With qualifying open through Friday, four people have filed for the Vicksburg Warren School District trustee positions that will be on ballots in two supervisor districts on Nov. 4.

Seeking a second, six-year term in District 3 will be Betty Tolliver, who faces a challenge from James Stirgus Jr.

The incumbent, Jan Daigre, is not seeking re-election in District 4 and on those ballots will be former Mayor Joe Loviza and Katrina Johnson.

There are five members of the board created 22 years ago to administer the countywide 9,200-student district and its $76 million budget. Since the district’s inception, terms have been staggered to avoid an all-new board at any time.

Stirgus, a former bank officer who has worked for a human services agency, previously ran for District 3 supervisor. He said community involvement was his motivation for filing.

“The reason why I am running is for the care of the kids,” Stirgus said. “I want to be able to have the kids upgrade their education so they can carry on to senior education. I think it’s most important for the school board to get involved with the kids and govern from there.”

Stirgus, a 45-year resident of Vicksburg and a Vicksburg High School graduate, added his 24 years of financial experience would be beneficial to the job.

Tolliver, who unseated incumbent Pearline Williams for the post in 2002, said she feels her work as a trustee is not complete.

“I just want to continue the work of uniting parents, teachers and children,” she said. “There’s still work to be done, but we’ve come a long way. I am very proud of the prekindergarten and other programs we’ve started, but more programs are needed to bring the children and county in the 21st century.”

Goals, she said, include concentrating on reducing drop-out rates and providing more resources for teachers to use in the classroom.

Loviza spent his career as an educator before serving his mayoral term from 1993-1997.

“I’ve made my living in the public schools of Vicksburg and it is time for me to give back to the community that’s nurtured me,” he said. “I’d just like to serve, get my ideas before the public and help (Superintendent Dr. James Price) the best I can.”

Loviza’s 45-year career as teacher and school administrator was capped by his years as dean of Hinds Community College operations in Vicksburg, facilities he helped establish.

“I have a children-first policy,” Loviza said. “I’d like to see children learn in any way that is accepted. I am very proud of the VWSD, but there is also room for improvement.”

Johnson has also worked in education. A substitute teacher for the past 10 years and mother to three school-aged sons, Johnson said she hopes to be a voice for parents as well as teachers.

“I am a substitute teacher, and I am going to school to earn a degree in elementary education,” Johnson said. “I am very active in the school system; I know all sides, as a parent and a teacher.”

The role of the school board, which meets monthly, is to set policy and monitor financial accountability, said Jerry Boland, District 1 trustee and board president. Operational management is the responsibilty of a superintendent, hired by the trustees.

“We have a pretty extensive policy already written, and we have to tweak and change that policy as time goes by and policies are outdated and the needs of the kids change,” said Boland, who was elected to the board in 2004. Other members are District 2 Trustee Zelmarine Murphy and District 5 Trustee Tommy Shelton.

Trustees are paid $200 per month plus travel expenses. To qualify requires proof of residence in the district plus the signatures of 150 of the district’s voters. Filing closes at 5 p.m. Friday in the circuit clerk’s office.