Parson reappoints Herschend to state Education Board

Photo courtesy Herschend Family Entertainment Corp.

Peter Herschend is back on the Missouri Board of Education.

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Gov. Mike Parson reappointed Peter Herschend to the Missouri Board of Education.

The Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. co-owner is slated to attend the board’s June 14 meeting, according to a news release.

Parson also appointed Kansas City resident Carol Hallquist, founder of PrincipalsConnect, to a board seat.

“We value their dedication to public education, and we look forward to working with them,” said Roger Dorson, interim commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in the release.

With the two appointments, the Education Board now will have a five-member quorum. Former Gov. Eric Greitens in January left the board in limbo when he withdrew his five nominees and then reappointed them in an attempt to give the Senate more time to confirm them, according to The Kansas City Star.

Last year, Greitens appointed Askinosie Chocolate LLC Chief Kinship Officer Melissa Gelner to replace Herschend, but Greitens later withdrew her name, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Prior to being dropped from the Education Board, Herschend was a three-term member of the group from 1991 to 2017. He served as board president for eight years, according to the release.

At Herschend Family Entertainment, the owner of Silver Dollar City and other attractions, Herschend was executive vice president for 20 years and then board vice chairman until he retired in 2006.