SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES FORUM: FIVE DISCUSS THEIR VIEWS

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Candidates vying for seats on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education spoke about their ideas for improving the school district.

The one-hour forum Thursday night was sponsored by the Washington Elementary School PTA and the Cape Girardeau CTA.

Seeking one of two, three-year seats on the board are Gwen Bennett, Dan Dunavan and incumbent Pat Ruopp. Seeking a one-year, unexpired term are Sandra Bonner, Julia Cowsert and Lyle Davis.

Davis was unable to attend but wrote a statement read by moderator Tom Meyer.

Candidates were asked by a Washington student what improvements they had in mind for the school district.

Bennett said she would like the district to establish a long-range plan. The board should also "be more public with decisions they make about building plans and academics" and should "spell out goals and long-range plans," she said.

Bonner said she supports efforts that focus on young students. She cited the Parents as Teachers program, the KSAM science program and the Reading Recovery program as examples. "I feel you should start at that point, motivating and providing the desire to learn."

Dunavan said: "Today I talked with a teacher from Poplar Bluff. That district is having serious financial problems, and they may have to cut out extra activities. I really think we need to make sure that doesn't happen in this district."

Dunavan said he favors giving teachers more latitude in curriculum decision and teachers should be encouraged to write grants.

Cowsert said class size was a primary concern. "When a teacher has 25 or 30 students, there is no way to provide a quality education to all the students. Someone loses out. I would like to be actively involved in finding a solution. Hopefully the middle school will provide some help."

Ruopp said a long-range plan for the district is a priority.

He said: "It seems every year federal and state money decreases. We are constantly faced with money problems. I think that the board will have to look for new sources of funding."

He said reducing class size was important. "It takes a lot of money to improve the situation beyond what has already been done. The board is presently investigating the possibility of a middle school. We hope to provide the maximum educational opportunity for all students."

Candidates also responded to questions about redistricting of elementary school boundaries to help ease overcrowding.

Bonner said: "I believe the school should begin the active pursuit of a building program. It does not happen over night." She said the potential for overcrowding at some schools should prompt decisions by the board about buildings.

Bonner said because of the time required for a building program, establishing buffer zones between school districts is a possible solution to overcrowding. Students could be sent to one of two schools depending on enrollment figures.

She said a middle school would likely require redistricting.

Dunavan said, "I'm not sure redistricting will solve the problem." He suggested using portable classrooms instead. "I think people are very attached to their neighborhood schools," he said.

Cowsert agreed. "Some people have bought homes to be in a particular school district and would be very upset if their children would not be attending that school. I would not want to use redistricting unless it was a last resort."

Ruopp said, "If we build a new school, perhaps a middle school, it would take a lot of pressure off the elementary schools."

He said creating attendance centers, with one or two grade levels at a particular building, or redistricting were also options. "I don't know what the right answer is," Ruopp said. "But the board will have to make some decision."

Bennett said some busing already occurs within the district and seems to be successful. She said that since some buildings are old they will have to be replaced. "With a new building, there would be some opportunity to accommodate more students."

Candidates were also asked to outline the role of a school board member.

Dunavan said: "It requires a person who has time to investigate the different issues, work with administrators and teachers. The board is where the buck stops. They are the people who have to deal with the really tough questions and make decisions whether they are popular or not."

Dunavan said a board member must feel comfortable with hiring and evaluating administrators.

Cowsert said, "The role of the board member is to act as a liaison between the parents and teachers."

Ruopp said: "The role of a school board member is to establish policies. I don't think it's the job of school board members to run the district. That's why we have administrators.

"School board members must also remain objective. There is not really room on the board of education for someone with special interests."

Bennett agreed that board members should set policy. "A board member must also look at the whole picture and see how a particular issue fits in."

Bonner said the board must work as a team. "They must be able to coordinate and cooperate. With all the issues the board must face, they must achieve a consensus and present it to the public in a positive way."