JACKSON, Mo. -- Voters will decide Tuesday which candidates will fill three open seats on the Jackson School Sistrict Board of Education.

Running for the 3-year seats are six candidates, including incumbent T. Wayne Lewis, and five newcomers, Mack Illers, Fred Jones, Kevin Schaper, Donna Tidwell and Terri Tomlin.

The race in Jackson, although visible on small yard signs throughout the city, has been a fairly quiet one in regards to campaign spending.

Unlike candidates for city positions, like the city council, school board candidates in Jackson didn't raise enough campaign funds to have to register the amounts with the county clerk's office.

The policies regarding campaign finances are outlined in state statutes that state candidates who do not spend more than $1,000 or receive any contributions from a single donor of $250 or more are not required to file their expenses.

Jackson superintendent Ron Anderson said to his knowledge no Jackson candidate has ever spent enough money to be required to declare it, including the six running for the board this year.

Even though the candidates range in age from 40 to 61 and in occupation from construction to business to retirement they have two things in common -- they believe the Jackson school district is strong and the way to keep it that way is by effectively communicating its needs with the public.

Here's what the six candidates had to say about the current condition of the Jackson school district, why they chose to run and why they feel they are qualified to serve on the board:

T. Wayne Lewis

Lewis has served on the board for 15 years and is the only incumbent seeking re-election. He's running again because he's enjoyed seeing growth in the district over the years and even though budgets are tight he doesn't want to jump ship during hard times.

He also said he doesn't want to see three members leave the board at the same time. Vicki McDowell and Darrell Hanschen are not seeking re-election. "I would like to keep the continuity going," he said. "If three members left I feel it would cause a void."

Lewis said his greatest qualifications for the position are his prior experiences on the board and his 35 years of living and working in the community.

The biggest issue facing the Jackson school district at this time is funding, both at the state and local levels, said Lewis.

He said although the performance of the district is outstanding, it is among the poorest in the state when it comes to per student expenditures.

"We are going to need people to help support some sort of operating levy in the future," he said. "Right now there is an anti-tax attitude out there, but everything people want -- more teachers per student, small class sizes -- is going to cost money."

If re-elected, Lewis said he will focus on trying to get funding for the schools and keeping the district moving forward and upward.Mack W. Illers

Illers is running for the school board because he's "concerned about maintaining the quality of education that we have now."

He said keeping the current teachers in the district and adding more as the district grows are the biggest issues facing the district.

To make that happen, he says, additional funding is going to be required, either from the state or locally.

"I want to put the children first in regards to education," he said. "That is our future."

Illers said what makes him qualified for the board is his ability to offer both a fresh and objective opinion.

If elected, Illers said he will focus on hiring new teachers and reducing class sizes in order to maintain the teachers the district has now.Fred O. Jones

Jones has never served on the school board, but he does have more than 30 years of education experience in the district, including 19 years as a teacher, five years as an assistant principal and 10 years as assistant superintendent.

That's why he feels he's qualified for the position, and why he thinks he can understand some of the problems that come before teachers and administrators.

Jones said funding is the district's biggest issue right now.

"I know that people don't like to hear that, but it is necessary to look at all options for school funding when your enrollment continues to grow each year," he said.

Jones said he is running because he is interested in the future direction of the school district.

If elected, Jones said he will focus on primary education and reading instruction.

"A good start is just critical," he said. "It's important to look at the total K through 12, but my heart really lies with the early years."

Kevin A. Schaper

Schaper is running for the school board because he wants to keep the schools moving ahead.

"We're going to face some challenges," he said. "I want to keep it good for my children and build for the future."

He said the biggest issue facing the district at this time is communication with the public. To address the issue, Schaper said he would encourage the board to continue with the community meetings that have been taking place over the past several months, hold board meetings at the different schools and release more information to the public through local media.

Schaper said his work as a salesman qualifies him for the position because it has taught him to work with people of all types and allowed him to make contacts with school districts around the state.

If elected, Schaper said his main focus will be communicating with the public and letting the public know and understand what challenges are in the district's future.Donna Tidwell

Tidwell is running for the board because she feels every parent needs to be more actively involved in their child's education.

"First and foremost you have to have the children's best interest in mind," she said.

Tidwell said the biggest issues facing the district at this time are retaining quality teachers and ensuring school safety. She said reducing class sizes will ease some of the extra burdens placed on teachers.

"The only way to alleviate it is to go to the voters," she said. "It's not a really popular thing, but you have to look at the teaching staff and help them as best as you can."

Tidwell said the schools are safe now, but they could be safer. "I want to make sure every avenue is pursued as far as safety of the schools goes," she said. "And parents need an outlet for what to do in case of an emergency."

If elected, Tidwell said developing an action plan that tells parents where to go and what to do in case of emergency would be on the top of her list.

She said she is qualified for the position because she is an objective person, a good listener and is cost conscious in business.

Terri G. Tomlin

Tomlin is running for the school board because she wants to give back to the school system that provided three generations of her family with a quality education.

She said the biggest issue facing the district is funding.

"I think the state holds most of our funds in their hands and depending on how the budget works out with them will depend on where we need to go to seek alternative funding," she said, suggesting grants or corporate sponsors as possible alternatives.

Tomlin said she feel her gender is an important qualification for the position, as well as being a parent of a son who recently graduated from the district. "I'm a lifelong resident of Jackson," she said. "I feel a strong commitment to the district and the community as a whole, I hold a woman's point of view and I'm very enthusiastic about the Jackson school district and always have been."

If elected, Tomlin said she will focus on the quality of education by studying class sizes and curriculum. She also said she would like to focus on reimbursement for teachers and support staff for the effort they put into the district.

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128

--------

BIO BOXES:

T. Wayne Lewis

Incumbent

Age: 61

Residence: Jackson

Spouse: Linda

Children: Chris Lewis, 36, Lisken Lewis Brady, 33, Morgan Lewis Neinas, 29, Tracey Stockton Williams, 31, Brad Stockton, 29

Employer: Self-employed as a dentist

Memberships: Baptist church, U. S. Navy veteran, past president of Southeast Missouri non-profit Medical Center, past president of Jackson Rotary Club, Jackson Chamber of Commerce and several professional societies.

Mack W. Illers

Newcomer

Age: 52

Residence: Jackson

Spouse: Doris

Children: Susan Graft, 35, Ashley Illers, 16

Employer: Self-employed in construction business

Memberships: St. Paul Lutheran Church, U. S. Air Force veteran and Jackson Chamber of Commerce.

Fred O. Jones

Newcomer

Age: 57

Residence: Jackson

Spouse: Pamela Ann

Children: Jolie Ann McCallister, 35, Frederick C. Jones, 32, Polly Ann Koch, 30

Employer: Retired teacher and administrator after 34 years July 2000

Memberships: New McKendree Methodist Church, past president of Jackson Community Teachers Association, past president of Southeast Missouri Teachers Association, Jackson City Council, 1976-86, past Mayor Pro Tem and past chairman of Power and Light Commission.

Kevin A. Schaper

Newcomer

Age: 42

Residence: Jackson

Spouse: Tammy

Children: Melissa, 14, Kyle 10

Employer: Goodman Midwest

Memberships: Jackson Evening Optimists, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Coach for JAOSA soccer league

Donna Tidwell

Newcomer

Age: 40

Residence: Jackson

Spouse: Mark

Children: Matthew, 16, Shawn, 11

Employer: Rubbermaid

Memberships: School operations committee, Mt. Auburn Christian Church

Terri G. Tomlin

Newcomer

Age: 47

Residence: Jackson

Spouse: Michael

Children: Josh, 19

Employer: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri

Memberships: New McKendree Methodist Church, past president of Jackson Public Library Board, current member and past president of Jackson Heritage Association, current member and past president of American Business Women's Association, Old McKendree Chapel board of trustees, vice-president of Otahki Girl Scout Council.