FOX, WRIGHT HEAD SCHOOL BOARD

Bob Fox Monday was elected president of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education in the first contested race for the post in years. Steve Wright was elected vice president.

Board member Kathy Swan, the former vice president, was in line to become board president since the vice president traditionally assumes that post. Over the weekend she lobbied fellow board members for votes in hopes the board could get back on track after a year of division and controversy. She even scheduled an orientation Thursday for new board members.

But fellow board members had other ideas.

Fox said he didn't set out to be elected president, but he is happy to serve. He said the top priority is finding and appointing a new board member to replace John Campbell, who resigned Friday.

After Fox's election, the board decided to change its meeting time to 6 p.m. Members also wanted to change the meeting place to a larger room. People sat on the floor and stood in the lobby during parts of Monday night's meeting at the board conference room of the administrative offices.

Board member Pat Ruopp didn't like a suggestion to move meetings to the junior-high-school cafeteria. He said the sound is terrible in that room and voiced concern that administrators wouldn't have access to records there.

Fox said a new meeting place should be selected by the beginning of the new school year, if not sooner.

Wright said: "I think change is good. I felt with all that's gone on in the community, especially with the extension of Dr. Clark's contract, a change should occur. Bob (Fox) will do a good job."

The board voted in a closed meeting March 31 to extend Superintendent of Schools Neyland Clark's contract to three years. The vote was taken four days before the school board election.

Following the regular monthly meeting Monday, newly elected board members R. Ferrell Ervin and Terry Taylor took oaths of office and a seat at the board table. Outgoing members Ed Thompson, the former president, and Lyle Davis received plaques and left.

Attorney Joe Russell presided over the meeting and opened the floor to nominations for board offices. Veteran board member Ruopp nominated Swan for president and Fox for vice president, but the other board members wanted those elections held separately.

Wright nominated Fox for president. Russell had the members vote by secret paper ballot, and Fox won 4-2.

Ruopp nominated Swan for vice president, but she declined. Fox nominated Wright for vice president.

Ervin said Fox will do a good job as president. His selection is also symbolic, Ervin said.

"Bob represents an openness and interest in the community," he said. "The board is ready to tackle new issues, and we need new faces to tackle that."

School patron Amy Randol, whose questioning this summer led to changes in the way the school district keeps track of travel expenses and reimbursements, was delighted with the new board president. "I think these are very positive steps going in the right direction," she said.

As a result of Campbell's resignation the board must appoint a new member to serve for one year. District residents wishing to be appointed to the vacancy may send a letter to board secretary Larry Dew stating their qualifications and their reason for wanting to serve on the board.

Letters will be received for two weeks. After that, the board will review applicants and may select final candidates to be interviewed by the board. An appointment will be made at the following board meeting.

Ervin said he hopes a lot of applications are received. Fox agreed.

Taylor said the board is ready to move ahead with the business of running a school district. "We're ready. Let's get to it," he said.