2 NELL HOLCOMB TERMS UP

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Two incumbents on the Nell Holcomb R-4 Board of Education will try to stave off a challenge Tuesday by a former board member.

Dwayne K. Kirchhoff and Robert Rubel are seeking re-election, while Charles Roberts is attempting to regain a seat on the board.

Roberts was a board member in the elementary district for four years until losing last April in his bid to be elected to a second, three-year term.

He initially was appointed to the board and served for one year before being elected to a full term.

Rubel is seeking his fourth three-year term; Kirchhoff is vying for a second term.

Roberts, 47, of Cape Girardeau Route 1, said Wednesday he would like to see laboratory equipment added to the school's science classes. Also, he said, some foreign language courses should be added at the school, as well as a full-time art teacher and a counselor.

Right now the school has only a part-time art teacher who splits her time with teaching speech and no counselor, he said.

"Those are some of the small things I believe we can do without getting into a lot of money." Roberts added that the school board might also look into some way of reducing the school's student-teacher ratio because some classes are still fairly large.

As for former discussions concerning the possibility of a Nell Holcomb high school, Roberts said: "The high school issue, as far as I'm concerned, is out of the question because we don't have enough students and we don't have enough money to build a high school."

Although the possibility of a high school is pretty much a dead issue, Roberts said, some of the school district's voters have voiced concern about it.

Roberts is the owner of Charlie's NAPA Auto Parts and Charlie's Auto Body.

Rubel could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

But Rubel said in an interview in January that he has children still attending Nell Holcomb and he wants to remain involved with the district. And his experience makes him a good candidate, he said.

"I know that's an easy one to say, but it's the truth. I feel that I've been able to express the concerns of the people of the district ... since I've been a board member," he said.

Kirchhoff, 28, of Cape Girardeau Route 1, said he is seeking re-election because "I want to keep on trying to make the best elementary school that we can possibly make out here.

"I feel like we've made all our steps in the right direction. I feel like we are making a better school every day," he added.

Kirchhoff served on the school district committee that studied the idea of establishing a Nell Holcomb high school.

"I think it's something that still needs to be studied," he said.

"I don't like to think that it is an issue that is completely dead. But right now, I think our main objective is to get the best elementary school we can."

Kirchhoff said, "I don't think our district is ever going to get smaller. We can't do anything but grow and get better.

Kirchhoff, who is employed by Ozarc-Gas Equipment & Supply Inc., attended Nell Holcomb School and graduated from University High.

"Whatever happens in this election," said Kirchhoff, "I feel the school is not going to get shortchanged.

"I feel that all three of us are well qualified for the job. You won't find any mudslinging in this election."