BLANCHARD TO REMAIN AS WASHINGTON PRINCIPAL

Barbara Blanchard keeps trying to retire, but circumstances and a "love for the school, the neighborhood and the people" continually return her to the school she has attended as a student, faculty member, and most recently as an administrator.

Cape Girardeau schools assistant superintendent David Giles said performance evaluations haven't been completed for all building administrators, but as it stands today, Blanchard and all other building principals are scheduled to return to their jobs for the 1998-99 school year.

That wasn't Blanchard's original plan, however. The Washington Elementary School principal originally planned to end her 36-year education career last spring. Her resignation was to become effective just prior to the final year of classes in May Greene and Washington schools, which were being replaced by a new, larger facility.

However, the unforeseen resignation of Richard Bollwerk, then assistant superintendent of elementary instruction, last summer placed the Board of Education in a dilemma -- there were six elementary facilities open at the time, but only five principals were returning. And there was no assistant superintendent to oversee them.

Administrators then approached Blanchard and asked her to lead Washington through its final year. She signed on for one more year, with the intention of retiring at the end of the 1997-98 school year.

"I had decided the timing was right last year and it was time to retire, but it didn't work out that way," said Blanchard, who attended the school as a 7-year old first-grader. "They asked me to stay for one final year and I decided that was a good idea."

In December, administrators announced the scheduled opening of the new elementary school was not going to happen in time for the fall semester. The Cape Girardeau school board again had a problem: Six elementary schools, but only five principals scheduled to return.

Blanchard said she was again asked to stay on until the new building could be opened. "I told them I'd think about it and I did," she said with a laugh. "I decided I want to come back: I love this school, the neighborhood and the people. I think I'm going to be glad I did that."

Giles said he was prepared to do whatever was necessary to get Blanchard to agree to another year. "I would have worn the knees of my trousers out following her around," he said. "We are of course ecstatic that she'll be back."

Giles said Blanchard has been described as a "stand-up pinch hitter" who hasn't backed away from any calls to help the district when she was needed. Her presence at Washington is special because of her ties to the building as a student, teacher and administrator, he said.

"Every time we need someone, she steps up to the plate and says throw the ball," he said.

Barring any unforeseen changes, all the district's principals will return to their jobs next fall.