ( Christopher) Jr. Lindbergh High school

                     Daughter: ( Grace) Freshman Lindbergh High school

                     Daughter: ( Emma) 7th grade Truman Middle School (Lindbergh)

                     Son: (Nate) Kindergarten Concord Elementary School (Lindbergh)

Years Lived in District: 18

Background:   Member Our Savior Lutheran Church and School, Fenton. (Fenton

                     Sunday school Teacher, Previous Elder, Bd. Christian Ed

                      Parent volunteer various school activities (Lindbergh)

                     Parent volunteer Prop L (Lindbergh Schools District)

                      Previous assistant scoutmaster Troop 25 ( Truman)

                      Committee member Lindbergh School Health Advisory Bd.

                      Committee member LHS Marketing Curriculum

                      Medical Consultant (volunteer position) Lutheran Schools

                      Medical Consultant (volunteer) Valley Park Schools

Reasons for Running:

                   To help continue to provide the educators and students of the Lindbergh School District the tools and resources needed to maintain the excellence in education that Lindbergh is known for. To continue to maintain fiscal stewardship of the taxpayers monies while providing the highest quality of education for our students. Advocate for the health and welfare of the children of the district.

1.     Biggest issues:  The biggest issue facing the Lindbergh School District is to provide the same quality of education with limited funds and revenue stream.

I would advocate maintaining our same level of instruction and teachers while looking for ways to be fiscally responsible. This would involve a district wide effort and collaboration of administration, teachers, parents and community leaders. Recently the sale of bonds that brought top dollar and looking for ways to provide trash services at a good rate are an example.

In what areas do Lindbergh Schools need to improve? Am I satisfied with current operations?:  I am very satisfied with the way the district is operating. The present board and administrators have done a great job with the resources we have and the issues that have confronted them

Assuming I am elected, what do I want to accomplish during my term?:  The single thing that I would like to accomplish is to continue the excellence in testing and educational standards that Lindbergh is known for.