Board of Education

The seven-member Board of Education is elected by District patrons. Members are elected to serve three-year terms without pay. 

Meetings

The Board usually meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month for a monthly business meeting.

View Board agendas and action: BoardDocs

Most regular monthly business meetings are live-streamed on YouTube: Watch Board meetings

(Note: Work sessions are typically not recorded.)

Contact

Pam Steele, Secretary to the Board of Education

pam.steele@raypec.org

21005 S. School Rd., P.O. Box 789, Peculiar, MO  64078
Ph: (816) 892-1311
Fx: (816) 892-1380

Meeting dates

Unless noted otherwise, all meetings take place at the Ray-Pec Innovation Academy, 21001 S. School Rd., Peculiar.

  • 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Monthly business meeting. Note: This is the third Thursday of the month.

  • 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Work session.

  • 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Monthly business meeting.

  • 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Work session.

  • 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Monthly business meeting.

  • 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025. Work session.

  • 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025. Monthly business meeting. Note: This is the third Thursday of the month.

  • Monday, April 14, 2025. Reorganization meeting.

  • 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2025. Monthly business meeting.

  • 7 p.m. Thursday, May 22, 2025. Monthly business meeting.

  • Thursday, June 12, 2025. Board Advance planning meeting.

  • 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26, 2025. Monthly business meeting.

2025 School Board Candidate Filing Information

The Raymore-Peculiar R-II School District will accept Declaration of Candidacy from any qualified person interested in running for a position on the School Board in the April 8, 2025, election.

Persons interested may file with the Secretary to the Board of Education at the school district’s offices located at 21005 S. School Road, Peculiar, MO 64078.

Qualified applicants for the board may file for office during regular business hours in the school district’s offices beginning at 8 a.m. Dec. 10, 2024. Filing will end at 5 p.m. Dec. 31, 2024.

In between, candidates may file by appointment by contacting Board Secretary Pam Steele at 816-892-1311 or pam.steele@raypec.org. Except for the first and last day of filing, filing will not occur on days that the school district's offices are closed due to inclement weather or other reasons. Filing will also not occur when the school district's offices are closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, 2024.

Two (2) positions are available for a three-year term. Board members whose terms expire in 2025 are Carol Barnes and Bill Lowe. Placement on the Ballot Order of filing will determine the placement on the ballot. This is in accordance with Board Policy 0320.

Board Members

Ruth Johnson

Ruth Johnson, Board President

ruth.johnson@raypec.org

Ruth resides in Peculiar. She was elected to the board in April 2011 and re-elected in 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2023. Her current term expires in April 2026.

  • She was re-elected Board President during a reorganization meeting on June 12, 2020.

  • She was re-elected Board President during a reorganization meeting on April 19, 2021.

  • She was re-elected Board President during a reorganization meeting on April 18, 2022.

  • She was re-elected Board President during a reorganization meeting on April 17, 2023.

  • She was re-elected Board President during a reorganization meeting on April 15, 2024.

Deanna Olson

Deanna Olson, Board Vice President

deanna.olson@raypec.org

Deanna Olson of Raymore was elected to the Board in April 2021 and re-elected in April 2024. Her term expires in April 2027.

  • She was elected Board Vice President at the reorganization meeting in April 2022.

  • She was re-elected Board Vice President during a reorganization meeting on April 17, 2023.

  • She was re-elected Board Vice President during a reorganization meeting on April 15, 2024.

Carol Barnes

Carol Barnes, Board Member

carol.barnes@raypec.org

Carol resides in Raymore. She was elected to the Board in 2022. Her term expires in 2025.

Paul Coffman

Paul Coffman, Board Member

paul.coffman@raypec.org

Paul resides in Peculiar. He was elected to the board in April 2017 and re-elected in 2020 and 2023. His term expires April 2026.

Billy King

Janet Jones, Board Member

janet.jones@raypec.org

Janet Jones was elected to the Board in April 2024. Her term expires in April 2027.

Bill Lowe

Bill Lowe, Board Member

bill.lowe@raypec.org

Bill Lowe took the oath of office on Nov. 8, 2018. He was selected to fill an unexpired term when Kim Bailey resigned from the Board and was appointed to the State Board of Education. He was re-elected in April 2019 and again in April 2022. His term expires in 2025.

Patty Phillips

Patty Phillips

patty.phillips@raypec.org

Patty Phillips took the oath of office during a special meeting on June 20, 2023. She was selected to fill an unexpired term that became vacant when Ashley Jones resigned from the Board. Jones announced at the May 25 Board meeting that she is moving out of the District. 

Phillips was elected in April 2024 to serve a two-year term that expires in April 2026.