District details

The winner will replace Patti Gubbels, a registered Republican elected in 2020. Gubbels served as president of the split board in 2023. Earlier this year, she voted against the proposal to prohibit sexually explicit materials, siding with Democrats who believed the decision to be up to local districts, according to Nebraska Public Media. She declined to seek reelection.

Both McAllister and Schonhoff described themselves as experienced and conservative. McAllister called himself one of the most conservative superintendents in the state. Schonhoff has the endorsement of the Nebraska GOP. The Nebraska State Education Association endorsed McAllister. 

Since 1985, McAllister has worked as a teacher, football coach, principal, curriculum director and superintendent at both public and parochial schools. He currently serves as a consultant in South Sioux City.

He wants voters to know that compromises will have to be made for the betterment of schools, and he told the Flatwater Free Press “doing what is best for students with common sense is not a slogan, it is something I practiced.” He is running for office, he says, because he has the experience and desire to serve Nebraska schools.

Schonhoff has taught reading and math for more than 20 years,  specializing in English language learner education. She currently teaches at Pine Creek Elementary in Bennington.  She told the Flatwater Free Press she’s running for office to raise math and literacy rates. Additionally, she wants to stop spending on initiatives that aren’t producing better readers, mathematicians and scientists and wants voters to know she believes she can make a difference for Nebraska’s children.

On the issues

As a member of the board, McAllister says he would prioritize the teacher shortage and specifically work on barriers related to teacher certification. Additionally, he said he would maintain local control and protect schools from unfunded mandates. McAllister said that, in South Sioux City, his efforts have cut the student absenteeism rate in half. 

Schonhoff wants to get “back to the basics of reading, math, science and civics.” She would reduce spending that doesn’t directly improve proficiency rates — including social justice and diversity and inclusion efforts. Schonhoff would also like to improve teacher training so they can help all students and reduce the percentage of chronically absent students.  

They both support the shelving of the proposed health education standards regarding identity, sexuality and healthy relationships, and they also remained neutral on book bans. Schonhoff said “ban” is not an appropriate term and believes age appropriate content in our public school libraries is common sense. McAllister said public schools should not have pornographic material, but he said the issue should be debated at the Legislature.