BIRD SEEKS 2ND SCHOOL BOARD TERM

The Rev. William Bird was the first and only person to file for a seat on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education on the opening day of filings Tuesday.

Candidates have until Jan. 19 to put their names on the ballot.

Bird, who will complete his first term on the board in April, is seeking re-election.

The board has decided not to appoint anyone to fill the remaining three months of Steve Wright's term on the board. Wright resigned Dec. 16 to seek employment in the district. He has been hired for a position with the Work Keys program at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School.

Dr. Ferrell Ervin, school board president, said the board decided to leave the seat open until the April election. Wright's term on the board ended in April.

The board said appointing someone might provide an unfair advantage should that person decide to run for the seat.