CANDIDATES SAY TRUST TOP SCHOOL BOARD ISSUE

Candidates for Cape Girardeau's school board say restoring trust and confidence in the school's leadership must be the top priority this year.

Seeking two three-year terms on the school board are Larry H. Trickey, R. Ferrell Ervin, Terry Taylor and Harold Hager.

A fifth candidate, incumbent Ed Thompson, got a court order to have his name removed from the ballot. The other incumbent, Lyle Davis, didn't seek re-election.

The election is April 4.

Trickey said the community has a complete lack of trust in the school board and Superintendent Neyland Clark.

"The school district is dead in the water as far as any forward movement as long as he is superintendent," Trickey said.

In fact, Trickey said if elected he would call for Clark's resignation.

Ervin said the board must rebuild community trust and suggests reaching out to the community and really asking for input.

"We have really been in a situation that a lot of what's been going on has been without input from the public, or if there has been input, it's after the fact," he said.

After regaining a measure of trust, the board must establish a long-range strategic plan, Ervin said.

Taylor said the board must restore credibility to the school board and the superintendent's office.

One way to do that, he said, is to listen to voters and parents.

"Unfortunately in the last two years, I don't think that has happened," he said.

Hager doesn't have all the answers, but he recognizes the board must find a way to get the problems of the past year behind and move forward.

The candidates also agree that moving forward includes looking at construction of an elementary school. Taylor would like to see an issue put before voters within a year.

Ervin thinks it will take at least a 1 1/2 to 2 years to build trust enough to pass a bond issue.

Trickey said, "I think it's a complete waste of time to ask for voters to approve a new school as long as we have Dr. Clark as superintendent."

Hager said whenever an issue is placed before voters, the board must be confident it will be approved.

"The next bond issue is going to have to be one that's sell-able," he said. "We can't really afford to have another one voted down."