ANNUAL PICNIC: CHAMBER MEMBERS DISCUSS SCHOOLS

JACKSON, Mo. -- Jackson voters may have repeatedly defeated school bond issues, but at Friday's annual Jackson Chamber of Commerce picnic no one was at all discouraged about the city's future.

The bond issue debate, which is heating up again as a new vote looms in November, is just a disagreement within the Jackson family, people at the picnic said.

"Even the folks who are negative on the bond issue feel it is in the best interest of Jackson," said Ken Parrett, executive director of the chamber.

About 100 people attended the picnic at City Park, eating hamburgers and hot dogs, listening to live country music and playing games.

Brad Smith graduated from Jackson High School in 1978 and moved back with his wife, Lisa, about 10 years ago. He teaches music in Oran but they live in Jackson because this is where they want to be.

They like the housing and business growth Jackson has been undergoing, despite the occasional pains.

"I don't have to drive to Cape as much as I had to," Lisa Smith said.

The only thing people might not like is the rising housing prices, said Brad Smith, her husband. "But that's all right now that we bought. They can keep going up."

Lisa administers the Web site for the city of Jackson and says comments sent to the site are almost always positive about the city.

The site is running a survey on the newest bond issue proposal, which would fund $6 million in improvements for overcrowded R.O. Hawkins Junior High School. The improvements include construction of an 18-classroom addition.

"Everybody I know is in favor of raising (the money). I don't know who these unhappy people are," said Joe Sherinkski, a landscape architect who hosts a syndicated TV gardening show.

Mayor Paul Sander, attending with his wife and children, said the Board of Aldermen never takes positions on ballot issues but can do so individually. Sander was one of a number of opinion-makers who toured the junior high school Friday and said he sees the need for improving the junior high school.

And he thinks the debate over the school funding could be positive.

"Disagreement if done in the right way could be healthy," he said. "I certainly respect both sides of the issue."

But if the controversy over school funding continues for a prolonged period, it could have a negative effect on the city, he said.

Parrett agrees. "The school district is a big reason people move here," he said.

The chamber has endorsed the junior high bond issue.