SCHOOL DISTRICTS GEAR UP FOR BOARD CANDIDATE FILING

Public school patrons interested in making decisions relevant to their respective districts can officially sign up for a chance at the job when school board election filings open Dec. 23.

All board of education candidates must file between 8 a.m. Dec. 23 and 5 p.m. Jan. 20. All local public school districts will hold elections to fill two three-year terms on their boards.

Besides those positions, Scott City voters also will elect someone to fill the last year of a three-year term currently held by Wayne Petitt. He was appointed in April to fill the vacancy resulting from the death of past school board president Gale Dale.

Perryville voters will also elect a candidate to fill a two-year position currently held by Tom Wesolek.

All area school-district offices will be open all or part of the first filing day. Nearly all will be closed for the holidays on Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan.1. Holiday hours will be posted in local newspapers and at board of education offices.

School board members must be U.S. citizens, at least 24 years old, a Missouri resident and district taxpayer for one year preceding the election.

The last day to submit the notice of election and sample ballot to the county clerk is Jan. 27, the 10th Tuesday prior to the election.