School board candidates call for better communication

As the Cape Girardeau School District goes through a major transition -- next year, three out of five central office administrators will be new -- school board candidates are calling for increased communication and stability.

Nearly all seven of the candidates say the public should be better informed of decisions and greater input should be obtained from teachers and administrators.

"A lot of new people coming in might require more communication than usual to make sure everybody's on the same page," said Stacy Kinder, a mother of three running for office.

Communication will be especially necessary in light of issues the board will most likely have to address in the next year, which include examining redistricting and deciding priorities for facility upgrades.

The race for the April 8 election has proved livelier than last year's, when two people ran for two positions. This year, seven candidates are fighting for three slots.

They are: Tony Smee, the vice president of a disaster restoration company with two children in the district; Martha Hamilton, a real estate agent appointed by the board last summer to fill a vacancy; Carrie Beth Smith, a pharmacist and Central High School graduate; Dr. Steve Trautwein, a retired professor and the current school board president; Gene Magnus, in management at Stereo One; Stacy Kinder, a homemaker, former teacher and former president of the school foundation; and Tom Reinagel, an incumbent who works for Kelso Supply. Detailed profiles of the candidates will run in April prior to the election.

The current school board has exercised authority in selecting or replacing staff, measures they said were necessary but have been kept mostly private.

The board never publicly disclosed a reason for dismissing superintendent Dr. David Scala or for placing Brenda McCowan, the director of finance, on administrative leave last year. And interviews with superintendent candidates were held in closed sessions, a change from previous searches.

"I think there's a big perception that maybe communication doesn't occur. For the protection of parties, certain things can't be addressed to the public," said Smith, referring to a law that allows personnel matters to be discussed in closed session. "I know that's frustrating."

She said if elected she would make an effort to explain why public decisions are made or why certain decisions must be made in private.

Smee has stressed the district's Web site should be updated. "There is a part of the [Comprehensive School Improvement Plan] that talks about making information available to the public. We might do what is legally required, but I don't know if we're doing everything that is optimal," he said, such as posting minutes from meetings online. He said at a candidate forum earlier this month that he would like to see the CSIP posted online with notations about what goals the district has met and the district's current focus.

Martha Hamilton brought Smee's suggestion before board members at a meeting Monday.

She said she communicates with administrators and visits schools regularly. "In the next few days, I'll be over at Clippard [Elementary] to see what kind of damage they've had from the storms," she said.

Trautwein said one way a board can provide stability is through continuity. Also, he said, "We're in a fortunate position of having hired a superintendent who happens to be in the area. Dr. [Jim] Welker has already been working with our administrators in plans for transition."

With new staff and potentially new board members, Magnus said team-building will need to occur. He said it will also be important for board members to step back and not become involved in day-to-day operations.

"The school board's job is to make sure the right people are in the right place," Kinder said. Everyone being on the same page will be necessary for five-year plans to progress or for goals to be set, she said.

When asked how he communicates with citizens, Reinagel said: "I'm accessible if they want to talk to me. ... Communication could happen at a grocery store; it could happen anywhere."

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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