ELECTION SET ON HIGH SCHOOL FUNDING

Cape Girardeau voters will consider a no-tax increase, $18 million bond issue when they go to the polls April 4.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education passed a resolution to include the proposition on the ballot by a roll call vote of 6-0 during a meeting Monday night. Board member Mark Carver was absent.

The resolution was approved just one day before the deadline for inclusion on the April ballot.

If approved, the bond issue could raise $28.1 million to fund construction of a high school on land adjacent to the Vocational Career Center under construction west of Kingshighway and Southern Expressway.

Once completed, the high school would house as many as 1,800 students in grades nine through 12. Grade levels would be adjusted throughout the district to accommodate the changeover of the district's five elementary schools to house kindergarten through fourth grade. Central High School would be converted to a seventh- and eighth-grade junior high school, and the existing junior high building would house fifth- and sixth-graders.

L.J. Schultz School, now the oldest building in the district, would be closed if the measure passes.

Superintendent Dan Steska said the recommendation to attempt passage of the bond issue in April was made after receiving an overwhelming response from participants in a community forum on the subject last week. Some 100 people attended the meeting to learn about the proposed high school, and 60 people completed surveys detailing their support of the plan.

"I think the response of our community forum was really indicative that a large portion of the community is in support of continuing the goals of the master plan," said Steska. "Only four respondents out of 60 were against it or stated they were confused and needed more information."

A steering committee is being organized to assist the Board of Education in gathering support for the measure. Former school board member Harry Rediger and Dennis Marchi of Schnucks will co-chair the committee..

The group will hold an organizational meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 at Central Junior High School. The meeting is open to the public.

"We just have had so many people step forward," Steska said. "Anyone who would like to serve on any committee is invited to come out."

Presidents of two faculty organizations said teachers have not expressed formal support for the bond issue. However, Carol Bryce and Brenda Woemmel both said a new high school would benefit students, teachers and the community.

"I think the teachers certainly feel it's necessary and it's going to do a great deal to impact education," said Woemmel, president of the local National Education Association chapter.