Filing for local school board positions now underway

Thursday, December 15, 2016

SIKESTON -- Filing for school board offices began Tuesday with several races already forming locally.

In the Sikeston R-6 School District, filing on the first day were John Graham, Stephanie W. Poindexter and Amy Blanton, according to Sikeston R-6 Board Secretary Bryan Nickell.

Current R-6 board members whose three-year terms expire in April are Blanton, James Gleason and Deke Lape. R-6 patrons wishing to file for candidacy can do so Monday through Friday at Nickell's office located at 219 S. Kingshighway in Sikeston.

According to the Missouri School Boards Association, there are relatively few qualifications to run for the local school board in most school districts in the state.

A candidate must be a citizen of the United States, a resident taxpayer of the district, a resident of Missouri for at least one year preceding the election and at least 24 years old.

Successfully elected board members are further required to complete 16 hours of orientation and training within one year of their election, according to MSBA.

A race is already taking shape in the New Madrid County R-1 School District. Three-year terms held by board members Danny Parker, John Palmer and Kay Rebstock will end in April. Filing so far are Parker, Palmer, Rebstock and Renee Banks.

The district will dismiss early Friday for the Christmas break with offices reopening Jan. 3.

In the Scott County R-4 "Kelly" School District, current positions held by Tammy Waddlington, Neal LeDure and Greg Burke will end in April. Filing on the first day were Burke and Waddlington. School will dismiss early Friday and resume Jan. 3.

The three positions in the Scott County Central School District up for election in April are currently held by Michael Blissett, Tony Lackey and Robert Cook. As of Wednesday, Cook was the only candidate to file.

Scott Central will dismiss Friday for the winter break and return to classes Jan. 3

The three positions available in the Portageville School District are currently held by Mark Moody, Jarrett Warren and Marie Gill. Filing so far were Moody, Warren and Patty Johnson. The district will dismiss early Friday and reopen after New Year's.

Terms expiring in the Charleston R-1 School District are held by Earl Farmer, Sherry Austin and Mike Grimes. Candidates filing so far include Farmer and Hamil Corse.

The district will dismiss early today and return Jan. 3.

East Prairie R-2 board members whose terms expire are Tim Wagner, David Dahlbeck and Tera Johnson. Filing so far are Ronald Carter, Dwight White and Johnson.

Candidates may file at the board office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with the exception of the holiday break from noon Dec. 21 until classes resume Jan. 5.

Oran R-3 school board members Dan Hahn, Chad Schott and Vance Todt have terms that will expire in April. As of Wednesday afternoon, no one had filed for candidacy.

The district's offices will close at noon Dec. 21 and reopen Jan. 4.

In the Kelso C-7 New Hamburg School District, board members whose terms expire in April are Elizabeth Glastetter, Matt Klipfel and Ryan Steimle. As of Wednesday, no one had filed. The district will dismiss early Friday and resume Jan. 3 following its winter break.

With the exception of Sikeston R-6, filing takes place in the respective district's board of education offices during regular school hours. Filing closes for all school districts at 5 p.m. Jan. 17.