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

Rudoff an excellent choice to fill seat on school board

We believe the Lindbergh School Board of Education made an excellent choice last week when it selected former board member Mark Rudoff to fill a vacant seat.

Rudoff should be applauded for stepping up and volunteering to serve again on the Board of Education.

He fills the seat vacated by former Board President Vic Lenz, who was appointed in June to serve on the Missouri State Board of Education.

Rudoff provided impeccable service on the school board for 13 years, from 1999 to 2012. During that time, he served as board president from 2005 to 2009, board vice president from 2003 to 2005, board secretary from 2001 to 2003 and board treasurer from 2009 to 2011.

During Rudoff’s remarkable tenure on the board, he was an integral part of the tremendous progress the district has made, including the passage of several ballot measures that modernized and expanded existing schools and funded the construction of new buildings.

But board members had a difficult choice last week in filling Lenz’s vacant seat because all three candidates who applied were well-qualified to serve. Also applying were Cindy McDaniel, the owner of recruiting company Professional Staffing of St. Louis, and Gary Ujka, a retired Rockwood School District teacher and administrator who announces home football games for the Flyers.

Lindbergh Superintendent Jim Simpson told the Call that appointing former board members to fill vacant seats is “a tradition for Lindbergh.”

Noting that Lenz’s seat will be up for election in April, eight months from now, Simpson said, “… Lindbergh’s always had that tradition where well-respected former board members step up and say, ‘I didn’t wake up wanting to be back on the board, but to help something I love and a district I really have great ownership in, I’m going to make time in my calendar for eight months.’

“They have no intention to run past that, but it fills a great need. An unbiased board member comes in with no election plans and they can give you great service. They know all the acronyms. They know all the programs … Mark knows most all the staff, so right out of the chute, he’s a productive board member …”

Come April, four seats will be up for election on the school board.

Given the Lindbergh way, we predict there will be no shortage of well-qualified candidates willing to step up and seek election.

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