New faces are guaranteed on several south-metro school boards after the general election this fall, with plenty of candidates filing by last week's deadline and quite a few incumbents choosing not to run.

With five of seven seats on the ballot, New Prague's school board will fill more positions at the Nov. 8 election than any other board in Scott or Dakota county.

New Prague's vote will follow a stormy spring that saw the resignation of former Superintendent Craig Menozzi after months of tension with the school board. Some residents who argued he was driven away called for the entire board to resign and urged challengers to run for office this fall.

Two candidates, Daryl Bauer and Chis Tumasmith, say they're running largely because of that controversy, arguing that the board's failings include a lack of transparency. But several other challengers said that's not why they filed -- and most people seem to agree it's time to move on.

"My focus is going to be on moving forward," Bauer said.

One big decision that's ahead for the New Prague board: Choosing a new superintendent to succeed interim leader Larry Kauzlarich, who stepped in for 2011-12.

New board members elected in the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan district also will help pick a new superintendent to replace their interim leader, who was hired this summer after Jay Haugen took a new job in Farmington.

West St. Paul's race has drawn a mix of parents and retired district employees, including Byron Schwab, a former principal of Pilot Knob Elementary, and Brenda Jo Corbett, who taught at Henry Sibley High. Mark Spurr is the only incumbent in the race after Robin Rainford withdrew, citing a business opportunity in Europe.

Two candidates, Joanne Mansur and Ted Kellogg, have children at Mendota Elementary, where many parents were upset this spring about a proposal to co-locate the school with Friendly Hills Middle School. The school board ultimately decided not to house the two schools under one roof, at least for 2011-12.

Mansur and Kellogg both said last week that their campaigns aren't aimed at any one issue, though both had raised concerns about the co-location plan. "It sure was a fast track to some understanding of the school district," Mansur added. Kellogg said the board did "a fantastic job" taking public feedback this spring.

All seven West St. Paul board candidates said they support a proposed tax increase for schools that local voters will consider on Nov. 8.

Candidates also have upcoming levy votes on their minds in Inver Grove Heights, New Prague and Hastings, where school leaders have proposed to either renew or increase taxes for local schools.

In Shakopee, managing projected enrollment growth will be a key task of the new board. Three candidates -- Reggie Bowerman, Matt McKeand and Angela Tucker -- served on a task force that advised the district this year to build a second high school. All three said they support the group's findings, but a fourth candidate, Andrea Bauer Gustafson, said last week that she's not convinced enough research has been done.

In the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district, four incumbents and three challengers will vie for four board seats. A fifth will be filled by board appointment after Kevin Sampers announced his resignation on Aug. 15. Because he's resigning after Aug. 2, state law does not allow the seat to be filled at the November election, the district said.

Sampers said he's stepping down after 18 years on the board because of growing duties with a start-up company that he joined last fall.

Sarah Lemagie • 952-882-9016