Cape school officials worry cutbacks have scared off candidates

With just 17 days until the filing deadline and only one person signed up to run, officials in the Cape Girardeau School District are worried that current budget woes have discouraged interest in the 2004 school board election.

Since school board filing opened Dec. 16, only incumbent Dr. Martha Zlokovich has filed for one of the two vacancies on Cape Girardeau's seven-member board. Each opening is a three-year term.

"I think budget cuts tend to scare people away from being a board member, but people need to know there are a lot of rewards too," said board president Sharon Mueller.

Superintendent Mark Bowles said he hopes there are people who plan to run but didn't have a chance to file during the holidays.

"It could be the cuts. What we're going through now is daunting," Bowles said. "People see the pressure put on these volunteers, and it doesn't make it look like an appealing community service."

This 2004 election is scheduled for April 6. The terms of Zlokovich and Mark Carver both expire this year. Carver does not plan to run for re-election.

"No matter where board members go, people stop and ask them why the board did this or that," Bowles said. "There's much more to it than showing up at meetings and voting yes on everything."

With the help of the Missouri School Board Association, the local board will hold a special meeting Wednesday for anyone interested in serving as a board member.

"We want to let people know what it's like to be a board member," said Mueller. "We need people with a passion not just for education but for policy and hopefully a fiscal background."

If no one else files before the Jan. 20 deadline, the school board is authorized to appoint someone to the uncontested vacancy. Under a law passed in 2003, the school district does not have to hold an election if the race is uncontested.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128