Cape schools to consider stadium, auditorium

The Cape Girardeau School District may look at adding an auditorium and a football stadium to its new, $20 million high school within the next several years.

Neither was included as part of the new campus, which opened in 2002, because school officials said the district couldn't afford them.

But adding them may be considered as part of a new comprehensive plan that the district's new superintendent, Dr. Dave Scala, will help draw up next year.

Assistant superintendent Rob Huff said the two construction projects could be among several improvements that the district might consider funding with a bond issue.

Other possible improvements could include added classrooms for the new high school as well as a new elementary school, he said.

Huff suggested the district may look at a bond issue of about $10 million.

Voter approval would be needed to approve the bond issue even though school officials believe no tax increase would be needed to pay for the bonds.

Huff said he believes there will be enough money in the debt-service fund within the next several years to take on new debt. The fund, financed with a 56-cent debt-service levy, is projected to have a growing balance -- totaling more than $1.5 million by the end of next June.

The growing assessed valuation -- which is expected to total more than $464 million in the 2005-2006 school year -- will mean more property tax revenue for the school system, he said.

The debt-service levy is part of the district's total levy which amounts to $4.16 per $100 assessed valuation.

The district currently is paying off about $32 million in bonds issued to construct the new high school and the Career and Technology Center, and make other improvements to facilities.

The new high school was built to allow for expansion, Huff said. Even so, it could cost a few million dollars to build an auditorium and outfit it with a quality stage and theater seating, he said.

A 5,000-seat stadium, which could be used for football and other outdoor sports, could cost close to $1 million, Huff said.

Cape Central High School currently plays its football games at Southeast Missouri State University's Houck Stadium. But that agreement is scheduled to end within the next several years, he said.

As a result, the school district may need to consider a bond issue by 2008, Huff said.

"Now I think everybody envisions having an auditorium and a football stadium and all that," he said.

But he said any plan would have to include a number of projects. "I don't want people to think that the overriding concern of the district is football," said Huff.

Scala, the district's superintendent, plans by Jan. 1 to set out a proposal for developing a new comprehensive plan. He said he hopes to present a new strategic plan to the board by the end of the spring semester.

The plan would address all areas of school operations, including facilities and student achievement.

Scala said school officials haven't decided whether to hire a consultant to assist with the planning effort. If one is hired, it won't be a costly contract, he said.

Talk of the possible construction project comes as school officials say they're optimistic they'll be able to build up fund balances in the coming years.

But the school district still plans to dip into its reserve funds to balance the budget this school year.

The school board Monday night approved a $38.4 million budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

The district plans to spend slightly over $1 million more than anticipated revenue. The difference would be paid from school district reserves, leaving the district with total fund balances of $7.5 million at the end of next June.

But Scala, who took over as superintendent on July 1, said the new budget anticipates a slight increase in the general fund, one of the district's key operating accounts, over the course of the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2006.

Huff said the district expects to spend more than $2.5 million on capital projects this school year. Those expenses are what will draw down district reserves, he said.

The cost includes improvements to athletic fields at the new high school, roof replacements at several schools, renovations to Schultz School and expenses associated with the bonds issued for construction of the high school, Huff said.

Salaries and benefits for the district's approximately 600 employees amount to more than $26 million, nearly 80 percent of the district's basic operations, said Huff.

That leaves little wiggle room when it comes to budget moves, Scala said. "We have very little money you can play with," he said.

Huff and Scala believe the school system is in relatively good shape financially. That's a far cry from how things were just a year and a half ago when the school board made $1.2 million in budget cuts.

"We don't anticipate raising the tax levy," Scala said. The $4.16 tax levy is expected to remain at its current level.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123