LETTER: AMY RANDOL ACCEPTED CHALLENGE TO STEP FORWARD

To the editor:

Last July I was pleased to have Southeast Missourian print a guest commentary I had submitted that contained my thoughts and ideas regarding the ongoing problems with our school board and superintendent. To those of you who remember this article, you will recall I issued a challenge to everyone in our community asking if there was someone who would step forward and lead us out of this chaotic mess.

At that time, I did not know Amy Randol, but it is my opinion that she not only has accepted this challenge, but has carried it forth in a vary valiant way. To her, I want to say thank you. To show her that I appreciate her Herculean efforts in her research of school expenditures, I want to urge everyone who possibly can to join me in attending the school board meeting at 5 p.m. March 13. I know a lot of people have expressed their feelings and thanked her via the Speak Out column, but I feel it would send a strong message to our school board, at least part of them would get the message, if many, many voters of the district attended this meeting in person.

I want to address a comment in a letter to the editor signed by Craig Billmeyer. In it, he is critical of the Missourian for sensationalizing an insignificant expenditure of $8.22 for beer by giving it front-page coverage in a Sunday edition. I would like to point out to Mr. Billmeyer an article that appeared on the front page of the Missourian on July 25, 1994. this article was more or less and iinterview with the supporters of Neyland Clark in which they listed many items which they felt were accomplishments of Clark since he had been in Cape Girardeau. One of the items was that the district had posted Drug Free-Gun Free signs throughout the district. This saying expresses my feeling exactly: "If you are going to talk the talk, then you have to walk the walk." My comment is if it's OK for front page coverage that bestows credit, then you must accept front page coverage when it is uncovered that school money is spent on the purchase alcoholic beverages. Why have the signs been put up if school board members cannot abide by them? Maybe it was sensationalism on the part of the Missourian, but I say thank you to the Missourian for its excellent coverage of this expose of the improprieties of the use of corporate American Express cards in the school district. This kind of disclosure is always going to be sensational.

In addition to urging readers to attend the school board meeting, I want to urge you also to attend the League of Women Voters candidate forum at 7 p.m. March 16 at the junior high school. This meeting will give voters an opportunity to meet the candidates for school board and submit questions to the candidates about concerns regarding our school system.

Hopefully with the election of some new faces to the school board, maybe the board will be able to concentrate on restoring a level of credibility and confidence with the people. When that is accomplished, the voters will listen with a more receptive mind with regard to the passage of a school bond issue.

HELEN ROSE

Cape Girardeau