FILING OPENS FOR SCHOOL BOARD SEATS

People interested in running for positions on area boards of education should let their fingers do the walking before leaving their homes.

Filing begins today for the April 7 school board elections, but not all school administrative offices will be open during regular business hours because of the holidays.

The first day of filing is today at 8 a.m.; the last day is Jan. 20 at 5 p.m.

Holiday hours will be posted in newspapers and at board of education offices.

Employees of many district offices said most candidates file for election on the first and last filing dates. Because of that trend, all area district offices will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and many districts will not open at all while classes are not in session.

Several districts will have special business hours during the Christmas break. Board offices in Jackson, Sikeston and Perryville will be open for regular business hours for all non-holiday business days.

"Most people file on the first and last day anyway, so we'll only be open from eight until noon Dec. 23, 29 and 30," said a Delta schools representative. "We'll reopen for regular business hours Jan. 5."

Voters will elect candidates to two, three-year terms during April elections. Besides those positions, Scott City voters also will elect someone to fill the last year of a three-year term held by Wayne Petitt. He was appointed in April to fill the vacancy resulting from the death of Gale Dale.

Perryville voters will also elect a candidate to fill a two-year position held by Tom Wesolek.

Several incumbents in Cape Girardeau County whose terms expire this year said they haven't decided whether they will run for re-election. Jackson school board members Jeanette Bollinger and Marvin Adams said they probably will decide after Christmas.

"I've been so busy with Christmas, and I just decided that came first," said Bollinger. "I'll probably make a decision after then."

Cape Girardeau board president Dr. Ferrell Ervin said he will seek re-election to a three-year term. Harry Rediger, a former board member who was appointed to the board after Terry Taylor resigned last April, has announced he will not run for another term.

The two terms expiring on the Oak Ridge school board are held by Bob Eisenhauer and Dan Sebaugh, both of whom have served as board members for 21 years. Sebaugh has announced he will not seek an eighth term on the board, although he plans to continue working for the district with the Oak Ridge foundation program. Eisenhauer has said he will run for re-election.

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS

Area school board seats up for election April 7:

Cape Girardeau schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Dr. Ferrell Ervin (president) and Harry Rediger

Holiday hours, Dec. 23 8-12 p.m.

Reopens Jan. 6

Jackson schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Marvin Adams, Jeanette Bollinger (secretary)

Holiday hours, Closed Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan. 1

Regular business hours all other days

Nell Holcomb school

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Karen Fornkahl, Debra Followell

Holiday hours, Dec. 23, 29, 30 -- 8-3:30 p.m.

Dec. 31 -- 8-12 p.m.

Reopens, Jan. 5

Oak Ridge schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Dan Sebaugh (president), Bob Eisenhauer

Holiday hours, Dec. 23, 29, 30, 31 -- 8-12 p.m.

Reopens Jan. 5

Delta schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Keith Cook (president), Robert Goehman

Holiday hours, Dec. 23, 29, 30 -- 8-12 p.m.

Reopens Jan. 5

Scott City schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Debbi Miller (vice president), Kevin Hilleman

Last year of the unexpired three-year term previously held by Gale Dale. Seat currently held by Wayne Petitt

Holiday hours: Dec. 22-23, 26, 29, 30 and Jan. 2 -- 8-3:30 p.m.

Chaffee schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Sharon Crowden (vice president), Bob Sullivan

Holiday hours, closed Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan. 1

Regular business hours all other days

Oran schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by John Bertrand, Mike Wheeler

Holiday hours, Dec. 19 -- 8-12 p.m.

Reopens Jan. 5

Kelso C-7 school

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Dorothy Dirnberger (president), Franklin Glueck (vice president)

Holiday hours, Dec. 23 -- 8-12 p.m.

Reopens Jan. 5

Sikeston schools

Two three-year terms -- Candidates must file at board attorney Rice Pete Burns Jr.'s office -- 733 N. Main

Holiday hours: Closed Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan. 1

Regular office hours all other days

Kelly schools

Two three-year terms

Seats currently held by Rita Milam, John Felter

Holiday hours Dec. 23 -- 8 a.m.-noon

Reopens Jan. 5

Scott County Central

Two, three-year terms; one, one-year unexpired term

Seats currently held by Kay Boley Griffin, Gary Kesler, Mark Freed

Holiday hours, Dec. 23-Jan. 20

School officials have not made a decision about the times the superintendent's office will be open.

Charleston schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Daniel Babb, John Bledsoe

Holiday hours, closed Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan. 1

Regular business hours all other days

Meadow Heights schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Harold Miinch (secretary), Junior Cook

Holiday hours, Dec. 22-23, 26, 29-30 -- 9 a.m.-noon

Jan. 2 -- 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Leopold schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Roy Van de Ven (president), Dorothy VanGennip (treasurer)

Holiday hours not yet set

Zalma schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Jan Vanes, Tim Burchett (treasurer).

Holiday hours not set yet

Perryville schools

Two, three-year terms

Seats currently held by Tim Rhodes, Caroline Pontillas

One expired two-year term

Seat currently held by Tim Wesolek

Holiday hours, closed Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan.1

Regular business hours all other days