School board filing underway, closes by Dec. 31

SIKESTON — Filing for candidacy for local school board positions for the April 8, 2025, election is in full swing as some races are beginning to form.

Current Sikeston R-6 Board of Education members whose three-year terms will expire in April are Matt Drake and Allison Cox. Filing on the first day were Cox and Zach Fayette. Filing in the R-6 School District takes place during normal hours in the office of Board Secretary Bryan Nickell, which is located at 219 S. Kingshighway, in Sikeston. Nickell’s office will be closed weekends as well as Dec. 24-26.

To be eligible as a school board candidate, individuals must be a U.S. citizen, a resident taxpayer of the district or voters of the district in urban districts, a resident of Missouri for at least one year and at least 24 years of age. Candidates must also be current on state and local taxes; have not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under Missouri or federal law; are not registered or required to register as a sex offender; and have filed required campaign documents for all previous campaigns, if any.

Races are forming in other school districts.

Board members who have terms ending in the Scott County Central School District are Travis Gleuck, Alissa Harper and Billy Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick will be completing the end of a one-year appointment so there will be two three-year terms and one one-year term available. Filing so far is Glueck.

In the Scott County R-4 “Kelly” School District, Dorothy Lewer and Kris Heacox have three-year terms that expire in April. They have both filed for their seats.

There are two openings which will be filled on the Gideon School District. Already seeking the three year terms are Scott LaMarr and incumbent Larry Wiggs. Filing is open during school hours at the board office until Dec. 20, by appointment only from Dec. 20 through Dec. 30 and from 2-5 p.m. Dec. 31.

Incumbents Jenny Cope and Ryan Eddy have filed for the two three-year terms open on the New Madrid County R-1 School Board. Filing will remain open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 19 when school will close for the Christmas break and reopen from 3 -5 p.m. Dec. 31 at the R-1 School Board office.

Voters will choose someone to serve a one-year unexpired term on the Portageville School Board as well as fill two three-year terms on the Board. As of Friday, Jon Warren had filed for the one-year term and Karen Gowan has filed for a three-year term.

Those interested in serving on the Board can file at the Portageville School Board office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. through Dec. 20; also the Board office will be open for from 4-5 p.m. Dec. 31.

No one has yet filed for the two three-year terms currently held by Daniel Presley and Jeff White on the Risco School Board. Those interested in serving on the Board can file during regular school hours at the Board office until Dec. 18, during the half-day of school operation on Dec. 19 or from 4-5 p.m. Dec. 31.

A race is forming in the East Prairie R-2 School District. Board members Bryan Mainord and Chad Grissom each have terms that end in April. Filing so far are the incumbents along with along with John Wayne Davis.

In the Charleston R-1 School District, there are two positions available, each with three-year terms. Names of the incumbents and information about has filed since it opened Dec. 10 was unavailable at press time. Interested persons may file in person at Charleston R-1 Central Office located at 311 E. Tom Brown St. (A.D. Simpson Building) in Charleston. Filing will not occur on days that the school district’s Central Office is closed due to inclement weather or other reasons. The district may not open even on the first and/or last day of filing if the closing conditions make it unsafe for school staff to be available. Filing will also not occur Dec. 21-30 when the school district’s offices are closed for holidays and breaks. Central Office Hours will be noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 31.

In the Oran R-3 School District, board members whose terms are ending are Carrie Massey and Travis Bickings. Filing so far are Bickings and Blake Schlitt. The superintendent’s office will be open for filing from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 31.

There are two positions available for three-year terms in the Kelso C-7 School District in New Hamburg. Board members whose terms end in April are Andrea Koepp and Julie Heisserer. No one has filed for candidacy yet. Filing will not occur on the following days when the district’s office is closed: December 24-27 for the holiday break. The District Office will be open from 3 p.m. 5 p.m. Dec. 23 and Dec. 30. The last day of filing will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 30.