AREA SCHOOL BOARD FILINGS BEGIN TUESDAY

The filing period for Boards of Education in Missouri opens Dec. 22 and remains open through Jan. 19.

In Cape Girardeau and Jackson, three seats will be filled on each of the boards. School board members are elected for three year terms.

The election will be held April 6.

In Cape Girardeau, terms expire in April for Steve Wright, the Rev. William Bird and Bob Blank.

Bird plans to file for re-reelection. Bob Blank said he is undecided. Wright resigned his seat on the board Dec. 16 to seek employment within the district.

In Jackson, terms expire for Vicky McDowell, Dr. T. Wayne Lewis and Darrell Hanschen.

McDowell plans to seek re-election, Hanschen is undecided and Dr. T. Wayne Lewis was unavailable Friday.

Candidates can enter the race by filing at their respective school district offices. Some offices will be closed during parts of the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

School board members will be elected to three-year terms.

In Cape Girardeau, Bird said he is interested in working with the district's new superintendent, named last week. "He's real excited and enthusiastic," Bird said. "I'm also interested in completing the master plan."

In addition, he is interested in bringing some community projects to the forefront.

Bird was elected in April 1996 and will be completing his first term on the board.

Blank said he has enjoyed his time on the board but serving on the school board is a tremendous time commitment. "I haven't made up my mind yet," he said.

Blank was appointed to the board in April 1995, and won election to the seat in April 1996.

Wright is the senior member on the school board. He was first elected in April 1993, and then re-elected in 1996.

In Jackson, McDowell said the board is in the process of selecting a new superintendent. "I'm looking forward to working with that person," she said.

Completing her second term on the board, McDowell said she has a good understanding of school board operation.

"I think I can contribute to the running of the school system," she said. "And I enjoy working with the school system."

She was first elected in 1993.

Hanschen was first elected to the board in 1990.

"I haven't decided," Hanschen said. "I'm still thinking about it."

Lewis was first elected to the Jackson school board in 1987.