CAPE VOTERS SAY YES; SCHOOL ISSUES PASS WITH ABOUT 65 PERCENT OF VOTE

Cape Girardeau voters said yes Tuesday to a plan for new school buildings and improvements in facilities and programs throughout the district.

Voters approved the sale of $14 million in bonds 4,730-2,534. Voters also approved waiver of the Proposition C rollback 4,565-2,590. The bond issue required a 4/7 majority to pass. The rollback waiver needed a simple majority to pass.

The bond issue passed with 65 percent of the vote and the rollback waiver passed with nearly 64 percent of the vote. Board members were surprised at the margin of the victory.

"I'm thrilled," said board president Bob Fox. "I think this is a mandate from the people. They want improvements in the district. They want us to be able to educate children the way they should be."

Tuesday's yes votes set in motion the first stage of a three-phase master plan for the school district. New tax money will fund construction of an elementary school, a vocational-technical school, an addition to Jefferson Elementary School and renovations at the district's other schools. May Greene and Washington schools will be closed.

The new tax levy will be $3.22 per $100 assessed valuation, a net increase of 34 cents over the 1996 levy.

This is the fourth school funding proposal Cape voters have faced this decade. Three failed.

Board members said the difference this time was a focus on community input and participation in the planning process.

Board member Harry Rediger said: "We asked questions. We listened. We responded and came up with a plan that the community felt a part of and bought into.

"The community recognized the need. If people can see that the money will be well spent and the plan is well thought out, they will support it. That's been proven over and over."

Superintendent Dan Tallent said, "The people in Cape Girardeau feel that Cape Girardeau must offer a better opportunity for its boys and girls. Our kids are the most important thing."

Tallent said the master plan addresses needs that the community brought forward. "It's really the community's plan," he said.

"Cape won, not the school board," said board member Bob Blank. "This is a community effort. Cape has said, Let's go."

"This means everything for Cape Girardeau," said Blank. "This is the final key to the progressive explosion coming up in the future."

Blank said the results show that being truthful, straightforward and involving the people will pay off.

"August a year ago we started to draw up this master plan," Blank said. "It seemed like such a dream. Now it's a fact."

Newly-elected board member David Goncher, said, "The big winners are the kids. I think right now there is a euphoric atmosphere and we're ready to go."

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III said the vote sends a message. "Good planning, openness and inclusiveness pay off," he said.

The mayor said Tuesday's votes bring closure to the pressing needs of the city. "We've already addressed transportation and water and sewers," he said. "We are ready to go forward. This is a great day for Cape Girardeau."

Fox said planning gets under way again next week. A school board meeting will be held Monday to select new officers for the board.

The board also must settle on a site for the vocational school and work with architects on building designs.

* Hanover vote totals: Bond issue, 16 yes, 8 no.

Proposition C rollback waiver, 15 yes, 9 no.

Absentees: Bond issue, 175 yes, 76 no.

Proposition C rollback waiver, 164 yes, 78 no.