EIGHT SEEK SCOTT CITY SCHOOL BOARD SEATS

SCOTT CITY -- Eight Scott City residents are competing for positions on the Scott City Board of Education.

On Tuesday, voters will select three people from the field of candidates to fill three-year terms. Polls open at 6 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m.

Wayne Pettit and William Wilthong are seeking re-election. They hope to defeat challengers Donna Bedwell, Terry Johnston, Sally Porch, Kenneth Raney, Rocky Sharrock and Dean Wadlington.

Pettit is completing his fifth year on the board. He and his wife, Kim, have one daughter attending Scott City Elementary School. Pettit said he believes the school board has done a good job of improving student-teacher ratios and maintaining a safe learning environment. He hopes to continue working with the board to complete current projects.

Pettit said: "I'd just like to see things keep going the way they are. We've got a good school, and we need to ensure it stays a good school."

Wilthong is completing his first three-year term in office. He is a retired Scott City schools educator and athletic director and lives in Scott City with his wife, Linda.

He praised the school board's leadership and accomplishments of students. "We have so many good things going at the school," said Wilthong. "I'd like to see those things continue."

Bedwell, her husband, Mike, and their two daughters moved to Scott City in 1995. The Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School English teacher said she hopes to help prepare the school district for the next millenium.

"As we approach the millenium, we have to be sure these students are prepared for all the coming changes," Bedwell said. "We need to take advantage of grants and incentive programs. I really want to see a more unified, user-friendly board. I want the board to be more open to the public."

Sally Porch said she joined the school board race to be directly involved in decisions that affect children. Porch, a registered nurse, and her husband, Tim, have two children. She said she also wants to improve the school board's interaction with the community.

"Since I have a child in both elementary school and high school, I would like to be directly involved in making decisions that will ultimately affect all the children," said Porch. "I hope to work closely with both the faculty and the community on all the important academic and other issues."

Raney, a retired railroad worker and former school board member, said he has the time and experience to make a positive contribution to the school board. He said he wants to improve communication between the board and the community and wants to protect children at the schools.

"Since it does belong to the community, I think they should have lots of information about what goes on at the school," said Raney. "I want (students) to be completely free of any fear from their fellow students so they can concentrate on getting an education."

Sharrock and his wife, Connie, have a son who attends elementary school. The Lone Star Industries employee said Scott City students receive a quality education, and he wants to be involved in decisions to enhance that quality.

"Lots of people who run for school board have some kind of ulterior motive or preconceived agenda," said Sharrock. "I don't feel like I have any. I'm just a graduate of this school. I'm proud of our town, proud of our school, and I want to run and see to it that everybody gets a quality education."

Wadlington, a retired railroad conductor, previously served nine years as a school board member. He and his wife, Gloria, have six adult children and six grandchildren currently attending Scott City schools. He said he would like to improve participation at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School and maintain close scrutiny over school finances.

"I'm a firm believer that everybody shouldn't be prepared for college, even though four of my six kids are college grads," Wadlington said. "I also believe we need to give some of these kids who excel in academics a little more credit than we do. We have showcases out in the cafeteria with all the trophies and pictures of all-state players, and I think maybe we ought to start something to honor the kids who excel in academics.

Johnston couldn't be reached for comment.