Two local school districts will see contested elections for board of education seats, and three others will bypass the ballot box with as many filers as open positions.

Contested elections will occur in the Cassville and Southwest districts, while Exeter, Wheaton and Purdy will retain a full slate with no election. All terms at all districts are for three years.

The Cassville Board of Education has three open seats and six have filed. Incumbent Jon Horner, finishing his fourth term; Becky Henningson, finishing her fifth term; and Chad Johnson, finishing his first term, have all refiled for their positions.

Challenging the trio will be another group of three. Chad Yarnall, who served two terms before being ousted in last year’s election, has filed to rejoin the board. Challengers seeking their first terms on the board include Carroll Craig II, and Jana Cash.

The candidates will appear on the ballot in the following order: Horner, Henningson, Yarnall, Johnson, Craig and Cash.

At Southwest, three positions are open and five have filed. All three incumbents have refiled: Doug Henry, two terms; Terry Meek, two terms; and Ruth “Doke” Henderson, three terms.

Challenging for the open spots are newcomers Megan Shrum and Gayla Hall.

Exeter has three open seats and three have filed, but one seat will have a new occupant.

Kelly Lee, two-term incumbent, and Stacy Hall, incumbent who served one year as an interim in 2019 and was elected in 2020, have refiled. Gary Stringer who has served four terms on the board, chose to step away from the position. Lance Eaton filed to replace him and will be elected unchallenged.

In the same boat is the Wheaton school district, avoiding an election with all three incumbents refiling. Tony Ball, three-term incumbent; Lewis Royer, five-term incumbent; and Josh Kinnaman, one-term incumbent, will retain their seats.

In Purdy, one-term incumbents Levi Roden and David Young will retain their seats, and newcomer Nathan Lamp will assume the role previously held by an incumbent who resigned in June 2022 for family reasons after serving five years on the board.

For the April 4 General Municipal Election, the last day to register to vote is March 8. Absentee voting begins Feb. 21 and continues until April 3, with special hours 8 a.m. to noon on April 1 for in-person early voting at the county clerk’s office.

Exeter, Wheaton and Purdy will not hold elections, as there are no challengers.