JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD MAY APPROVE $7.8 MILLION BOND

JACKSON -- After a year of research and planning, the Jackson Board of Education knows what it needs to improve the district -- new buildings.

The school board is expected to approve a $7.8 million bond proposal tonight. The board meets at 7:30 at the Middle School Library.

The bond proposal contains three components -- a new math and science addition at the high school, an addition at North Elementary School and a new elementary school to be built south of town.

The bond will cost a resident with a $70,000 house an extra $26 per year.

The board was afraid that the proposal would be slightly overpowering, said Superintendent Dr. Howard Jones. "But we don't see any other way of doing it. It's not like buying a car and five years later you're ready to trade it in. We are still using buildings at the high school that were built in the 1920s."

The $7.8-million-bond proposal has been a year in the formulation, but the district has been so far behind in keeping up with its growth that such a strong approach is necessary, Jones said.

"We hope people will recognize the importance of this," Jones said. "If we don't then we get even more behind and can't catch up."

Jackson voters have rejected a bond issue only once in recent years. The last one was approved in 1994 for the construction of a new middle school.

The Jackson Middle School building helped to alleviate some of the growing pains for the district when it was built two years ago, but not enough. By moving two grade levels from other buildings, the school created additional space for elementary classes.

"But they were so far behind that they took some available space and immediately filled it," Jones said.

Since 1994, the district has added 350 students. Projections for future classes don't seem to get smaller either, Jones said. "This year's kindergarten class was 330 and next year's may be bigger," he said.

To accommodate some growth, one first-grade class will move to North Elementary next year because there isn't enough room elsewhere. But with an additional six classrooms, North Elementary could handle some of the district's future growth.

However, a new elementary school south of Jackson could handle the developing areas of the district. The Jackson R-2 school district covers 550 square miles of land.

Before the proposal reaches voters at the polls in August, the board plans to hold public forums this summer to answer questions about the bond issue and discuss the project.

JACKSON BOARD OF EDUCATION AGENDA

Tuesday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Middle School Library

Action Items

-- Consider proposed teacher salary schedule for 1996-97.

-- Consider bids for capital projects.

-- Consider resolution calling a bond election in Reorganized School District R-II of Cape Girardeau County.

-- Consider alternative education center program for junior high school.

-- Consider state-approved gifted education program for 1996-97.

-- Consider federal Safe and Drug Free School and Community program for 1996-97.

Information Items

-- Assistant superintendent's report.

-- Superintendent's report.

-- Discuss future agenda items.

Executive session to consider employment, personnel evaluations and real estate.