FILINGS FOR SCHOOL BOARDS OPEN TODAY

Cape Girardeau Board of Education President Ed Thompson plans to seek a third term on the school board today.

Candidates for school boards may file for three-year terms starting today. The filing period closes Jan. 31.

Two, three-year positions will be filled during elections April 4. Terms of Thompson and Lyle Davis expire in April.

Davis said earlier he was undecided about another term.

Cape Girardeau's Board of Education faced a rough summer filled with criticism over handling of spring commencement at Central High and the performance of Superintendent Neyland Clark.

Thompson says the district has come through the turmoil stronger than ever. "I think there are a lot of very positive things happening in the district right now," he said. "I want to be part of it."

Thompson thinks the fall semester has been the smoothest since he joined the board in 1988.

"Morale is higher. Communication is better. Overall it has been a fantastic year," he said. "There have been positive changes at the high school."

Thompson said building and facility improvements are still needed. Voters have three times turned down ballot measures for buildings.

"Somebody will probably come out against it," Thompson predicted. "But we still have dire facility needs. Before we can move forward in the district we need to address those facility needs."

Scott City incumbents Tom Anderson and Kevin Hillemann both plan to file for re-election.

Jackson incumbents Jeanette Bollinger and Marvin Adams haven't announced plans to seek re-election.

At Chaffee, incumbents Bob Sullivan and Sharon Crowden haven't announced plans to seek new terms.

At Nell Holcomb, incumbents are Danny Taylor and Karen Fornkahl, and at Oak Ridge, incumbents are Bob Eisenhauer and Dan Sebaugh.