REDIGER RECOMMENDED FOR SCHOOL BOARD

A Cape Girardeau Board of Education ad hoc committee will recommend at a board meeting Monday that Harry Rediger be appointed to a vacant board seat.

If the board approves the committee's recommendation, Rediger will complete the eight-month term of Terry Taylor, board vice-president. Taylor resigned three weeks ago after accepting a job transfer to Scottsdale, Ariz.

The ad hoc committee made its decision after reviewing applications at noon Friday at the board office. Board president, Dr. Ferrell Ervin, said he met with board member, the Rev. William Bird, and committee chairman Steve Wright to review the four applications received for the position.

Committee member, Dr. Bob Fox, was unable to participate in the selection because of business, Ervin said.

"At the board meeting we charged the committee with recommending up to three persons to fill the vacancy," he said. "We chose to recommend one applicant to the board: Harry Rediger, a former board member."

Rediger, manager of JCPenney at the West Park Mall, served two years on the school board ending last April. He is currently a member of the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission. Rediger was on vacation Friday and unavailable to comment.

Applications were received from Rediger; Patricia Schlosser, a teacher's aide at Jefferson School in the preschool program; attorney Michael Maguire; and Mark Busch, owner of River City Dental Arts.

Ervin said the committee thought Rediger was the best candidate because of his past experience on the board and he helped develop the district's master plan.

"Mr. Rediger is a former board member and was present during the creation of the master plan," he said. "He is aware of the board's activities and where the master plan is taking us, so he should be able to step in immediately with doing other things in preparation to his service as a board member."