The Cape Girardeau School District's tumultuous year appears to have attracted a larger number of candidates than usual to run in the school board election.

Last year, only two people ran for two available seats. This year, less than a week after filing began, four people have said they will run.

"I'm not surprised other people are interested in running. The board's had to make some high-profile decisions we thought were best for the district, although not the most popular," said Dr. Steve Trautwein, board president.

Trautwein and incumbent Martha Hamilton have already filed. Tom Reinagel has not said whether he will run for re-election.

Tony Smee and Carrie Beth Smith have also filed, both aware of issues facing the district, including finding a replacement superintendent and managing the district's finances.

A November audit found the school district was breaking two state budget laws and was not in compliance with the requirements of a federal grant.

"Quite immediately we need to make sure the financial systems and processes in place at the school are looked at in a critical way, so we can get them to a point where they can be managed by the administrators and the support staff," said Smee, the vice president of ServiceMaster and KMC Construction.

Hamilton, appointed by the board in July to fill a vacancy, said the district's finances are already back on track.

"The No. 1 thing, I think, is that we have gotten the finances in order," Hamilton said when asked what the board has accomplished this school year. The board hired a new director of finance Nov. 5 and removed superintendent Dr. David Scala Nov. 19.

Smith, a clinical pharmacist at Saint Francis Medical Center, competed against Hamilton this summer for a vacated position on the board.

"I feel like I have some good ideas. I think I work well with other people," she said.

While the current board has been accused by parents at public forums of micromanaging or being divided, Smith said it will be important for board members to learn to work as a team and present a united front to the community.

Because she has no children, Smith said, she doesn't have an obligation to a particular school or classroom.

Smee has a son who attends Alma Schrader Elementary and a daughter in fifth grade at the middle school.

He said he would focus on providing resources to teachers, who are unable to do so themselves sometimes because they are too busy "putting out fires."

"Changing administration doesn't provide stability. Stability is what the board should be able to help provide," he said.

Hamilton said that in her short term, the board has "made strides toward long-term planning for facilities," has approved extending the school day at the high school and has evaluated plans for renovations to the alternative education center.

Trautwein said the most exciting aspect for a prospective school board member will be working with a new superintendent.

He also said that in the future the board will have to look at "whether we are going to expand the high school, address the question of will the district continue to use Houck Fieldhouse for football games and answer the question of whether to build an auditorium," he said.

Trautwein chose to run for re-election because he feels he can provide continuity to the district, he said.

In Jackson, the three incumbents, Mack Illers, Terri Tomlin and Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, all plan to run for re-election. Scott Wren and Bruce Thomas have also filed.

Wren ran for a school board position in 2003 but received only about 11 percent of the vote. Thomas taught in the district for 26 years before retiring in 2005. He served as the head wrestling coach and assistant football coach.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

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