CAPE VO-TECH SCHOOL PASSES FIRST HURDLE; STATE BARD ASKS FOR $3.15 MILLION

Funding for half the cost of a new vocational-technical school in Cape Girardeau cleared a first hurdle Thursday when the State Board of Education asked the governor to include in its budget $3.15 million for the project.

The money would help construct a 90,000-square-foot area vocational-technical school. State funding would be contingent upon approval of a bond issue by Cape Girardeau School District voters.

Voters will be asked April 1 to approve a $14 million bond issue as part of a school district master plan. The bond issue would fund construction of the school and an elementary school, as well as provide money to renovate school buildings.

"We are on the road and have cleared the first hurdle," said Superintendent Dan Tallent.

If the state approves the $3.15 million request, Tallent said Cape Girardeau taxpayers will save at least that much in local property taxes.

The April ballot issues would remain the same, the superintendent said. But taxpayers could save interest money if projects were completed sooner or if fewer bonds were needed for the second phase of the district's master plan.

"We would have to look at the options and see which would be more beneficial to our community," Tallent said.

State Sen. Peter Kinder advocates state funding for a portion of the project. Kinder said state aid for a vocational-technical school would lighten the burden on local taxpayers and could increase the chances for passage of the bond issue.

"The first step has been a green light with the state board's action," Kinder said.

Gov. Mel Carnahan's budget office is in the process of preparing a state budget to present to legislators in January. The next step would be inclusion of the school in the governor's budget.

"It's very promising," Kinder said. "We know the money is available. We know the need is there."

Kinder predicted legislators will look favorably on the project since the area vocational-technical school serves eight public-school districts in the region.

Tallent said Cape Girardeau could become a model site for technical education in Missouri. In addition to the area vocational-technical school proposed by the school district, Southeast Missouri State University is seeking funds to build a technology center.

"We could be an example for other communities for what a local school district, a college and a community can develop by working together," Tallent said.