HOPEFULS SAY TRUST MAIN ISSUE

Three candidates for Cape Girardeau's Board of Education said the board must work to restore confidence in the school system and its leadership.

Candidates R. Ferrell Ervin, Harold W. Hager and Terry Taylor answered questions at a League of Women Voters forum Thursday. Candidate Larry H. Trickey could not attend. He is assistant coach of the Notre Dame girls' basketball team and was in Columbia with the team.

Board president Ed Thompson, who had filed for re-election, withdrew his name from the ballot Thursday morning.

About 40 people attended the forum. It will be aired on cable access Channel 5 March 26 and April 2. Times haven't been announced.

Ervin is chairman of the mass communications department at Southeast Missouri State University. Hager is chairman of the math department at the university. Taylor is in the meat brokerage business. Trickey is a civics teacher at Notre Dame High School.

Because Trickey couldn't attend, he sent a letter outlining four main issues:

-- removal of the present superintendent.

-- establishment of an alternative school.

-- reduction in the number of students per classroom so that teachers can be more effective.

-- more efficient use of the district's resources.

He also wrote that he would support construction of a new elementary school.

Ervin said over the past 1 1/2 years he has seen a growing lack of confidence by community members in the school district and its leadership.

Hager said the biggest challenge facing the board is building a spirit of trust with patrons, faculty and parents.

Taylor said good schools need three elements, children who want to learn, good teachers and a good learning environment.

Cape Girardeau's environment is lacking, he said. Some classes are overcrowded. School buildings are old and morale is sometimes low.

He said the school board and administration haven't done a good job communicating.

The candidates said school board members should provide guidance for the district. They also said school board members must be receptive to public input and be willing to listen.

The candidates were asked about buildings and redistricting. Three ballot issues for building measures have failed. A committee is working now to develop suggestions on how to equalize enrollments at elementary schools and balance racial inequities at the schools.

Hager said if possible, aging buildings should be improved. If that's not feasible, new buildings are needed.

Hager said redistricting may be necessary whether a new building is constructed.

Taylor said he opposes redistricting. With the right leadership and communication, he said, Cape Girardeau would approve a bond issue for a new elementary school. He also suggested that additions be built for crowded elementary schools.

Ervin said Cape Girardeau has been discussing redistricting for 20 years and nothing has happened yet. He supports construction of a new elementary school.

All three were opposed to a voucher system to provide tax dollars to private schools

Ervin said some components of outcomes based education can be valuable, but often lots of political issues creep into an OBE system.

Hager said lots of organizations are getting involved in the educational process, including the legislature, adding that these groups don't always know what's best for students.

Taylor said the more he reads about OBE the more confused he becomes. He opposes what he knows of it now. "I think all of us here have to get educated," he said.

Taylor said he opposes tenure. Ervin and Hager said the process of awarding tenure to teachers works if done properly.

The candidates responded to a question of where they would like to see the school district in three years.

Ervin said he would like the public to have total confidence in the board and administration and to see students walking into a new building with the best technology available.

Hager would like to see an improved school system with improved morale working in a community of peace and harmony.

Taylor said, "Kids are getting an excellent education right now." But he would like to see less crowded classrooms and new schools.