JACKSON'S SCHOOL DISTRICT STILL BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

JACKSON -- When the Jackson school district opened Orchard Elementary School four years ago, there were two spare classrooms.

This year, only one classroom remains vacant. When the 1994-95 school year starts in August, there will be none. In less than four years, the elementary school is now filled to capacity.

Meanwhile, serious crowding conditions exist at the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School and West Lane Elementary School. However, that should be resolved in 1995 when the $5 million middle school is opened.

In the high school, increased enrollment in the math and science department is stretching antiquated lab and classroom facilities to the limit.

The district also needs additional teachers and classrooms to reduce a rising pupil-to-teacher ratio back to acceptable levels.

These are only some of the challenges facing Jackson Superintendent Wayne Maupin and the board of education as they try to plan for the growth of the district through the end of the decade.

Student enrollment in the Jackson district has risen each year for the past 10 years, and it is expected to continue at about the same trend for the foreseeable future.

This school year, enrollment in the Jackson district is 3,683 students. That compares with 3,589 for 1992-93; 3,476 in 1991-92; and 3,419 in 1990-91.

Earlier projections contained in a University of Missouri study -- which have been on the mark each year since the study was completed -- indicates enrollment in the district will continue to grow through 2000.

Jackson is the largest school district in the Southeast Missouri region in terms of geography. "Our district covers 550 square miles and includes many unincorporated housing developments, in addition to Jackson, Gordonville and Fruitland," Maupin explained.

"The district is experiencing rapid growth because more people, especially those with children, are moving to Jackson or into the rural areas in school district. One reason for that is the excellent reputation of our school system. It's something we certainly want to see, but it does present us with some challenges to meet that growth."

The Jackson district operates nine schools, including seven elementary schools. They are located in Jackson, Gordonville, Millersville and Fruitland. The district has one junior high school and one senior high school and a certified staff of over 200 teachers.

This year's operating budget is $15.3 million, of which $4.7 million is budgeted for construction of the middle school. Even without the middle school, the district's operating budget this year is a hefty $12 million-plus. That may not qualify it as a Fortune 500 company, but it's still a sizable business operation in any community.

Maupin said the classroom shortage at Orchard after less than four years is not unexpected. He said, "Typically, this is what has happened in the past. Seldom do we have the opportunity (due to financial limitations) of building a facility that will take us along for several years before we have to consider any additions."

To resolve the classroom space problem at Orchard before it becomes serious, Maupin said the school board is considering moving four of the eight sections of first grade into the kindergarten annex building, located behind the school administration offices, where there are four empty classrooms. He said the move may come as early as this fall.

Maupin said moving four sections of first grade from Orchard would give the district additional classroom space at that school. That also gives the school board a few more years to decide what their options are at Orchard.

When the new middle school is opened in 1995, Maupin said classroom crowding in grades 4-9 will be significantly reduced. Said Maupin, "We'll have additional room for growth at the junior high school and at West Lane school for a number of years."

Meanwhile, a decision on the high school math and science problem is now one of a number of issues the school board plans to address this year.

During its Jan. 15 board retreat, the school board hammered out a list of six critical issues facing the school district during the next five years. They are:

-- New and larger facilities (lab space and lecture rooms) for the math and science department.

-- Reduction of classroom size and pupil-to-teacher ratios in all grades, especially in the elementary schools, through additional classrooms and teachers.

-- Allocation of the district's financial resources to "get the most bang for our bucks," said Maupin.

-- Personnel and staff needs.

-- Orientation of the high school curriculum toward computer science and industrial technology courses.

-- Promotion of more programs to prepare high school students who do not plan to go on to college.

Although not on the list, Maupin said increasing teacher salaries is also a high priority. The 1993-94 salary schedule was upgraded for the first time in two years because of continued decreases in state funding for the teacher fund.

"Now that we have compiled a list of critical issues, the board will go back, perhaps at a second retreat, and prioritize this list, based on the needs of the district," said Maupin. "Taking care of these issues will depend, to some extent, on the financial resources coming into the district."

But Maupin noted passage of Senate Bill 380 will help the district financially, as will the continued commercial and industrial development, which will increase the assessed valuation of the district.

The district's 1993-94 assessed valuation is $134,021,719, compared to an assessed valuation of $121,108,263 for the 1992-92 school year.

"Thanks to Senate Bill 380, and the natural growth of our tax assessment, the financial wolf is no longer knocking at our door," said Maupin. "Instead of worrying where we'll find the money to keep the district in the black, the board can now turn its attention toward the needs of the students.

"When financial resources of the district are expended, the board is going to make sure those dollars are benefiting our students."