R-2 BOARD WILL HAVE A NEW LOOK

A new generation of leadership will get its opportunity to shape the future of the Jackson R-2 School District.

Brent Wills and Mark Baker, Jackson High School graduates from 1980 and 1989 respectively, won seats on the Jackson Board of Education following Tuesday's election.

Wills led the way with 3,097 votes in the four-way race, followed by Baker with 2,325 votes.

Incumbent Thomas Ludwig, seeking his second term, received 1,980 votes in a losing effort. Mack Illers rounded out the election with 1,599 votes.

Interest in the R-2 Board had increased during the past year, since concerns over application of discipline procedures in the fall sparked considerable controversy. More than 400 patrons attended on board meeting at the time and an independent advisory group was later formed to look at various issues of concern.

Baker was the only one of the four candidates to oppose the R-2 bond issue (also defeated). He stressed during the campaign that trust needed to be restored in the board and that the board should be more open and responsive to concerns of the community.

"The biggest thing I heard was people felt like they were being told what they would get and they weren't being asked what they wanted," Baker said. "I think there's a job right there on restoring the trust."

A past president of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and Jackson Jaycees, Wills supported the bond issue, but agreed that "more public information is needed" during the recent candidate forum.