CAPE SCHOOLS OK TENTATIVE BUDGET OF $22.6 MILLION

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved a $22.6 million tentative budget for the 1996-97 school year during its meeting Monday night.

The proposed budget is identical to the current budget and will allow the district to continue paying bills, said Dr. Steve DelVecchio, business manager for the district.

The fiscal year ends June 30, but a final budget will not be approved until October, said Superintendent Dr. Richard Bollwerk.

Since the budget is just a tentative look at the district's finances, little change was expected. Most of Monday night's meeting focused on action that must be taken before the fiscal year ends.

"One year comes to a close and another year starts July 1, so we needed to get everything approved," Bollwerk said.

With the approval of a tentative budget, the district can continue to operate while it finds ways to cut its $550,000 deficit. The district wants to balance the budget this year, DelVecchio said. "We'll start by estimating our revenues and see what the costs are."

The cost of capital improvement projects approved in the 1995-96 school budget are more than originally estimated. The school board approved a funding increase Monday to finish the projects. The projected cost for all summer projects is $129,000.

Improvement projects to be completed this summer include repairing the brick parapet and chimney at Louis J. Schultz School, repairs to an entrance at the Central Pool, bathroom renovations at several schools, and repairing the boiler at Schultz.

The largest chunk of the project costs will come from repairs to Schultz School, DelVecchio said. The repairs to the brick are estimated at $75,000.

Most repairs being made this summer are necessary, but the district will postpone a renovation project at 23 Pacific Street, near Schultz School, until it hears recommendations from its facilities review committee.

The committee, which includes parents, teachers, administrators and local business owners, is studying each building to determine the district's future needs.

At the board's last meeting, teachers at Schultz requested that the district-owned house be used for a career exploratory program. The board had tabled a request from the Caring Communities to use the home as office space. The Caring Communities would have paid for renovation costs in return for three years of free rent.