HAWKINS' FATE RESTS WITH VOTERS

Jackson R-2 School District patrons will go to the polls Tuesday to decide the fate of a proposed $6 million bond issue to expand R.O. Hawkins Junior High.

Recent bond issues and operating levies have failed to collect the needed 57.1 percent (five-seventh) "super majority" vote. Dr. Ron Anderson, superintendent of schools, is cautiously optimistic this time around, however.

"We're kind of optimistic," Anderson said. "People are responding to information. An awful lot of them say that they know it's something that's really needed."

He indicated that patrons have also responded well to architect's renderings of the proposed additions. Tours of the facility have also been useful in getting the point across.

The school was built in 1963 and expanded in 1975. The current configuration is designed for 600 to 650 students, rather than the 790 that currently attend. Principal Dennis Parham said that, if one wanted to get technical, the capacity would actually be 154 students, by the standards used for new construction.

"We may have to put up a No Vacancy' sign," Parham quipped. "We keep adding students without losing any."

Continued growth at Procter & Gamble is one element in the district's growth. Another influx of students hit the school from California and Georgia at the end of October. Rumors also abound that another 20 families may be relocating in Cape Girardeau County from California later in the school year.

"I don't know how many of those will affect us," Parham said. "We normally get the majority of those kids."

"I've heard that there will be some relocating here," Anderson said. He indicated that the "trend of the past" is for most of those relocating families to choose the R-2 district.

The proposed addition would increase the junior high's capacity to 1,100. Proponents say it would increase the yearly taxes on a house of $100,000 by just $19 a year. The project would add 18 classrooms to the north end of the building and expand the library and kitchen. A multipurpose building would also be built. Having more lockers would help eliminate the hallway congestion, which is a major concern.

During the recent public debates, Jack Litzenfelner Jr. mentioned seeing students struggling through the crowded halls, toting huge back packs of books, to avoid extra trips to lockers.

"At this point and time I think people have pretty well made their minds up one way or the other, how they're going to vote," Parham said. "The only thing we can do is make sure the people in favor of it try to get out and vote, then just wait and see what happens after the election."

"I would still invite them on a personal tour anytime," Anderson said. "We think it tells the story if you come and look. We're happy to show them the plans and answer any questions they might have."

Other changes will include technology and writing labs and improved parking lots. The current building includes just four computers with Internet access.

"I just hope we can finally put this one to rest one way or the other," Parham said. "I know it's been a long process. I think a lot of people are kind of exhausted working with it as long as they have. I'm just hoping for the best."

It would be at least two years before the new facility would be ready, should the issue pass. The earliest construction would likely begin would be late spring or early summer.

In the mean time, students will continue navigating the cramped hallways and making do with the current situation.

"It's extremely tight in the hallways," Anderson said. "Once this good weather goes by and they can't go outside between classes, it will just be a jam in there. Plus, when you add coats and backpacks combined with duffle bags and horns from band, it's pretty tough."