Cape Girardeau to be model school district for accessibility

The Cape Girardeau School District will become the model district for accessibility through a cooperative agreement signed with the U.S. Department of Education, according to a district news release.

Improvements will start immediately and are expected to be complete within the next three years, the release said. In an email to the Southeast Missourian, district communications director Dana Saverino said cost is still a "variable."

"We are collecting our information to see what we can do in-house and what we will need to outsource," Saverino wrote. "This is a process that will take time and cooperation from all."

The list of buildings to be updated was developed through a building audit process. All buildings are to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act when they're constructed, but as buildings age and standards change, upgrades are needed to meet the most current standards, Saverino said in the email.

Accessibility enhancements will affect each of the district's facilities, including all 10 school campuses and all extracurricular areas, the release said. Improvements are planned for areas such as playgrounds, cafeterias, restrooms and assembly areas, plus the addition of accessible parking spaces and proper signage, the release said.

District officials have been working closely with the DOE over the past year to develop a plan to ensure full accessibility for everyone, a school district news release said.

Following a review of district facilities with the DOE, the Cape Girardeau School District will be taking steps over the next couple of years to ensure its buildings and facilities meet or exceed the standards required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended in 2008, the release said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO