South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Call makes endorsements for Lindbergh, Mehlville school boards

Lindbergh Schools and Mehlville School District voters will go to the polls next week to elect two members to their respective school boards.

In Lindbergh, four candidates are vying for two seats on the Board of Education.

Board Treasurer Kara Gotsch and board President Vic Lenz are being challenged by Adam McBride and Cindy McDaniel.

Gotsch was first elected to the board three years ago, while Lenz has served on the board since 2004.

As always, Lindbergh Schools has no shortage of able candidates willing to step up and serve the community.

McBride and McDaniel would serve the district well, but we can find no compelling reason not to endorse the re-election bids of Gotsch and Lenz.

Under their direction — along with the rest of the board — Lindbergh has been ranked No. 1 in academic achievement in the state for three consecutive years. Their service has been exemplary. Therefore, the Call endorses Gotsch and Lenz.

In Mehlville, the district is experiencing great forward motion under Superintendent Eric Knost’s superb leadership.

Knost’s knack for uniting both the board and the community has helped set the district on the path to success, while re-establishing credibility with residents.

Seeking election in Mehlville are board President Venki Palamand, board Secretary Larry Felton and Lori Trakas. Palamand and Felton were first elected to the board in 2007.

While Knost has been critical to Mehlville’s recent success, so has Palamand, who is serving his second term as board president.

We’d be hard-pressed to think of a bigger advocate for students and teachers than Palamand. That’s why we were shocked that Palamand did not receive the endorsement of the Mehlville National Education Association. Apparently, you can’t disagree with the MNEA on any issue and expect to gain its endorsement.

Felton, by the way, was the only candidate endorsed by the MNEA.

During a candidate forum, Trakas raised issues about Mehlville’s transparency, particularly in regard to funding the construction of a district auditorium. We couldn’t disagree more.

District officials have been forthright from the beginning that construction is being funded utilizing savings realized through refunding bond-like certificates issued for the district’s Proposition P districtwide building improvement program that was approved by voters in November 2000.

Of the three candidates, Palamand is at the head of the class, and the Call enthusiastically endorses his re-election bid.

In a separate matter, a Crestwood candidate endorsed last week by the Call is ineligible to run, according to city officials.

Bill Schelinski, who is seeking the Ward 2 seat, is ineligible to serve because of a 1996 felony conviction he received in Illinois.

Therefore, the Call’s endorsement is moot.

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Call makes endorsements for Lindbergh, Mehlville school boards

Voters to make their choices for two local school boards

Lindbergh Schools and Mehlville School District voters will go the polls next week to elect two members to their respective school boards.

In Lindbergh, four candidates are vying for two seats on the Board of Education.

James Goss, Kate Holloway, George Rezabek and Karen Schuster are vying in the April 3 election for two seats being vacated by Mark Rudoff and Ken Fey, who did not file for re-election.

As always, Lindbergh Schools has no shortage of able candidates willing to step up and serve the community. In this case, however, one candidate stands head and shoulders above the rest — Karen Schuster.

We believe she would be an outstanding addition to Lindbergh’s student-centered school board and urge voters to elect her.

Of the remaining candidates, we believe George Rezabek would best serve the community and encourage voters to elect him to the board.

In Mehlville, great strides have been made under the leadership of Superintendent Eric Knost. Knost’s knack for uniting both the board and the community has helped the district regain its focus and re-establish credibility with residents.

Seeking election in Mehlville are Kathleen Eardley, Ron Fedorchak, Fred Padberg and Mike Wainz. Up for election are seats held by Fedorchak and Tom Diehl, who did not file for re-election.

Fedorchak was appointed to the board to fill a vacancy when former board member Micheal Ocello resigned. Fedorchak has been a welcome addition to the board and given his service, we believe he merits election to a full three-year term. We urge voters to elect him.

The three remaining candidates all have their individual strengths and should be applauded for their willingness to serve their community. Of the three, we believe Eardley is the best fit for the board and encourage voters to elect her.

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