BOND ISSUE: SCHOOL CAMPAIGN GAINS CHAMBER'S ENDORSEMENT

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors voted this week to endorse the city school's $25 million bond issue.

This endorsement from the business community comes one month before the April 6 election.

A campaign to inform voters about the project funded through the tax increase is also under way. Organizers say this month should bring more visibility to their efforts.

Robert Hendrix, president of the chamber, said, "We voted unanimously to support the bond issue that will be on the ballot April 6.

"We feel that good schools are absolutely essential for a good community," Hendrix said. "We think we have an excellent school system that needs some facilities to go with that system.

"If we don't get those facilities, we are going to be years behind and trying to play catch up in the future."

The $25 million would buy two new school buildings, an addition to Jefferson Elementary School, earthquake resistance, air conditioning and electrical updates for existing buildings.

A tax increase of 72 cents would retire the bonds. In addition, the Board of Education is asking voters for a 27-cent increase in the district's building fund levy, which would bring the total tax increase to 99 cents.

Superintendent Neyland Clark will speak to the chamber's general membership at the First Friday Coffee on Friday.

"We are real pleased to have the support of the business community," Clark said. "We felt very good about the endorsement."

Clark plans to present information about the specific project, including a breakdown of where the money would be spent.

"I hope to explain the direction we are needing to go to upgrade the basic fundamental needs of the district," he said.

Hendrix said good schools, including sound buildings, are important in industrial recruitment and economic development.

Hendrix said, "One of the first things an industry looks at when they come into a community is the school system the rating, the type of programs and the type of facilities it has.

"They look at how it runs and how it looks," Hendrix added. "And how it looks is often as important as how it runs. You know first impressions say a lot. And if a school system gives the impression it is shabby or run down, a company may feel this is a community that doesn't think much of its schools."

In addition to the endorsement, Hendrix said the chamber board will also send a letter to chamber members urging them to vote in favor of the issue.

"And the board made a commitment to talk to friends and acquaintances to support the measure," he said.

Clark and other school officials had spoken with members of the chamber board on several occasions about the measure.

"We have been in favor of the concept," Hendrix said. "What we were really waiting for was what the total package would cost. We didn't want to endorse the project until we knew the cost."

More than 700 jobs are estimated to be created through new construction and related jobs if the measure is approved.

Jim Limbaugh, president of Boatmen's Bank, is spearheading a community group raising money to finance the campaign.

"The election is a month away," Limbaugh said. "And time becomes critical. In the next four to five weeks of the campaign, I think we will spend a lot of effort informing the registered voters on just exactly what's involved with the issue.

"This is a case where the more people become educated about the project, the more comfortable they feel with the whole project," Limbaugh said.

Limbaugh said money being raised will be spent on educational materials and other campaign materials designed to inform people about the project.

He said speakers have been booked at service club and other organization meetings.

"That's the best way to reach a captive audience," Limbaugh said. "And often there is a lot of time for questions and answers, comments and rebuttals."

"I continue to be encouraged," Limbaugh said. "People do recognize the fact that this is an investment as opposed to a cost.

"We're in a situation where misinformation is as dangerous as no information," Limbaugh said. "This is not a Taj Mahal. It's a very functional, efficient kind of facility, built for today and well into the future to accommodate the natural growth of the city."

An added bonus, Limbaugh said, is that interest rates now are at an all-time low. "And they are not going to get any lower," he said.

"This is a window of opportunity for the school district to get more bang for the buck in terms of financing costs."

Since the school board officially placed the measure on the ballot in February, Limbaugh said a lot of work has gone into organization of the campaign.

"We are approaching the campaign from a ward situation," he explained. "And with a campaign, there are a lot of things you can't do until the last two weeks or 10 days."

Janet Shepard, co-chairman of Citizens for Better Schools, explained that organizers hope to make contact with every registered voter in the school district.

"That, of course, depends on volunteers," Shepard said. "And we are still recruiting volunteers. It's a neighbor talking to neighbor plan."

In the month the committee has been active, Shepard said she has talked with many people.

"I'm encouraged," Shepard said. "Most people do seem to be aware that the bond issue is on the April ballot and many seem to be sympathetic to the needs of the district."

She said hosts are being recruited for information neighborhood or block meetings.