FORUM SET ON SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

A public forum will be held next week to allow Cape Girardeau school patrons to review data used by a committee that recently proposed elementary school boundary changes.

The forum will be held at 6 p.m. March 24 at Central Junior High School cafeteria. The Cape Girardeau Board of Education, redistricting committee members and school administrators will be on hand to discuss enrollment information and answer questions from the public about the repositioning of elementary school boundaries.

More than 100 parents attended the school board meeting Monday night to hear information about the proposed boundaries. The forum was scheduled after some 11 parents addressed the school board about their concerns over the proposed boundaries.

Parents expressed concern that the proposal was developed without public input and that counterproposals could not be produced because data was not available to the public.

"I have had to do a great deal of research and questioning to get accurate numbers, and I still have many unresolved questions," said Joy Auer. "I strongly urge the board not to vote on any proposal until they have had adequate time to evaluate the accurate numbers, compare the various options including the original, and relay those numbers and options to the public.

"This will allow the public more time to absorb, evaluate and hopefully concur that the best possible solution will be passed and that the best interest of all our children and neighborhoods is being served."

They said they would like to see a plan adopted that uprooted the least number of students while achieving the goals of student safety, racial and socioeconomic diversity, building capacities, transportation and cost effectiveness.

"We sense some resistance from the administrators and the board in regards to accepting other proposals," said Bill Duffy. "There is no doubt you cannot please everyone, but it doesn't have to be all or nothing. We can accomplish these so there is a minimal effect to the children."

Steve Trautwein, redistricting committee chairman, said the board should develop a rational plan for hearing and acting on community concerns regarding the boundary changes. The committee has addressed issues as it was charged, and now the school board must do its part to act on their recommendations, he said.

"You have heard from a lot of people this evening who also want the ear of the board," said Trautwein. "I urge the board to come up with a rational way of hearing them and establishing a means for considering their proposals, if you choose to do this."

The board is scheduled to consider approval of the proposed boundary changes in April.