BOARD MEETING TURNS HOT OVER TEACHER MATTER

Jamie Filer came to the Cape Girardeau Board of Education meeting Monday night to get some answers to her questions about why one of her favorite teachers isn't being rehired for the next school year. By the time she and about 20 classmates and parents left, the meeting was in an uproar and one board member had threatened to move for an adjournment.

The liveliness ensued when board President John Campbell and member Lyle Davis attempted to cut off discussion of the issue. Davis also had suggested that Filer's questions improperly delved into administrative decision-making.

He was called "a rude individual" by Filer's mother, Carol Burnett. She questioned why the board would want to ignore the wishes of the students and parents who signed her daughter's petitions in support of the teacher, Michael Josue.

Filer, a junior at Central High School, two weeks ago led a protest in front of the board office on behalf of Josue. She has contended that the schools are hiring football coaches while laying off teachers, putting athletics before academics.

School officials claim that Josue, who is untenured and teaches psychology, sociology and American history, is simply a victim of changing staffing needs.

Filer asked her questions of Superintendent Neyland Clark, who told her Josue should call him if he has any questions about why his contract was not renewed.

But when Filer tried to turn the floor over to some parents, Campbell and Davis argued that Filer was the only person who had arranged beforehand to speak.

New board member Steve Wright said he thought the parents should be allowed to speak, and Burnett hotly took the chance to tell the board that they are letting go a great teacher.

"Listen to us," she pleaded.

Board member Pat Ruopp finally threatened to make a motion for adjournment unless the meeting was conducted according to the rules.

Said Campbell, "We don't want to limit the public's access to the board, but we can't have 14 or 15 people speaking."

Later, the board voted to accept Josue's resignation, tendered along with those of five other untenured teachers not offered contracts for the coming years.

The board also heard Clark's views of the Missouri Senate's passage of a new school foundation formula. The House has yet to pass the measure, which would mean a $312 per student yearly increase for the district, or $1.2 million overall.

He agreed with board member Kathy Swan's suggestion to adopt a wait-and-see attitude.

Clark also said he has stipulated that teachers will receive their increment salary step this year in accordance with the proposed formula whether it passes or not.

In other business, the board agreed to extend the school year two days to partially make up for four days of school lost to inclement weather. Clark said two of the days will be forgiven.

Students will go to school June 3 and a half day on June 4. Teachers will work full days both days and a half day on June 5.

The board also:

Approved Clark's recommendation to appoint Barbara Blanchard principal of Washington School and Barbara Kohlfeld principal of May Greene School. (See related story). The two were chosen from 30 applicants.

Voted to offer the Building Trades House at 1962 David St. for sale at a minimum bid of $77,000, which is $3,000 less than the market value. The house, which was renovated by students at the Vocational Building, will be put up for sale in June.

Approved a 2 percent loan from the state Department of Natural Resources that will pay for half the renovations to be made in the new gym at the high school. The renovations include replacement of heating units and the hot water system, three programmable thermostats and replacing the fluorescent lights with metal halide.

The total cost will be about $114,000.

Heard a presentation from the newly formed branch of the National Education Association, which currently has 31 members teaching in Cape Girardeau public schools.

About two-thirds of the district's teachers belong to the Community Teachers Association, and some belong to both organizations.

Brenda Woemmel, secretary of the NEA, took up issues of insurance coverage and whether the district's "lean, mean teaching machine" is endangering the education of its students.

Clark said he was hearing many of these issues for the first time, and questioned whether their concerns were flowing back through their building administrators as they should.

"I don't see a lot of communication coming back to us," he said.