TAYLOR, ERVIN WIN BOARD SEATS

Terry Taylor and R. Ferrell Ervin were elected Tuesday to the Cape Girardeau Board of Education.

Both said their election is a first step in rebuilding confidence in the Cape Girardeau School District. The next step, they said, should be establishment of a five-year strategic plan.

Taylor received 2,285 votes and Ervin 1,891. Harold W. Hager received 1,767 and Larry H. Trickey 1,222.

School board President Ed Thompson filed for re-election but had his name removed from the ballot. Board member Lyle Davis didn't seek re-election.

The new members will take office at the end of the board meeting Monday.

All four candidates had said the top issue facing Cape Girardeau schools is establishing credibility and trust in the school board and administration.

Superintendent Neyland Clark and board members have been criticized recently for handling of American Express credit card use and travel expenses. On Friday the school board voted 4-2 to extend Clark's contract for one year, and Thompson didn't announce the extension until Monday.

Clark now has a three-year contract with the district.

Taylor said Friday's vote to extend Clark's contract alienated some people.

The school board needs to build trust, Taylor and Ervin said. They agreed that the board should immediately move its meetings to a site more accessible to the public and make sure public input is welcome at board meetings.

Taylor also wants to table a redistricting discussion until a five-year plan is set. He favors construction of a new elementary school, but said the vote might have to wait a year while the board builds trust.

"I hope a year from now we'll be talking about the accomplishments instead of the problems," he said.

Ervin said, "I'm very interested in trying to reach out to the community and re-establish a feeling of trust." He said the only way to establish trust is to create a strategic plan for the school district and then solicit input on the plan.

Ervin looks forward to working with Taylor and the board.

Ervin said: "I think we are presenting new voices on the board with a mandate to try to help rebuild the trust. This has to be seen as a positive sign."

But change won't happen overnight, he said.