High school paper opposes superintendent's pay raise

When news of an impending superintendent salary increase made its way to the Central High School student newspaper staff, students quickly came to the conclusion that it was an issue they couldn't ignore no matter what the repercussions.

Amidst the usual columns on musical artists, video games and student life on the Tiger's Nov. 24 opinion page, staffers spelled out their views of Cape Girardeau School Board's decision to increase the superintendent's salary from $104,000 to between $125,000 and $140,000.

"Editorials come from something everyone feels strongly about," explained Amanda Lockhart, one of the Tiger's editors and a senior at Central.

In the editorial, the staff took to task the superintendent salary increase, which came after the board's approval of $1.2 million in budget cuts in January 2004. Those cutbacks led to the elimination of jobs and also forced students to pay a fee to participate in extracurricular activities at the high school.

Central High School principal Dr. Mike Cowan said the stance taken by the students in the newspaper might not have been allowed at other schools.

"Our kids know they have the freedom to explore relevant and challenging issues," Cowan said. "They probably do have more freedom here than in other schools. This is important to our kids, It's a hot topic in the community, so why would we not expect the kids to take part in the discussion as well?"

Tiger advisor Miki Markovich said the salary editorial was not an anomaly. The newspaper staff often takes strong viewpoints on important issues.

"The role I take is coach because it's a student newspaper," Markovich said. "If the students feel strongly about an issue I'm going to support them."

The school board made the decision to increase the salary in response to a suggestion by the Missouri School Boards Association, the organization conducting the search to replace current superintendent Mark Bowles.

The board voted last August against renewing Bowles' contract, which expires in June.

"It does concern us. The students of the district will be the bearers of the financial burden," said Sarah Polen, editor-in-chief of the Tiger and a senior at Central. "I think we decided that this is something we all felt strongly about and despite any repercussions, we need to be heard."

The editorial also outlined various problems at the high school resulting from the budget cuts, including a lack of textbooks and up-to-date computers.

Polen said the Tiger has not received any major feedback from the editorial but hopes that it did reach students and community members who read the newspaper.

"I think the school board and district as a whole should realize we're not going to sit back and let it go because this is directly affecting students," she said. cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, ext. 128