JACKSON RETAINS SAME TUITION RATES

JACKSON -- Out-of-district students who attend Jackson schools will continue to pay the same tuition rate as last year. On the recommendation of the administration, the school board Tuesday set the tuition rate for out-of-district high school students at $3,300 per year. The rate for elementary students (K-8) is $2,700.

That's good news for the Nell Holcomb School District students, many of whom attend Jackson schools.

By comparison, the out-of-district tuition rate for the Cape Girardeau School District is more than $4,300 for students in grades 9-12, and more than $2,700 for students in grades K-8.

Howard Alexander, business manager for the Jackson schools, said a rate increase was not needed this year because there was no increase in budget expenses in that area.

Alexander said 46 out-of-district high school students, all of them from the Nell Holcomb School District, now attend Jackson High School. Also, there are two foreign-exchange, high school students attending school in Jackson.

Alexander said the number of out-of-district students has increased somewhat this year in grades 9-12, but added the majority of high-school-age students at Nell Holcomb still go to Central High School.

"They have the choice of attending Jackson or Central in Cape Girardeau," he said. "Many go to Central because it's closer, and because their friends attend Central."

Jackson School Superintendent Wayne Maupin reported the last bond payment on West Lane Elementary School has been made. The 45,000-square-foot facility was built in 1971 with proceeds from a 20-year, general obligation bond issue. An addition to the building was completed in 1983.

The 24-classroom, elementary school serves 615 students in grades 4-6. It has a current estimated value of more than $2.2 million. A bond-burning ceremony is planned for later this year.

Maupin also reported the district's new school bus transportation center is nearing completion. "The contractor (Penzel Construction Co. of Jackson) has informed us that he plans to be finished about Oct. 14," said Maupin.

The transportation center is east of Orchard Elementary School. The $212,150 facility was built with bond proceeds left over from the Orchard Drive and high school multipurpose bond issue.

The facility will serve as a place to park the school district's fleet of buses.

The present bus center is situated near the high school in cramped quarters, with no security fencing. In the past, many of the buses have been vandalized.

The new facility also includes three service bays for minor bus maintenance such as oil changes and lubrication.

During the meeting, the board received updated enrollment figures for the school district. "As of Sept. 25, our total enrollment is 3,479 students," Maupin said.

During the first 20 days of school, Maupin reported, daily attendance stood at 98 percent for students in K-6. At R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, it was 96.5 percent, and at the high school, 96 percent.

In other business, the board adopted a resolution allowing the school district to participate in the Missouri School Boards Association Securities Investment Program. Maupin said changes in the program now permit the school district to invest its idle funds for a longer term than before. The program pays 5 percent interest, compounded daily, on invested funds.

Board members Jeanette Bollinger and Dr. T. Wayne Lewis were appointed to the district's school improvement committee. The committee, comprised of board members, teachers, non-certified staff, school patrons, and students, will oversee implementation of the district's school improvement review plan.

Maupin said the next board meeting, Tuesday, Nov. 12, will begin at 7:30 p.m. because daylight-saving time will end Oct. 27.