SCHOOL BOARD FILINGS EARLIER THIS YEAR

People considering candidacy for school boards in Missouri must decide two weeks earlier this year because the Missouri General Assembly moved dates for the process up by two weeks.

Lawmakers last year changed the opening date for filing a declaration of candidacy from the 13th to the 15th Tuesday prior to the election. They also changed the filing closing date from the ninth to the 11th Tuesday prior to the election.

The changes mean that all candidates must file between 8 a.m. Dec. 17 and 5 p.m. Jan. 14.

"We will accept applications during regular business hours between those dates," said Steve DelVecchio, Cape Girardeau School District business manager.

DelVecchio said candidates would have to file before Dec. 24 or after Jan. 6 because the school board office would be closed for Christmas vacation. "We haven't had a problem with this schedule before," he said.

On Nov. 19, the Jackson Board of Education voted to post its office hours so that applications can be accepted during Christmas vacation. Dr. Howard Jones, school superintendent, said he had not received any specific reason for the date changes.

"It kind of took us by surprise," Jones said. "We did not receive word of the changes until a few days before our last meeting, so we decided to go ahead and discuss it during the meeting."

Two seats are available each on the Cape Girardeau and Jackson school boards. The terms of Dr. Robert Fox and Harry Rediger on the Cape Girardeau board expire in April. Rediger said he has not decided whether he will run for another term. Fox said he will seek a second term in April.

At Jackson, the terms of Jack Knowlan Jr. and Larry Koenig expire in April. Knowlan said he was undecided whether he would run for another term. He said he has three sons in school, which probably will affect his decision.

Elections to fill the three-year terms at in both districts will take place April 1.

Other legislative changes were also made regarding school board elections. The last day to submit the notice of election and sample ballot to the election authority has been changed from the eighth to the 10th Tuesday prior to the election. That means the county clerk must receive notice of election and certification of candidates by 5 p.m. on Jan. 21.

State legislators also voted to eliminate the October election date, which was available exclusively for school tax levy elections.

School boards are still required to notify the public of the filing dates before the 13th Tuesday preceding the election. This year that deadline is Dec. 31.