Cape Girardeau, MO – The upcoming election on Tuesday, April 8, will determine the future leadership of Cape Girardeau Public Schools as five candidates compete for two open seats on the Board of Education. With important decisions ahead regarding school policies, funding, and teacher retention, this election offers voters a crucial opportunity to shape the direction of the district.
Incumbent Matt Welker is seeking a third consecutive three-year term. He faces four challengers: David Bosak-Barani, Andrew Ostrowski, Lynn Ware, and Deborah Young. Current board member Veronica Langston has chosen not to seek reelection, ensuring that at least one new voice will join the board.
The Candidates
Matt Welker first elected in 2019 and has previously served as board president. He is a partner at Day Transfer Co. in Cape Girardeau, where he manages financial operations. A graduate of Cape Central High School, with two children currently enrolled in the district.
“If I am elected to a third term, my priorities would pretty much remain the same as what they have been,” Welker said. “That’s to continue providing the needed resources that support the success of the district and to ensure that sound budgetary decisions are made so that we can continue to provide increasingly competitive compensation for our district employees.”
David Bosak-Barani is a 2001 graduate of Cape Central High School, who holds a degree in Instrumental Music Education from Southeast Missouri State University and a master’s in Educational Leadership. He worked as a teacher for 18 years before becoming a school service representative with Ernie Williamson Music. “As a former teacher, I understand it’s a very hard job, and I want to help make their job easier,” Bosak-Barani said. “As far as goals, it would be anything I could do involving policy, budgeting, and oversight that would help teacher retention and help bring in highly qualified teachers.”
Lynn Ware is a former Cape Girardeau school board member who served from 2012 to 2021. She is a retired employee of the Cape Girardeau Police Department; she has also directed community programs such as the Cape Girardeau Safe Communities Program and the Hoover Senior Adult Center. “This position is a serious commitment. A board member must understand policies, procedures, and strategic plans and how they affect both the workplace and the broader community. I want to be aware of the challenges that our district is facing and be a part of a positive solution,” Ware said. I am committed to working as a team player, listening to concerns, and making informed decisions that benefit our students, teachers, and the community.
Deborah Young is the founder of the Lion of Judah International Association of Outreach Ministries and was a member of the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission. A former alcohol and substance abuse counselor, she now operates a private business as a school counselor. Young’s children attended Cape Girardeau Schools, she has two adopted children currently in the district. Originally from Illinois, she has lived in Cape Girardeau for “30-plus years.” She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary special education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and a master’s from the University of the Southwest, a private university in Hobbs, New Mexico. She said she is running as an “advocate to save the public school system. Without a robust public education system in place, the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged widens, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. The governor has allocated $50 million to private and Christian schools, but no one has said anything about the public school system.” I believe that the voucher system that they’re talking about putting in place is just public welfare for the Christian schools and the private schools.”
Andrew Ostrowski, is an insurance broker and graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, and has previously campaigned for both state and local offices, bringing experience in public engagement and policy discussions to his candidacy.
The election on April 8 will give residents a chance to vote for the candidates they believe will best serve the needs of the school district and its students.
