JACKSON SCHOOLS OK MORE PARKING, NEW BOARD OFFICE

JACKSON -- There will be more parking for Jackson Indians football fans and a new Board of Education office for the school district next year.

Superintendent Dr. Howard Jones announced that the district has acquired two pieces of property, and ongoing negotiations could soon net the district even more property designated for parking. The announcement was made during the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night at the Jackson Middle School.

Jones said a property on Colorado Street was acquired because parking for evening activities and for students during the day has been a problem in the district for many years. He said the property, which cost the district about $45,000, will provide about 50 more spaces by next fall.

The property is adjacent to the bus maintenance area on Oklahoma Street. A house standing there will be demolished, Jones said, and gravel will be put down in late summer.

"This purchase will allow us to expand parking and add about 50 spaces," said Jones. "The long-range plan would be to move the bus maintenance facility to another area, which would allow us to have additional property all the way from Oklahoma to Colorado Street."

A building and three acres of land were acquired at 614 Adams because the present Board of Education office was designated an area of concern during recent Missouri School Improvement Program and facilities management reviews.

Jones said the office at 221 S. Oklahoma is not handicapped-accessible and does not have a conference room for board meetings.

"The new building has about 50,000 square feet and would have a space where we can have board meetings and parent conferences," Jones said. "It's a former nursing home and about seven years old, so it meets all regulations and guidelines for handicapped-accessibility."

Jones said the district paid about $190,000 for the property, which was owned by Union Planters Bank. The district architect reviewed the building and suggested that if the district built a similar facility, the cost would be around $500,000.

In other business, board members approved a cooperative agreement with Cape Girardeau Public Schools to allow staff from the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School to provide adult basic education classes at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School.

"We believe it's an important benefit to our patrons in this end of the county to offer this service in our district," Jones said.

Board members also approved a technology grant application to provide computers for the Jackson Middle School and authorized a public auction to sell some surplus equipment and furniture stored by the district.

JACKSON BOARD OF EDUCATION AGENDA

Tuesday, May 13, 1997

7:30 p.m.

Jackson Middle School Library

Action Items:

A. Consider authorization to sell surplus property. Dr. Jones.

B. Consider cooperative agreement between Cape Girardeau Public Schools and Jackson R-II School District for delivery of adult basic education services. Dr. Jones.

Information Items:

A. Announcement that 1997-98 P.L.94-142 Compliance Plan is available for public review.

B. Salary committee update.

C. Review of plans for South Elementary Schools.

D. Discuss guidelines for assignment of students to elementary districts.

E. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Personnel report.

F. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Support Services report.