COMMITTEE AGREES TO SEEK INPUT AT SCHOOLS

Meetings are planned at every Cape Girardeau elementary school to solicit ideas from parents and patrons for redistricting or reorganizing the school district.

The meetings are tentatively set for March 6 at 7 p.m.

Cape Girardeau's redistricting committee is hoping to compile a long list of possible scenarios to address an imbalance in enrollments at the various elementary schools in the district.

Bob Fox, co-chairman of the committee, said the school meetings likely will generate more interest from district patrons than has the redistricting committee meetings.

"People are more apt to attend a meeting at their school," he said.

Seeking parents input

The principals will conduct the meetings and will follow the same agenda at each school. Parents will get a brief overview of the redistricting committee's work to date, as well as some of the suggestions that have been made.

But the goal is to get new ideas.

Co-chairman Steve Wright said he hopes teachers also will submit ideas.

"Teachers are an integral part of this," Fox added.

People may submit written suggestions, especially if they are unable to attend the meetings.

Jefferson School Principal Gary Kralemann said parents and patrons should present positive suggestions for what might be done, rather than dwell on what they don't want to happen.

Thursday meeting gets better response

Thursday's meeting of the committee was a marked change from the last meeting.

Seven people and two representatives of the media attended. The committee followed an agenda and took several comments and suggestions near the end of the meeting.

On Jan. 24, the same room was packed with about 60 patrons. But many there were angry and felt shut out of the decision-making process.

Seeking what's best for the students

Fox said Thursday that all the committee's discussions must focus on what is best for school district students.

Alma Schrader School Principal David Giles said he was comfortable giving sound educational advice. He is less astute at deciding what is politically advisable.

Assistant superintendent Richard Bollwerk said, "Anytime we look at decisions, we look at what is best for kids. But we also want it to be acceptable to the community."

The committee is scheduled to meet March 14 to discuss the suggestions generated at the parent meetings. Other meetings are slated for April 5 and 15.