Board member suggests turning metal buildings into offices

The Cape Girardeau School District should consider turning the administration building for the school system back into a classroom building, board member Tom Reinagel suggested at Thursday's board retreat.

School officials already are planning to renovate part of the building for use as an alternative school. But Reinagel said district administrators should look at the possibility of making the entire building on Clark Avenue a school. It previously was used as a vocational school.

He suggested the district look at the possibility of remodeling three metal buildings on the junior high campus to house central offices.

One of the buildings currently houses industrial arts classes. Another houses the Cape Girardeau Boys and Girls Club summer and after-school programs.

"I don't like the idea of these three buildings being classrooms," said Reinagel, explaining that they are separated from the junior high campus by a street.

Patrick Morgan, executive director of administrative services for the district, told the board that the metal buildings need a face lift.

It would cost more than $150,000 to dress up the exterior of the buildings, he said.

Cape Girardeau schools superintendent Dr. David Scala said the district could look at either fixing up the buildings or tearing them down.

The district still doesn't have a plan detailing future building and renovation projects. But Scala said he expects to present a plan to the board this fall.

Board members said they want the plan to include cost projections for three possible construction projects at Central High School. Those projects include an auditorium, new classrooms and a football/soccer complex.

The board spent more than five hours going over a lengthy list of strategic plan items dealing with everything from academics to finances.

Scala said he's in the process of establishing committees to look at redrawing neighborhood boundaries for the district's five elementary schools and explore the possibility of establishing grade-level attendance centers.

As part of the comprehensive plan, the district has committed to addressing both issues.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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