JACK STERRETT COMPLETES SLATE OF CAPE SCHOOL BOARD HOPEFULS

A marketing professor has joined the race for two seats on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education.

Jack Sterrett filed Tuesday, bringing the number of candidates to six. Sterrett joins incumbent Pat Ruopp and Steve Naeter, Bob Fox, Addie Marie Walker and Bill Hopkins.

Tuesday was the last day for filing. The election is set for April 5.

Sterrett, 835 Karau Lane, is a marketing professor at Southeast Missouri State University. He was unsuccessful in a bid for the school board last year.

"I'm still full of a lot of energy, and interested in moving our school system forward," Sterrett said.

"We continue to have a lot of tough decisions in front of the board. I think I'm in a position to help make those decisions."

Sterrett said he brings 20 years of experience coupled with business and industry experience.

"It seems to me that's the kind of combination we need relative to the kinds of decisions that are made for the schools," he said.

"I'm concerned with the grade-level configuration. That certainly is an issue, also determining what we're going to do with the antiquated buildings."

Sterrett said he would also like to see an infusion of technology into the schools.

Sterrett has been involved with a new public school foundation now in the formative stages.

"I'm interested in seeing the system investigate more federal and private funding opportunities that do exist," he said. "And I'd like to see more collaboration of businesses with the school system."

"Bottom line, I'm interested in assisting the rest of the board and administration in moving this system forward. Education is the key, literally, to our future.

"I think we need to provide that level of education to allow our students to be competitive -- in the work world or placement in college classroom. We have to have a system that enables our students to achieve and to experience successes at all levels."

In addition to his position as associate professor of marketing, Sterrett this semester is serving as interim director of career planning and placement.

He and his wife Sharon have two children.