CAPE'S SCHOOLS TO START AUG. 31

Cape Girardeau public schools will open three school days later than originally scheduled to let construction workers complete renovations at Jefferson Elementary School.

Students were to report to classes Aug. 26, but the Cape Girardeau Board of Education voted to reschedule the first day for Aug. 31. Robert Blank, school board grounds and maintenance committee chairman, recommended the later opening to ensure workers to complete projects.

The delay will let workers install new heating and air-conditioning units and lighting systems, and replace paneling with solid, insulated walls.

"The junior high (renovations project) is coming along nicely, but at Jefferson we were hearing a lot of 'should be,' 'hopefully,' and 'possibly,' and that's not going to get it," Blank said. "Our local contractors are doing a great job, but people in other areas don't share our zeal to get these things done quickly."

School Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent said it was possible Jefferson's renovations could be done before Aug. 24, but teachers would not have had enough time to get their rooms organized.

"They maybe could have gotten it done by Wednesday, but the kids and the teachers would have been walking in at the same time," Tallent said. "This way, teachers will still be able to get in a couple of days before the kids and get their rooms the way they want them before the kids get there."

The last scheduled day of classes was originally June 2, but Tallent said the three-day delay will mean classes could continue until June 4. However, the school district generally schedules five days more than the 174 school days required by state law, and a mild winter with few days missed due to inclement weather could affect the official dismissal date.

"We just want parents and staff to know ahead of time there is the possibility we could be attending school longer so they can figure that in as they begin to make summer travel plans," he said.

In other business, board members heard a report from members of the district's campus security committee. School resource officer Cpl. Barry Hovis and Central High School assistant principal Mark Ruark co-chaired the committee, which included representatives from Nell Holcomb, Delta and Jackson school districts, as well as local and county law enforcement agencies.

Ruark said the committee has met for the past year to create an emergency response plan to "provide the safest school district regardless of the money." The plan includes recommendations for systems that should be implemented before, during and after a crisis, as well as preventative security methods that would ensure maximum safety at all times.

"The bottom line is if students don't feel safe and teachers don't feel safe, it's not a very good learning environment," said Ruark. "We are way ahead of the curve, but I know from my days as a coach that being ahead is not enough."

Tallent said school administrators will review the committee's recommendation and assess possible cost factors for each item. A second report including a prioritized list of recommendations from administrators will then be prepared for the school board.