Scott County Central School Board candidate Robert Cook

Name Robert Cook

Age 61

Place of Birth Cape Girardeau

Spouse, children's names

Spouse: Teresa Cook

Son: Chad Cook

Daughter: Heather Brock

Daughter: Lyndsey Unterreiner

Occupation: Tech Specialist

Employer: Monsanto

Business owned, all or part

Cook Farms

Previous offices held or sought

Previous: Vice-President Scott County Central All-Schools Foundation

Current: President Scott County Central All-Schools Foundation

Current: Member Scott County Central School Board

What makes you the most qualified candidate for this position?

My experience on the school board as well as my strong leadership skills, my trustworthiness, and my desire to serve others make me an excellent candidate for this position. I am willing to devote the necessary time and my best efforts to securing the most positive learning environment possible for our students, teachers, and staff. I am further committed to ensuring our district is financially stable and our facilities are safe and secure.

What do you see as the opportunities and challenges in the district?

I feel the challenges faced by Scott County Central include our dated technology, some deferred maintenance projects, and our financial limitations. As a board member, I am obligated to find the most effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars to address these issues. I believe our opportunities include increasing academic challenges for our students and modernizing our technology. By taking advantage of these opportunities, we can better prepare our graduates for life beyond SCC.

What are your thoughts on the proposed debt service tax levy?

Because it will not result in a tax increase for our district but will better our educational environment, I fully support the debt service proposal. There are some maintenance projects in our buildings that have been postponed due to financial constraints. With funds made available through this proposal, we will be able to complete these maintenance projects and, in the process, make our facilities safer for our students and staff.

How will you communicate your work to your constituents?

As an SCC alumni, I am involved in many school activities. This gives me a great opportunity to visit with many of my constituents. I have been careful to make myself readily available to those who might have concerns or suggestions regarding school affairs. I like to hear from members of our district and encourage my constituents to contact me with ideas on how I might better serve them and their families.

What are the factors on which you will base your decisions as a school board member?

As a school board member, my decisions are always based upon what is best for the school. Whether it be a matter regarding our facilities, personnel, students, or their families, my goal is to make sound decisions based upon fairness and a genuine concern for all parties involved. My decisions are always based upon what will result in the most positive outcomes for our school and guarantee our students the high-quality education they deserve.