CLARK CITES SCHOOLS' COMMUNITY BENEFITS

The public school system is a big industry in Cape Girardeau, says the system's superintendent.

"A lot of people do not realize what the school district means to the city," said Neyland Clark, superintendent of Cape Girardeau public schools. "We provide quality education to more than 4,400 youngsters and we provide a big boost to the economy.

"The school district is a large employer," said Clark. "We have more than 500 full-time people and another 175 people on part-time status. Our monthly payroll tops the $1 million mark."

Clark was guest speaker during the Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee. Included in the large gathering at the Drury Inn Friday were several school board members and school administrators.

"Schools don't do a good job of marketing," said Clark. "Our junior high school band program is one example."

Clark recalled an incident just prior to the Cape Central-Jackson football game last fall.

"A state school official was visiting the area," said Clark. "We were in the press box at Houck Stadium, and the Central Junior High band started its pre-game presentation. Our visitor commented that the band was a good-looking high school band.

"This gave me the opportunity to explain that the performance was by our junior high band," said Clark.

Clark, who has been at the helm of the system for six months, discussed a number of issues during his address Friday, including the district's makeup of students and curriculum programs, budget cutting, school programs and the school system's new "Project Partnership: Schools and Community," program.

Clark said that a total of 4,410 students are enrolled in the district.

"That figure will fluctuate some from year to year," said Clark. "It's down about 20 students from last year."

About 1,000 of the students are enrolled in the top three grades at Cape Central High School.

"Our high school is well above national and state averages in ACT and SAT tests," said Clark. "The ACT average score by Central students is 25.4, compared to the state average of 22.8 and the national average of 22.1."

Clark said the Cape Central SAT average was 586, compared to the national average of 424. "We're above average in most areas," he said.

"Cape Junior High recently captured a big honor," said Clark. "The school's Knowledge Master team ranked third in the world during competition in December. We beat teams from Japan and Korea."

Knowledge Master is an academic competition conducted via computer. Central Junior High had a score of 1,744 out of a possible 2,000 points, answering 194 of the 200 questions correctly.

Clark emphasized the school district strives to offer programs for all students, from those who need extra help to those who are gifted.

Clark explained that the Project Partnership program will involve conducting interviews with individuals throughout the district, seeking their opinions of the school district, and where it should be headed.

"We'll conduct one-on-one interviews," said Clark. "We want to know what the people think of the district, and we want suggestions on where we should be going."

Clark said these opinions would be presented to the Board of Education for study and review. He said that arrangements are also being finalized for a January educational summit, which will include key community members who are being called together to discuss the direction Cape Girardeau schools should take.

"This meeting will bring together community leaders to get them thinking and talking about schools," said Clark. "This meeting Jan. 23 will also kick off the district's long-range planning process."

One of the tough chores facing the district's school officials is that of cutting the budget.

Overall, the district's budget is $19.4 million. An announcement was made recently that the budget must be trimmed by at least $1.4 million.

"When we leave the First Friday Coffee gathering, we'll go into a budget-cutting session," said Clark. "Like many districts in the state, we are in the process of cutting the budget because of the Proposition B defeat."

Clark said he wasn't really surprised that Missouri voters defeated Proposition B, a $385 million tax-and-education-reform package, but was surprised at the wide, two-to-one margin by which it was defeated.

Clark also outlined steps involved in formulating the district's strategic plan. "We're looking at an initial five-year plan, which includes Project Partnership and the budget-cutting processes," he said. "Following the educational summit this month, a citizens advisory commission on education will be formed."

Once the board has received all data, it will develop the long-range plan that will take the system into 1997.

"A three-year program will then be adopted to get us into the new century," said Clark, adding this could be the most important process the district will do "except educating students."