ZALMA -- Dale Fish will have to fight off three challengers who want to hook his Zalma School Board seat on April 1.

Fish's opponents are Republican nominee for the 8th Congressional District seat, Richard Kline, former school board member Steve Dickinson and businessman Bruce Huffman.

Two board members will be elected.

Fish said because his two children have graduated from the Zalma school system he can be more objective in viewing of student-teacher and teacher-administration questions.

"I can be more of an outside observer," he said. "I think the board needs a few folks like that. It also needs folks that are more involved in what's going on in school."

Fish said finding funds for school projects, maintenance and development is always a problem in small districts, but Zalma has always been supportive.

There are plans for a few improvements.

Fish said making the school accessible by computer is one such project.

"But primarily we have to maintain the gains we've managed to make in the last few years," he said.

Fish, 49, has lived in the Zalma area most of his life. He is a pastor of a local church and a technician at Procter & Gamble. He and his wife, Judy, have a son and a daughter.

-- Kline said he was "mentally and physically exhausted" after last year's congressional campaign but must be a glutton for punishment to file for public office so soon after losing to Jo Ann Emerson in November's election.

"I got to actually run for congress and win a primary. It was really very enjoyable," Kline said.

He said last year's much-publicized campaign got his name out to the public and might help him in his efforts to win a school board seat.

He said the current board has become extremely efficient at using every bit of the limited funds it receives, and his role would be to find additional means of raising funds.

Kline would like to see prayer reintroduced into the school system.

"If they do it in increments, like they took it out in increments, the school system is ripe for prayer," he said.

Kline, 57, is retired and has lived in Gipsy since 1986. He and his wife, Lucille, have four sons.

-- Dickinson served on the school board for one three-year term before losing his seat last year by 11 votes. He said the board has been doing a good job and he'd like to get back on and participate.

"I want to be a part of my children's education," he said.

Dickinson said there are some improvement projects he'd like to see through, including a siding project on the gymnasium. The projects will have to be implemented slowly because of the board's limited budget.

Dickinson is relying on his past achievements to win a board seat.

Dickinson, 41, is a product of the Zalma school system and has lived in the area since 1970. He is a farmer and with his wife, Michellia, they have a 13-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter.

-- Huffman has been involved in school activities through his children and would like to take the next step by becoming a board member. He is interested in making sure the district passes the Missouri School Improvement evaluation and remains credited.

"I'd like to see everything taken care of with the state and all that's done to make sure we keep the school," he said.

Huffman, a self-employed contractor, said running his own business has given him some insight into the workings of the school system.

"I know how things are supposed to operate," he said. "I think a school, in a way, is like a business."