$20M bond extension for Cape Girardeau schools easily passes

Voters in the Cape Girardeau School District on Tuesday approved a $20 million bond issue that will pay for renovations across the district, including larger projects at Central Junior High School and the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center.

Election results from Cape Girardeau County showed 1,868 voted in favor of Proposition 1 and 757 voted against.

"I'm just so happy for the district, for the teachers and for the students and future students," said Stacy Kinder, a former school board member who led the Yes Cape Schools campaign. "And I'm very thankful for our community. The district has done such a good job in all their planning, so (the bond extension) made sense to so many people."

The projects are the second phase of a facility plan developed in 2008 and 2009. The first phase, which included projects such as replacing Franklin Elementary School, was addressed with a $40 million bond issue in 2010.

The approved measure will not change the tax rate. It will extend the district's current debt, however, which was scheduled to be paid off by 2030, by an additional five years.

The proposal will pay for upgrades to the junior high building at 205 Caruthers Ave., including improved safety and security, changing grade levels in ramps and adding rails to increase accessibility for those with disabilities.

Administrative offices will be moved to the junior high's old gymnasium that sits in the middle of the building.

The project also will house other student services, science labs in the basement -- that will double as a storm shelter -- and a new practice gymnasium. The cost is estimated at $9.8 million.

A Career and Technology Center expansion, priced at $5.9 million, will allow health-care services and more to be provided at the center at 1080 S. Silver Springs Road.

Superintendent Jim Welker said the district has a lot of work to do and will begin right away.

"We will work with architects to continue with plans for all the different projects and start developing a schedule for when everything will get started and get plans developed," he said. "I really want to thank all the voters of our district. It's just wonderful to have the support of the community."

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.