Two incumbents seeking re-election are being challenged by three candidates in the April 7 election for two seats on the Mehlville Board of Education.

William Klemm, Linda Mooy and Gary “Brit” Rose will square off against current board President Tom Diehl and board Vice President Micheal Ocello for the two seats that carry three-year terms. This article will focus on Ocello and Rose. Diehl, Klemm and Mooy were featured last week.

Asked to identify the most important issue in the race, the two candidates responded:

“I believe this race is about the direction of our district. If people appreciate the changes that have been made in the past couple of years and wish to continue moving in that direction, they will vote to keep the incumbents,” Ocello said. “During my tenure, I believe that we have taken great strides in improving our district. For example, we received the Distinction in Performance Award from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for three years in a row. We restored free bus transportation to our district. We hired one of the very best superintendents in the state — if not the country. We purchased approximately $3 million dollars in new books. We completed a comprehensive 18-month public-engagement program, COMPASS (Charting the Oakville-Mehlville Path to Advance Successful Schools). We held 17 town hall meetings. We co-sponsored with the Call Newspapers a Sunshine Law Seminar. We have conducted school business in an open and transparent manner and we started an alternative high school for non-traditional learners.

“These are just a few of the positive steps that have been taken in the past couple of years. Some will say that this list represents inappropriate expenditures of district resources. I would retort that we have utilized our resources in a most responsible and beneficial manner, and if elected, I will vote to stay our course,” Ocello added.

“The students are the most important issue because they are our future generation,” Rose said.

Ocello, 49, 6161 Clifton Oaks Place, 63129, is president of VCG Holding Corp., which owns and operates adult nightclubs throughout the United States. He and his wife, Laura, have a daughter who attends Oakville Senior High School.

Ocello, elected to the Board of Education in 2006, currently serves as vice president and previously served as secretary. He also is a member of Missouri’s Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board. Ocello is seeking re-election because “it is my hope to help enhance the educational opportunities for all of the students of the Mehlville School District. I want to continue the positive direction the district is moving and I want to further stabilize the finances of our district. We still have a lot to accomplish in order to bring Mehlville to the status of a high-achieving school district.”

Rose, 42, 1215 Coronation Drive, 63125, is a mechanic at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He and his wife, Mary, have twin daughters who attend Buerkle Middle School and a third daughter who attends John Cary Early Childhood Education Center.

Rose, who has not held public office, said, “The most important reason in running for the school board is to be more involved in my children’s education than I have been in the past. My top priority is with the students and making sure that they get the best education possible. I want to do the best job that I can with the children’s interest at heart.

“I also want to learn more about what goes on within this school district and how to make things better. I also believe that the teachers and staff need our support and help in doing the best job they can.”

The candidates gave the following responses to a Call questionnaire:

How did you vote in the November election on the school district’s tax-transfer ballot measure Proposition T? Why?

Ocello said, “I voted for Prop T. I believe that the immediate cash flow and fund balances outweighed the extension of the long-term debt.”

Rose said, “I voted yes on Prop T. Being involved in COMPASS, I’ve learned that there are three phases occurring over a couple of years. You will see some improvements such as teacher salaries, full-day kindergarten, early childhood expansion and facilities improvements.”

Do you believe the Mehlville Board of Education has faithfully adhered to the letter of the Missouri Open Meetings and Records Law, also called the Sunshine Law? What would you do as a board member to ensure the board’s compliance with this law?

Ocello said, “I believe that the board has faithfully adhered to the letter of the Sunshine Law. I would continue the best practices that this board has adopted.”

Rose said, “Yes, they do. Continue what’s already being done.”

Do you believe that teachers’ pay should be based on merit?

Ocello said, “I would support merit pay if there was truly a fair manner to measure teacher performance. I think the more important issue is making sure we have procedures in place to assure that all teachers are appropriately trained and supervised to be outstanding classroom performers. This means, at least in my mind, an ongoing commitment to professional development.”

Rose said, “I believe that a portion of a teacher’s pay should be based on merit.”

If elected, what changes will you work for as a Board of Education member?

Ocello said, “I will work to keep the district moving in the positive direction that it is currently moving.”

Rose said, “I would like to see more board members to be more visible among the community, parents and school functions.”

Have you ever applied for a job with the Mehlville School District? If yes, how many times?

Ocello said, “No.”

Rose said, “Yes. One time.”

What would you propose to improve student achievement?

Ocello said, “Smaller class sizes. More teachers, more counselors and more tutors. Enhance the technology that has been proven to enhance learning and enhance our commitment to ongoing professional development of our staff at all levels.”

Rose said, “I feel that there should be a lower student-teacher ratio, which is one of the phases in Prop T. I think that there should be more educational field trips to encourage their learning. I would like to encourage more parent involvement.”

When do you believe it would be appropriate for the district to pursue a tax-rate increase for the first phase of COMPASS recommendations?

Ocello said, “I believe the district does need to improve its finances. However, I believe these are incredibly tough economic times and it would take a great deal of community support to convince me that a tax increase was appropriate.”

Rose said, “Right now with the economy, this is not a good time to pursue a tax-rate increase. A tax-rate increase would be more feasible when the economy improves in the near future.”

What is your vision for the Mehlville School District?

Ocello said, “I want Mehlville to be a high-performing school district. I want our children to have every opportunity to succeed. If a child fails in life, I don’t ever want it to be because we did not prepare them properly. I want our people paid fairly. I want everyone in our district to feel that our schools are second to none and for that value to be felt thoughout our entire community.”

Rose said, “My vision is let’s do what’s right for our students. This means that our students need to be the top priority above everything else. I feel that this can be done by keeping an open mind, making necessary choices, listening to the students as well as parents, staff and community, asking questions and doing research and homework to get the results.”