CAPE SCHOOL BOARD AGREES WITH COMMITTEE

Members of the Cape Girardeau School Board say within 10-15 years, Cape Girardeau's school system could be entirely restructured.

At a work sesssion Saturday at the Victorian Inn, the school board was in almost complete agreement with the facilities review committee report which was completed last week.

The board met to prioritize some of the committee's recomendations and identify problems and costs, said Bob Fox, board president. The board hopes to put together a long-range plan that will be acceptible to the public.

Under the proposed plan, the grade configuration would be changed, new schools will be built, old schools will be closed and students will be the better for it, Fox said.

Elementary schools would consist of kindergarten through grade four. Fifth and sixth grades would be housed in one school and seventh and eighth grades in another. High school would be grades 9-12.

"With the new grade integration, we could initiate programs to cater to these specific ages," Fox said. "Putting fifth- and sixth-graders together specifically caters to their needs."

Other committee suggestions included closing Washington, May Greene and Louis J. Schultz schools to build a new, safer and more technologically-advanced elementary school that would offer better programs to children, Fox said.

Fox said that doesn't necessarily mean tearing the buildings down. He said the board is interested in hearing public opinion as to what to do with the buildings.

Building a new high school and vocational school was also discussed at Saturday's meeting. It has been at least 30 years since the Cape Girardeau school district purchased land or constructed a new building.

Fox said the older buildings cause safety concerns and questions over Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.

Current elementary and secondary facilities will need to be renovated to accommodate the program that will be offered in these facilities. A plan should include purchase of property for future facility needs.

There should be a plan for what will be done with the buildings that are vacated. Whenever possible, the plan should show savings in costs as old buildings are eliminated.

Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent said keeping the public informed is the key to developing trust with them.

"At every step, we involve the citizens," he said. "At every step, we publicize what we do and what we hope to do. We will continue to do that and ask for input."