CAPE'S TECH BUILDING OUTDATED

The technology may be first rate but the buildings aren't.

The Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School was built in 1967. Southeast Missouri State University's technology building dates back to 1906.

The two buildings are outdated and inadequate for today's computerized, technical training needs, school and university officials say.

Southeast's industrial technology classes are taught in the aging Serena Building. Several additions have been constructed over the years.

It isn't easy to get around in what has become a maze of a three-story building. The floors weren't designed to handle some of today's heavy industrial equipment. Nor was the building constructed with today's computer and electrical needs in mind.

Dr. Randy Shaw, assistant provost, formerly chaired Southeast's industrial technology department. He is heading up the technology center project.

Shaw said Southeast needs a new building to better provide high-tech two-year and four-year courses.

The building is part of the university's goal of developing a polytechnic institute.

Southeast is part of a consortium involving Mineral Area College, Three Rivers Community College and 10 vocational-technical schools.

Shaw said the goal is to provide "seamless" technology education from high school through college.

The technology center fits in with the state's goal to expand technology training, he said.

School district officials said the district has outgrown the 56,000-square-foot vocational school.

The school provides training to about 9,000 students and adults each year, said school director Harold Tilley.

The school offers adult-education classes and trains and retrains workers for area industries.

"Right now, we are completely out of room," said Tilley. "We have programs without adequate space or work area."

The school doesn't have a lab for its respiratory therapy program.

The school has rented space in the Town Plaza to provide customized training for various manufacturing firms.

Superintendent Dan Tallent said the district has had to turn down some requests for customized training because it doesn't have the space.