Cape school board to hold retreat today

Improving school facilities tops the agenda for the Cape Girardeau school board when it holds its annual retreat today at the country club.

School officials are still crafting a facilities plan that would map out future construction, renovation and repair projects.

Board members and school administrators reviewed a list of possible projects at several meetings dating back to January. School officials have talked about possible expansion of the high school. That could include construction of an auditorium, a football/soccer complex and new classrooms.

But the board has yet to settle on a firm list of projects or how to pay for them.

Facilities planning is just one of the items called for in the district's comprehensive school improvement plan. The strategic plan deals with everything from finances to facilities.

Board members plan to review the comprehensive plan at today's meeting.

Board president Steven Trautwein said the district is completing the first year of its new, five-year capital improvements plan.

The board could add or change items in the plan, he said. But the board doesn't intend to take any formal action at the retreat, he said.

Trautwein said board members are free to bring up new ideas during the meeting.

A retreat allows board members time for far-ranging discussion. "We would like to have an opportunity just to sit down and bounce ideas around," Trautwein said.

"You can't do that when you have an agenda full of business items," he said.

The meeting, which starts at 9 a.m., is expected to last into the afternoon. Board members and school officials will be served a continental breakfast and lunch.

School officials said the country club session won't be costly to the district. The meeting space is being provided free of charge, said Brenda McCowan, director of finance for the school district.

Food will cost a few hundred dollars at most, she said.

The district would have been saddled with food costs even if the retreat were held at the board office, she said.

Holding the retreat at the country club allows school officials to meet without the usual business distractions, McCowan said. "It gets us away from the phones and the interruptions," she said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123