Four up for Cape school posts

Voters won't have a hard decision to make today when voting for Cape Girardeau school board positions.

There are three three-year terms and a one-year term up for election.

Three of the candidates are running uncontested for the three-year terms and the fourth candidate is running uncontested for the one-year term.

Charles Haubold, the only newcomer, said he wanted to take a three-year seat on the board because he sees it as a valuable part of the community.

"I hope my input can bring new thoughts and new ideas to make the school system better," he said.

Sharon Mueller and Steve Trautwein will fill the other three-years terms.

The Rev. William Bird will fill the one-year term.

Bird said he feels like there are a few more things he would like to see accomplished before he leaves the board.

"I would like to see some more minorities and blacks come to the full front," Bird said. "We've hired some and recruited some and we would like to see some more in the school system."

Transition period

Bird also said he would like to stay on the board through the district's transition to kindergarten through fourth-grade elementary schools, a fifth- and sixth-grade middle school, seventh- and eighth-grade junior high and ninth- through 12th-grade high school.

Mueller and Trautwein agreed the transition to the new schools is the biggest issue facing the Cape Girardeau School District, which is part of the reason they decided to run for re-election.

"I felt it was really important to see the transition through, not only facility wise, but the overall mental changes taking place in the reconfiguration of the grades," Mueller said.

Trautwein said he also decided to run because he enjoyed his first year on the board.

"Having been on the board for just a short time I have found it to be very satisfying work," he said. "I enjoy working with the board and administration and feel it's very important work."

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128