TWO PLAN TO REFILE FOR BOARD; FILING FOR SCHOOL VOTE OPENS TUESDAY

Stating that their work has only just begun, two incumbents on the Cape Girardeau Board of Education have said they plan to seek re-election.

Ed Thompson and Lyle Davis plan to file for election on the first day of filings, which open at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Feb. 4 to file for the April 7 election.

Thompson has served three years on the school board. Davis was elected for one year to fill an unexpired term.

The two seats up for election this spring are for three-year terms.

School board candidates must be a citizen of the United States, a resident taxpayer of the district who has resided in Missouri for one year preceding the election, and at least 24 years of age.

Davis said: "You don't very often in your lifetime get a chance to do some community work. It's a job I haven't finished yet. Although it's really an unending job, I don't feel my work is done.

Said Thompson: "I think the next couple of years are going to be an exciting time in the school system. There are so many things going on with Project Partnership and (superintendent of schools) Neyland Clark coming on line. I think it's a neat time to be on the school board. I wouldn't miss it.

Thompson said, "Over the past three years, we have had some hard decisions to make and we still have some hard decisions ahead of us now because of the budget.

"But I think the people on the board are all on the same page now," he said.

"We have a very good board," Thompson said. "We have right now a lot of diverse people representing the education community and the business community, and everyone is working together.

Both Thompson and Davis said part of their first terms were spent learning the ropes.

"There is a lot to be said for some continuity," Davis said. "It takes at least six months to get your feet wet and understand the issues."

Thompson said, "I feel so much more comfortable that I know what I'm doing now. I feel that I will be more productive the second term than I was the first.

"I think it's very important that I stick with it," Thompson said. "And I'm having a ball.

"Cape has been good to me and this is one thing that I can give back to the community."

Davis said: "We've got a financial dilemma we've got to address. We're doing this whole Project Partnership, including the community survey, which will be another tool the school board can use.

"I think it's important to find out what direction the community wants us to take," he said.

The planning process the school district has just begun, along with budget considerations, top the agenda of issues for both men.

But Thompson said he would also like to encourage the business community and parents to become more involved in the educational process.

"Parental input, I think, is very important," he said. "We somehow need to get across to the parents how important they are to their child's education. I think we have made some strides in the last three years," Thompson said.

Thompson introduced a no smoking policy that was adopted by the board. It was implemented over a two-year period. "It is working out real well," he said.

"We have had the change in administration, and I am very pleased with Dr. Clark."

"The athletic task force was a really good thing. I think the extracurricular program is in better shape than it has been in several years, and I think the morale around school is better.

Davis said: "Eventually we've got to address our bricks-and-mortar issues. Our city has undergone a population realignment, but we've got to be real careful about how we go about this. You can't just go and slap up a school building.

"We'll know a lot more once we get the survey results back."

He said finances are also an issue.

"We have to find some ways to save some money," Davis said. "We are spending $1 million more than we are taking in. We have money in reserves, but we can't keep doing that."

But, he said: "The bottom issue is how are we going to get our kids educated to face the job market or college down the road? The other issues all pale in comparison, but they all are directed at that goal."

Davis said he ran last year for a one-year term to determine whether he wanted to continue with the job.

"It takes a lot of time, but the rewards in terms of good feelings are worth it. I am able to do something for the community."

Thompson owns E.R. Thompson Construction Co. Inc.

He and his wife, Marsha, have four children. Thompson is involved in the youth soccer league, Cape West Rotary, Centenary United Methodist Church, and church league basketball.

Davis is general manager of The Trane Company in Cape Girardeau.

Davis lives in Cape Girardeau with his wife, Robin. Davis's stepson attends Cape Central High and his daughter attends high school out of state.

He is a member of the Lions Club and Centenary United Methodist Church. He is active in fund-raising for the American Cancer Society.