A candidate for the Lawrence school board filed paperwork at the Douglas County Clerk’s Office on Wednesday.

“It takes a lot of care and commitment,” 52-year-old John Mitchell said of serving on the school board. “I think I can offer all that.”

Mitchell helped lead the campaign for the bond issue that failed in spring 2003. His wife, Pamela, teaches second grade at Deerfield School. He is chief of compliance and enforcement for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Bureau of Waste Management.

He said he supported Supt. Randy Weseman’s plan to close Lawrence Alternative High School and offer an alternative program.

He also said he wanted to raise teacher salaries and recruit the highest-qualified teachers.

Three of the school board’s seven at-large positions will be on the April 5 general election ballot. Incumbents Leni Salkind and Austin Turney have said they will not seek re-election.

Incumbent Linda Robinson said she would seek re-election. Craig Grant, a lobbyist for the state teachers’ union, has also said he will run for school board.

The filing deadline is Jan. 25. If more than six candidates file, there will be a primary March 1.

Mitchell’s daughter attends Southwest Junior High, and his son attends Quail Run School.

Mitchell is co-chairman of the Quail Run site council and has served as co-president of the Quail Run PTO. He is also an elder at First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, and is a past president of the Lawrence Community Theatre Board of Directors.