Rockwood BOE Candidates' Forum Hosted by Citizens' Group

A candidates' forum for Rockwood School District Board of Education contenders was hosted Saturday at the Eureka City Hall by Rockwood Stakeholders for Real Solutions (RS for RS), a self-appointed watchdog group of the district.

Two of the four board candidates attended:  Jeff Morrell and Steve Banton. The other two candidates are Loralee Mondl and Janet Strate.

A small crowd of eight attended Saturday's forum, besides moderator Eileen Tyrrell, co-founder and RS for RS spokesperson.

Tyrrell said RS for RS was formulated during July 2011 to give "a voice to parents who are not PTO parents, teachers who are not in the union, and the district's taxpayers, in general."

"Rockwood prides itself in getting community input, but we saw missing segments," said Tyrrell.

She said only 19 percent of Rockwood's households send their children to the district's public schools, and that the other 81 percent of district residents are empty nesters or parents who chose to place their children in private schools.

RS for RS hosted a series of candidates' forums last year as well. The group consolidated the forums this year, and the second and final one is scheduled to be held Monday evening at the Daniel Boone Library in Ellisville, from 7-8:30 p.m.

Read Patch's three-part, prior coverage regarding a Rockwood board candidates' forum hosted by the League of Women Voters with all four candidates:

Rockwood BOE Candidates' Forum: 'Issues Not Personalities'

Rockwood BOE Candidates' Forum: No Conflicts of Interest Presented

Rockwood BOE Candidates' Forum: Closing Remarks

Editor's Note:  Return to Patch for part 2 coverage of Saturday's forum.