Longtime Cape School Board member resigns

The longest-serving member of the Cape Girardeau School Board will step down at the board's May meeting.

Dr. Steve Trautwein said he is moving to Seattle to be closer to his son, who lives there. He said his family has been planning the move for years and his youngest daughter will graduate from Central High School in May. He announced the decision to resign in a letter to board president Paul Nenninger, dated April 21.

"I think it'd be a good idea for the new person to be in as early as possible," he said in an interview. While Trautwein plans to relocate in the summer, he decided to resign now to let his successor get board experience, including making budget decisions.

Trautwein was appointed to the board in September 2001 and re-elected to three three-year terms. His current term is set to expire in April.

Before his appointment, Trautwein was an active parent. In the late 1990s, he chaired a committee that redrew attendance boundaries. During his tenure on the board, he served two terms as board president in 2005-2006 and 2007-2008.

During his second year as board president, Trautwein steered the district through a tumultuous period that included accounting errors and rapid changes in central administration. Within two months in late 2007, the district finance director resigned and the board removed the superintendent.

"I think what got us through that is that the board was very attuned to working together," he said. He said the board has worked to improve central office operations.

"We really have an outstanding central office staff," he said.

In other areas of improvement, he pointed to an increase in data-based decision making, capital improvements, including the success of the recent bond proposal, and teacher compensation.

"I'm pleased that we've been able to improve teacher salaries, although they're not where they need to be," he said.

Nenninger said he is sorry to see Trautwein leave. Trautwein's experience, Nenninger said, was an asset to the board and to him personally.

"There's a great wealth of knowledge there," he said.

The board will appoint a replacement to start in June and serve until the April 2011 election. The resignation comes at a time when the district is putting together a budget to cope with declining state funds and is starting work on a $40 million overhaul of district facilities.

"I don't think there's any good time to lose a board member," Nenninger said. The new member will be appointed after a series of meetings, he said. According to district policy, candidates will be interviewed and chosen during open-session meetings.

The district is accepting applications to fill the vacancy. The deadline to submit letters of interest is 5 p.m. May 13. To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of the district, a resident of Missouri for at least one year and at least 24 years old. Letters can be submitted to Board Secretary, Cape Girardeau Public Schools, 301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave. Cape Girardeau, MO