GROWTH DICTATED SITE OF SCHOOL, SAYS TALLENT

Cape Girardeau schools superintendent Dan Tallent answered questions about the location of a proposed new elementary school and expanded vocational training at the second of three informational meetings concerning the district's new master plan.

About a dozen people attended Tuesday's meeting at Washington Elementary School. The third public meeting is Monday at 7 p.m. at Central Junior High School.

On April 1, Cape Girardeau voters will consider two ballot issues that, if approved, would set in motion the master plan. Voters are being asked to approve sale of $14 million in bonds and waiver of the Proposition C rollback. If approved, the two items would increase the tax levy by 69 cents.

The money would fund the first phase of the master plan, including construction of an elementary school and vocational-technical school, an addition to Jefferson, and renovations to Franklin, Alma Schrader and Clippard.

Washington and May Greene schools would be closed. The board will also look at purchasing property west of I-55 for a future elementary school.

The second phase of the plan would begin in 1999 or 2000. It includes construction of a new high school and renovation of the junior high and senior high.

At the end of the second phase the district would have kindergarten through fourth-grade elementary schools, a fifth-sixth-grade center, a seventh-eighth-grade center, a ninth-12th-grade high school and an area vocational school.

At Tuesday's public meeting a parent asked why the school district chose the Sprigg and Bertling property for construction of an elementary school. He was worried that the district was leaving behind older and poorer parts of the city.

Tallent explained that the school district already owns property there. In addition, he said, the school board has been looking at the city's growth patterns.

"The city is growing to the west and north," Tallent said. "Twenty-five or 30 years from now the new location will probably be more centrally located for students on the northeast side of Cape Girardeau, and Jefferson would serve students on the southeast."

Another parent asked about plans for course offerings at the new vocational school. Tallent said the programs, at first, will be similar to those offered at the existing building, including classes for high school students from the region and one- and two-year courses for adults.

In the future Cape Girardeau will also offer two-year associates programs and perhaps even four-year bachelors degrees in vocational-technical fields. The public school is working with Southeast Missouri State University to make that happen. The course could be offered on the university campus or at the new vocational school. The decision hasn't been made yet.

The district has in place two after-hours answering machines for people to ask questions. A school official will return the call with an answer. Call 334-2816 or 334-2817 to leave a message. During business hours, call the board office at 335-1867.