Cape schools consider hiring educational consultant to help develop facilities plan

After years of discussing the need for a facilities plan, Cape Girardeau School District leaders are moving aggressively to develop a plan by next fall. Finalization of the plan is expected to spark heated discussion, as questions likely to emerge include whether certain schools should be renovated or rebuilt, if the district needs an athletic stadium and whether to redraw attendance boundary lines.

The first point of contention may come up today as board members discuss hiring an educational consultant to help with the plan. Jerry McCall of Educational Consulting Services in Lincoln, Neb., will outline his services and show work examples.

When McCall advised the Jackson School District in 2001, the tab ran about $50,000. Cape Girardeau Superintendent Dr. Jim Welker, who transferred from Jackson this summer, said McCall's work was thorough and led to the current construction at Jackson High School.

"He is very good with people and has done this his whole life," Jackson superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson said.

More recently, however, McCall worked with the Springfield, Mo., school district, where his recommendation to consolidate schools was rejected and his work habits were probed, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

"He charged $100 an hour for his time and billed for the work of others, but a News-Leader review showed the district did not require him to document his hours, list the names of people he interviewed or explain the work of others for whom he billed," the paper reported.

An initial report "also stirred controversy" because "it only consisted of two pages and a handout." McCall completed a more comprehensive report months later. An editorial by the paper stated "we can't say we're sorry to see him go."

Welker said he knew McCall worked in Springfield but had not read the article. "There were probably some political issues. Different groups want different things, and I think that probably created some disagreement over the results," he said.

The board is not expected to take action today. Leaders are also evaluating a consulting service available through the Missouri School Boards' Association. Whether a consultant is needed is undetermined, Welker said Tuesday.

A consultant's role

Before a cost could be estimated the district would need to define the consultant's role and the project's scope, Welker said. Typically a consultant reviews demographics, facilities, enrollment projections and programs. They make recommendations about capital improvement needs and maintenance schedules. Cape Girardeau would be financially able to promote a bond issue in April 2010 without having to raise taxes, leaders said.

Initially, Cape Girardeau's new director of administrative services, Neil Glass, had intended to conduct research and formulate a facilities plan himself. Glass replaced Pat Morgan, who resigned amid complaints from board members that he hadn't progressed far enough in developing a plan.

Glass said Monday that he would "feel more comfortable" working with a consultant. "We can't fail to miss anything," the former Chaffee High School principal said.

He described the plan as a "once-in-a-decade" chance to set priorities and plan for the future. Board members have been pushing for such a plan for years, saying they have had difficulty approving budgets or certain projects without knowing future needs.

A long-range plan

Roots of the last long-range plan date back to the late 1980s. The plan faced a long road to implementation. After years of committee meetings, public forums and board discussions, the resulting plan called for a 1993 bond issue to finance improvements. On the fourth try, in 1997, a $14 million bond issue was approved. The issue funded the construction of Blanchard Elementary and the Career and Technology Center as well as renovations to buildings. Consequently, May Greene and Washington elementary schools were closed.

In 2000 voters approved an $18 million bond issue for a new high school. This summer the alternative school moved to renovated space in the district's administrative offices.

Some schools remain crowded or outdated, Welker and Glass said. Glass stressed the need to set a minimum standard for every classroom. They have asked board members to formulate questions the plan could address.

"We are going to look at everything," Welker said. Board member Dr. Steve Trautwein told other members to "fasten your seat belt," adding, "I think we're seeing that there are no sacred cows. Anything that will positively affect the education of our students will be open for discussion."

The board will meet at 6 p.m. today at 301 N. Clark Ave.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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