Saying the organization doesn't seem interested in working with the Cape Girardeau Board of Education, board member Terry Taylor wants the school foundation disbanded.
Taylor said a foundation working to raise private funds for improvements to the school district is a good idea. But the current foundation, led primarily by former school board members.
Taylor said Kathy Swan, who is president of the foundation and a past school board president, sent letters critical of the current board to members of Cape Girardeau's teachers organizations and taxpayers.
Although the letters weren't sent under foundation auspices, Taylor said he was troubled by Swan's connection with the fund-raising arm of the school district.
"Apparently they don't want to be a partner with us," Taylor said. "And I don't want anything to do with it."
Board member Steve Wright, who serves on the foundation board, agreed with Taylor. "In the beginning, I think they really had good intentions," Wright said. "I don't know now."
A meeting of the foundation is set for Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at the school board office. Board president Bob Fox said perhaps the best solution is for board members to meet with the foundation leadership and express their concerns.
The Cape Girardeau school district foundation, established in December 1993, was revived in September 1995 with four former school board members at the helm: Swan, Pat Ruopp, Lyle Davis and Ed Thompson. All either resigned from the school board or decided not to run for re-election in 1995.
The foundation board was incorporated at the December 1993 school board meeting and registered with the secretary of state's office in January 1994. The seven members of the school board at that time were named as foundation directors.
John Campbell, who resigned from the board in April, also resigned from the foundation board. Gwen Bennett, who served on the school board in 1993, attended one meeting of the foundation board and then resigned. The other five members have remained.
The foundation is in the process of expanding its membership and drafting bylaws.
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