Cape school board mulls building new junior high

During a planning session Thursday, members of the Cape Girardeau School Board discussed the need for renovations at Central Junior High School.

They also asked assistant superintendent for administrative services Neil Glass to explore the possibility of a new building, because they weren't sure how structurally sound the current one at 205 Caruthers Ave. is. Board vice president Jeff Glenn even referred to the junior high as an "eyesore."

The trick is being able to renovate or rebuild it without raising taxes.

Voters approved a $40 million bond issue extension in 2010, which included replacing the Franklin Elementary School building and other projects.

If the possibility comes to fruition, Central Junior High's needs also would be addressed through a bond issue extension.

Glass said the district's overall tax rate is $4.1567 per $100 of assessed value. Of that, 68 cents is for debt service, and the district wants to keep it that way. Financial advisers in St. Louis have said the district has the capacity to bond up to $15 million without a tax increase.

Glass said the estimated "extremely" preliminary cost for revamping the junior high is $12 million. Of that, $7.7 million would be for general construction and $4.5 million would be for mechanical, plumbing and electrical work at the school.

Teachers, administrators and support staff were asked to compile a wish list; some items had lower priority than others.

Glass said work at the junior high would have to be completed in phases and require at least two years.

Some of the work would include:

* Remodeling bathrooms

* Classroom renovations

* Updating lighting and fixtures;

* Moving the administration office to the front of the building for greater security

* Replacing doors

* Roof replacement

* A face-lift to the choir room

* Removing risers from the band room

* Updating two gyms

* Replacing seats in the auditorium

* Installing a climate-control system.

Architect Phillip Smith of Cape Girardeau and engineer Mark Strickland have consulted with the district on the proposed work.

Other items discussed during the meeting were attendance procedures, dress code revisions, a technology update, a proposed name change to the Alternative Education Center, the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and eight-period days.

On the attendance, the idea is to get away from excused and unexcused absences. Instead, intervention and engagement strategies would be used as part of the district's approach to improve student attendance.

Scott McMullen, principal of the alternative school, wrote in a letter included in meeting materials that the campus would like to change its name to Cape Preparatory Academy to help lower the school's negative perception. Board members said they would like to see "Central" in the name. Students who graduate from the center have Central High School on their diplomas.

Superintendent Jim Welker said Thursday's discussion will be shared with the alternative school; McMullen can take it to his committee, which researched the name change, and a recommendation can be brought back to the board. McMullen wrote, in part, that despite the successes of students at the school, most of them feel they are "labeled and negatively stereotyped because of the school's name."

"The name Cape Preparatory Academy is less demeaning than Cape Alternative School and implies that the students are being prepared academically for all facets of life," he wrote.

Eight-period days, in place at the junior high and Central High School, were brought up by board member Don Call, who would like to see planning periods reduced, in part because the elementary and middle schools don't have comparable time.

A couple of revisions to the district's dress code also were discussed, in which solid crew neck T-shirts would be allowed and sheer tops prohibited. The changes would have to be approved by the school board.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address: 301 N. Clark Ave.