BOARD MEMBER SPORTS CREDIT CARD ON LAPEL

Cape Girardeau Board of Education member Lyle Davis sported an American Express credit card pinned to his lapel Monday as he went about business and attended a school board study session Monday night.

The card was in response to Southeast Missourian articles Sunday that detailed American Express card uses by Cape Girardeau public schools.

Also Monday, board member John Campbell asked that the school district close its American Express account and that everyone turn in their credit cards. The district has eight credit cards.

Superintendent Neyland Clark, who was hospitalized Saturday with an irregular heartbeat, was released from St. Francis Medical Center Monday, said board member Pat Ruopp.

The Southeast Missourian erroneously reported that Clark had been released Sunday. When a reporter called St. Francis Medical Center Sunday night, he was told Clark wasn't at the hospital.

At the study session Monday, Davis refused to comment about his credit card adornment. But Ruopp said, "I think it's hilarious."

Ruopp said, "The reality of the situation is that Lyle sees the situation for the insignificance it really and truly holds.

"What has occurred in the estimation of board members is a mountain has been made out of a mole hill," Ruopp said.

"This is the second time since last summer that insignificant issues have been blown out of proportion," Ruopp said.

After the commencement issue in the summer, Davis wore a T-shirt with a bull's eye target to a board meeting.

Other school board members said the comments they heard Sunday and Monday after the articles were mostly in support of the superintendent and raised questions about the newspaper's motivation.

Amy Randol, whose six-month investigation prompted a weeklong inquiry by the Missourian, said all the comments she has received were in support of her efforts.

"Over a third of the calls are from people I do not know," Randol said. "They hope the investigation continues and that things are not swept under the carpet."

She is awaiting an official response from the school board to a list of questions she submitted following her examination of school records.

Campbell has said he expects a response at the March 13 board meeting.

Campbell wrote a letter Monday to the superintendent and Larry Dew, the school's business manager, outlining five steps he wants to see happen. Campbell is chairman of the finance committee.

He asks that everyone who holds a school district credit card surrender it and close out the account immediately.

"Having no district credit cards will be the most sure method of ensuring that any such unsupported expenditures are not made again," Campbell wrote.

He also calls for:

-- A written, point-by-point response to Randol's letter.

-- A review of the district's procedures relating to the payment of travel and other expenses of administrators, staff and board members.

-- An examination of travel expenditures for adequate support and propriety from July 1, 1992, through Dec. 31, 1994.

-- Reimbursement to the district of any expenditures deemed inappropriate.