Pubdate: Fri, 24 Mar 2006
Source: Sedalia Democrat (MO)
Copyright: The Sedalia Democrat 2006
Contact:  http://sedaliademocrat.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1801
Author: Beth O'Malley, The Sedalia Democrat
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

CANDIDATES SUPPORT NEW HIGH SCHOOL PLAN

The three candidates for school board emphasized the plan to build a 
new high school as a way to improve the district, and the community, 
at a forum Thursday.

All of the Sedalia school board candidates said they supported the 
plan to build a new high school and shift grades at existing 
buildings to provide more classroom space for students.

The candidates were divided on their views about random drug testing.

The three candidates, who are running to fill two seats, spoke at the 
forum sponsored by the local chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Mary Allee, 56, the first to speak, said: "Space issues are a real 
concern for us," Mrs. Allee said. She supports the construction plan 
to continue providing a high-quality education for students.

She stressed her experience on the board.

"I've become very familiar with the district, what its needs are," 
said Mrs. Allee, who is running for her third term.

With the district's accomplishments, such as getting a perfect score 
on the annual performance review and receiving a District in 
Performance award, Mrs. Allee said she still sees challenges.

She is a senior vice president of real estate at Third National Bank; 
has a grandson in third-grade at Horace Mann Elementary School.

Mr. Perry said he supported the construction plan. "The school 
district actually did their homework," he said.

District residents should vote for him because, "I care about the 
future of our city and our school and I care about every kid in this 
community E I want to move this city and school district ahead."

The district needs to improve teacher morale; one way to do that is 
improving salaries, Mr. Perry said.

Although doing that will take time, "we need to go ahead and work on 
teacher's salaries," he said.

The district also needs to improve security and add security guards, he said.

Mr. Perry, 33, is a truck driver with a fourth-grade daughter at Parkview.

Jeffrey Sharp spoke last. The incumbent, who is running for his third 
term, said the construction plan includes money for replacing flat 
roofs with sloped roofs, which should have longer life spans, and 
other remodeling.

The proposal would provide a new high school that "would be a 
flagship for our town."

Dr. Sharp said he wants to work with Superintendent Doug Ebersold to 
continue to improved education and the curriculum. He said one goal 
is to get more technology in the classroom, while not forgetting the 
pen and paper skills that are important for test-taking.

The district has had successes with funding geothermal heating and 
cooling systems in some buildings with a Department of Natural 
Resources loan paid for by savings from the new system, Dr. Sharp 
said. Dr. Sharp, 47, is a family practitioner with five children: a 
senior at Smith-Cotton High School, an eighth-grader at Sedalia 
Middle School, a fifth-grader and a second-grader at Heber Hunt 
Elementary School and a child in preschool.

The candidates answered an audience question about whether they 
supported random drug testing.

Dr. Sharp said he opposed random drug testing at the district; Mr. 
Perry, after pausing to think, said he supported drug testing. Mrs. 
Allee said drug testing "would be good thing to do," but it must be 
done correctly to avoid lawsuits.

The candidates said they thought the district would make sure to 
maintain its buildings to avoid the types of repairs that are 
necessary in the buildings and would be done under the construction plan.

Chris Lamb, a fourth candidate, has dropped out of the race. Although 
his name will still be on the ballot April 4, he has accepted a 
promotion and will be moving out of town. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake