Cape school board election uncontested

Cape Girardeau voters will have at least one easy decision in Tuesday's elections with just two candidates running for two available positions on the Cape Girardeau School Board.

Newcomer Robert Scott Brown and seven-year incumbent the Rev. William Bird were the only candidates to file for the two three-year terms on the board, making this is the second consecutive year the election has been uncontested.

Brown, who is a former teacher and has lived in the Cape Girardeau area for 13 years, is a 1994 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University.

"I think one of the best ways to serve my community is through the school board, especially since I still have an interest in the education field," Brown said.

Brown said the fact that he has no children in the district allows him to be objective, and he feels his background in technology would benefit the school board.

"I'm very interested in the district's technology plan, and hopefully I can lend some of my opinions to that," he said.

Brown is employed as network coordinator for Southeast Missouri Hospital and is involved with the Lion's Club International. He and his wife, Melissa, attend First Christian Church in Cape Girardeau.

Bird has served on the school board for the past seven years. He and his wife, Rosemary, have five children and four grandchildren.

Bird has lived in Cape Girardeau for 30 years and is a minister with Greater Dimension ministries. During his seven years on the school board, the district has completed several major building projects including the construction of Blanchard Elementary, the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center and most recently the new Central High School.

He said the most important thing he's learned while serving on the board is to keep communication lines open, and that's something he'd like to see continue.

"It's been rewarding. Progress has been made in a lot of areas since I joined the board, and I'm glad to be a part of that for one more term," Bird said.

The school board will hold a reorganization meeting April 11 to instate the candidates.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128