Candidates pitch plans for schools, city government

~ Teachers' salaries, studying techniques, junior high enrollment and public transportation among topics discussed.

Voters had the opportunity to ask questions of candidates running for Cape Girardeau city council, mayor and school board in a forum held by the League of Women Voters Thursday night. Elections will take place April 4.

The race for school board offers the most competitive race with three candidates vying for two open spots.

Questions posed to the candidates ranged from teacher salaries, to the teaching of intelligent design, to class size and school choice.

Incumbent Charles Bertrand said he has done a lot of learning during his first three years on the board and now has serious concerns about the direction of the district.

"When you have a city growing at breakneck speed, a university that no matter your opinion on it is growing rapidly, and a medical facility growing, then you have to have a public school system that keeps pace," he said. "I'm very concerned that the public school system catches up with what's going on in the community."

Bertrand added his dismay that the salaries of Cape Girardeau teachers are some of the lowest in Southeast Missouri. "Our teachers' base pay in a district this size should be $500 above the highest in Southeast Missouri. And the highest is probably in Jackson," he said.

Pharmaceutical salesman Kyle McDonald said he wonders about a trend that seems to be taking kids away from the school district. "Something that needs to be addressed is why are parents pulling their children out of school after Junior High," he said. "What is going on that parents are choosing private schools or even home schooling?"

McDonald said better communication in the system would be his top goal if elected.

Dr. Twila Brown, an assistant professor in the nursing department at Southeast Missouri State, is also seeking election. Brown who has three daughters in the public school system and said her children represent her "vested interest," in devoting time to education. "One of the most important things for some of these kids is learning study skills. You see some of these kids and they don't know how to study," she said. "I often wonder what do some of these kids do who don't have two parents that can spend two hours at night working with them on homework."

In the mayoral race, incumbent Jay Knudtson is being challenged by owner of Ole Country Store, Walter White.

Knudtson said the event caused him to look back at a speech he gave four years ago when he ran for his first term. He said his three main goals then were safety, fiscal security and bridge the gaps between city hall and the university and private sector. He said he believes the city has made strides in all these areas during his first term. "I believe Cape Girardeau is poised for growth and development that is unprecedented, but it's taken four years to get our arms around that and get our financial house in order," he said. "Now it's time to have fun."

White said if elected public transportation would be tops on his agenda. He recalled taking a bus from Houston and once arriving in Cape Girardeau being stranded. "It took two hours before I got a ride," he said. "I felt like a stranger in my own town." White said he would like to see the university work with the city to provide public transportation.

Charlie Herbst is running for re-election from Ward 2, and John Voss is running unopposed in Ward 1, Marcia Ritter running for re-election from Ward 6 is being challenged by Richard Hengst who was not present.