CLERGYMAN FILES FOR SEAT ON SCHOOL BOARD

The Rev. William Bird, a longtime minister in Cape Girardeau, hopes to become a catalyst for change and reconciliation in the city. He has filed for a three-year term on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education.

Bird joins incumbents Bob Blank and Steve Wright in seeking three, three-year seats on the board. In addition, voters will choose one person to fill a one-year board term. Incumbent Harry Rediger and Jacqueline Sproat have filed for that seat.

Candidates have until Jan. 30 to file.

Bird is a first-time candidate for public office. He decided to seek election to the board following his experiences as president of the Coalition of Ministers for Progress. The group of pastors decided to take action on issues like gang violence and school drop-out and suspension rates. They have provided role models at May Greene Elementary School, worked with the Community Caring system and Dr. Dan Tallent, Central High School principal who was recently named superintendent of the district.

Bird said: "I think he is a fair man. I think he is firm. We need that. He is very knowledgeable about what's happening in schools."

As a member of the school board, Bird said his presence would bring stability and reconciliation between the board and the community.

In the past, he said, the board has lacked responsiveness to community concerns. "There needs to be communication," he said. "One of the elements of communication is listening."

He said decisions should be made based on a collective body of facts so everyone understands why the decisions are made.

Bird is pastor of two churches: the Greater Dimension Church of God in Christ in Cape Girardeau and the Futrell Memorial Church of God in Christ in Jackson.

He is superintendent of the Mac Futrell District for seven Churches of God in Christ in Southeast Missouri and third administrator to the jurisdictional bishop for eastern Missouri. He helps supervise about 70 churches in that capacity.

In addition to his leadership positions in the church, Bird serves as second vice president of the Gibson Center, an alcohol treatment center in Cape Girardeau.

"I think I'm up for the challenge," he said. "I think I can help facilitate the change."

Bird earned degrees in Bible, Christian counseling and divinity from Triune Bible University in Washington State.

Bird and his wife, Rose Mary, have five children, three who have completed college, one in college and a fourth-grader at St. Mary Cathedral School. A son, Calvin Bird, worked several years as director of the Cape Civic Center.