Few in Perry Co. to vote on $8 million bond issue April 8

Mineral Area College wants to build a vocational school on its main campus and will ask voters to approve $8 million in bonds April 8.

The money would be used to relocate a vocational school from North County High School in Bonne Terre, Mo., to the community college's campus in Park Hills, Mo.

Only about 15 to 20 voters in Perry County, those that live in the Fredericktown School District boundaries, will be affected. That's because the community college's taxing district only covers a sliver of Perry County, said Dr. Steven Kurtz, president of the college.

Other counties affected are Washington, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Madison and a portion of Jefferson.

Under the proposal, the debt service levy would increase from 13 cents to 18 cents. If the bond issue is approved, the college will be eligible for an $8 million match from the state.

Kurtz said the new facility would allow the college to expand vocational offerings to adults and would help attract employers to the area.

"What's exciting about this is the center will be located at Mineral Area. We hope students will attend MAC when they are done with high school," Kurtz said.

The college's current agreement with North County High School is much like the college's agreement with the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau, where the college offers 11 associate degrees.

Juniors and seniors from seven school districts attend the North County vocational school, and eight programs, such as welding, are offered.

If Mineral Area builds its own facility for the programs, space would be doubled to between 90,000 and 100,000 square feet. Kurtz said some of the equipment would be purchased from North County High School. The college intends to model its building design off Cape Girardeau's facility.

If the issue passes, the building could be operational by August 2011, Kurtz said.

He said both Jefferson College and Crowder College have vocational schools on their campuses.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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