Five candidates, including three incumbents, are vying for three three-year seats on the Lindbergh Board of Education in the Tuesday, April 8, election.

The five are: Cori Akins, board Vice President Don Bee, board member Vicki Lorenz Englund, Al Faulstich and board President Kathleen Kienstra.

This article will profile Faulstich and Kienstra. Akins, Bee and Englund have previously been featured.

• “The educational welfare of all students,” Faulstich said.

• “Planning for and managing the growth in student enrollment over the next five years. With current district growth at a rate of 100 (to) 125 students per year, the upcoming increase in enrollment must be addressed. Four of Lindbergh’s five elementary schools are operating above their designed capacity, and the fifth, Crestwood, is located in one of the fastest-growing areas,” Kienstra said.

“Today, there are enough elementary students to fill a sixth building. As enrollment continues to increase by approximately 464 students between now and 2018, it will be necessary to add another 650-student building.”

Faulstich, 73, 9815 Mar Ann Court, 63128, is a retired area foreman for Anheuser-Busch Inc. He and his wife, Elfriede, have four adult children.

In the past, Faulstich unsuccessfully sought the Missouri House District 92 seat and the Republican nomination for the District 85 Missouri House seat. He said he is seeking a seat on the Board of Education because of his “concern for the educational welfare of all students.”

Kienstra, 56, 7365 Navarre Circle, Grant-wood Village, is an associate professor, department vice chairwoman and director of the Radiation Therapy Program at Doisy College of Health Sciences, St. Louis University. She and her husband, Mark, have three grown children.

Kienstra, who first was elected to the school board in 2008, said she is seeking re-election because “… I have enjoyed serving the community on the Board of Education; therefore I would like the opportunity to continue my service. I believe my experience and background is unique and my continued service will provide consistency in future decision making.

“I have always based every decision on one thing: what is best for kids. If re-elected, I will continue to evaluate every issue and decision on that value and continue the Lindbergh tradition of fiscally responsible stewardship of district financial resources …”

The candidates gave the following responses to a Call questionnaire:

Faulstich said, “I will work to implement what the voters decide.”

Kienstra said, “I intend to vote ‘yes’ on Prop G. With current district growth at a rate of 100 (to) 125 students per year, the upcoming increase in enrollment must be addressed.

“The passage of Prop G is necessary to build a new elementary school to address this growth. Without a new school in the most densely populated area of the district, elementary class sizes will exceed 30 (to) 35 students, and larger class sizes means less individualized attention for students — academic achievement suffers — music and art teachers will lose their classrooms — ‘art on a cart’ — and elementary libraries and gyms will be divided to create additional classroom space. These are all undesirable alternatives.”

Faulstich said, “The will of the people was decided at the ballot box, and I will work hard to follow the will of the people.”

Kienstra said, “I voted in favor of Prop L.”

Do you agree with the board’s stance on collective bargaining — negotiating salary and benefits, but not school governance issues such as class size, teacher assignments and hours of operation?

Faulstich said, “Under state law, collective bargaining for all public employees only includes salaries and benefits.”

Kienstra said, “Yes.”

Faulstich said, “Yes.”

Kienstra said, “Yes. The district has upgraded security at all the schools, adding classroom locks to doors that did not already have them. The schools’ school resource officers, who are active officers with the St. Louis County Police, patrol all district schools. The district believes it has the responsibility to educate and keep the students receiving that education safe during the school day.”