School board races begin to form

SIKESTON -- Filing for local school board elections began Tuesday, and some districts already have contested races.

Board members in the Sikeston R-6 School District whose three-year terms will expire in April are vice president David Jones and member Chris Hodgkiss. Filing for candidacy in the district so far are Heather Drury, Jay Elliott, Matt Tanner and Hodgkiss.

Individuals who are interested in filing for Sikeston R-6 seats can do so at the office of R-6 board secretary and attorney Bryan E. Nickell, 219 S. Kingshighway, in Sikeston.

"The filing process is very straightforward," Nickell said. "Some of the forms must be notarized so anyone wishing to file should bring an appropriate ID."

Candidates will sign a "Declaration as a Candidate" form which asserts that they meet all of the qualifications to be on a school board, Nickell said. Some of those requirements include: U.S. citizenship, resident taxpayer of the district for more than one year, at least 24 years of age, no federal felonies or misdemeanors, no state felonies and the candidate does not owe any delinquent taxes, etc.

For the complete story, see the Thursday edition of the Standard Democrat.