CLARK'S TENURE AS CAPE GIRARDEAU SUPERINTENDENT WAS CONTROVERSIAL

In 1990, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education decided it was time for a change in leadership.

Then superintendent Dr. Arthur Turner was dismissed, and the board spent $9,000 to hire a consultant to conduct a search for a superintendent.

Dr. Neyland Clark from Bullitt County in Kentucky was hired.

Under Clark's leadership, there were a number of accomplishments and changes made, but the accomplishments often were overshadowed by controversy.

When he arrived in 1991, the school district was spending more than $1 million more than it was taking in. Four years later the budget was balanced and cash reserves increased.

Medical insurance for district staff was enhanced. Teachers and other staff got pay raises while some neighboring districts did without.

The district became involved in the Caring Communities project, a merger of social services and public education, and a similar program called Educare for preschool children.

Strides were made at Central High School concerning discipline and revitalizing the instructional staff.

In 1992, Clark developed Project Partnership to start making a long-range plan for the school district. Three committees studied finances, facilities and educational directions.

In the end, the facilities committee said new buildings were needed. The finance committee said the community wasn't receptive to a middle school and suggested proceeding with a new elementary school.

The school board asked voters to approve construction of a new middle school, elementary school, an addition to Jefferson Elementary School, air conditioning and earthquake retrofitting. The tax increase would have been 99 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

Voters said no.

The board went back to voters in October 1993 with a scaled-down version of the tax proposal. This time they asked for a 51-cent increase to build a middle school and an addition to Jefferson Elementary School.

Voters again said no.

In March 1994, the board set its sights on a two-part tax issue. The first part was a June vote to waive the school district's 37-cent Proposition C rollback. The money would be used for maintenance. The original plan was to come back to voters in November 1994 with a bond issue to build a new, $8 million elementary school.

Ultimately voters said no a third time, following a decision by Clark to change Central High School's commencement procedure. Among those objecting to the commencement decision was school volunteer Amy Randol.

Randol began a six-month investigation into school finances and came upon some questionable credit card charges.

American Express charges totalled about $20,000 each of three years the account was active, and an investigation uncovered a pattern of sloppy record-keeping.

The school district closed its American Express credit card account. Recordkeeping on all travel expenses and reimbursements was tightened.

A special audit of travel expenses was conducted by an outside auditing firm. Those who had inappropriate charges were asked to repay the school district.

In all, three board members resigned for varying reasons.

Under a rarely used Missouri law and the school's policy, the county commission stepped in to name the three new board members.

Thirty-one people wanted to be picked for the three school board spots, and county commissioners named three men to fill the openings: Harry Rediger, Bob Blank and Dr. C. John Ritter.

In December 1995, the school board decided that again it was time for a change in leadership for Cape Girardeau schools, and Clark left.