KINDERGARTEN LOTTERY SYSTEM CONTROVERSIAL

One of the biggest discussion items at the Cape Girardeau school board's meeting today isn't even listed on the agenda.

Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent anticipates several parents will be on hand to discuss their displeasure with the district's kindergarten lottery system, which will require some students to be bused to a school outside of their neighborhood.

District policy allows a maximum of 25 kindergarten students per teacher so that class sizes remain manageable. When more students are registered than the school can handle, a lottery system is used to reassign students to the nearest school with openings.

With the new school year two months away, Tallent said both Clippard and Franklin elementary schools already have registered more students than they can serve.

"At every one of the schools they can get a good education," Tallent said. "We've been doing this ever since they set the limit at 25. It's nothing new."

A number of parents have called school offices to complain about the lottery system, which they say is unfair. They say other options should be considered -- including bringing in extra teachers and setting up temporary classrooms -- so that the children can attend school in the neighborhood they live in.

But Tallent said that would not be cost-efficient. "The thing about this is, if we were in a position where we had no spaces at all in the district, then (moving in trailers) would be a good option," he said. "But that would be pretty inefficient of us to do something like that when we have openings available elsewhere in the district."

In other business, the board will also consider architect plans to renovate Jefferson Elementary School. Tallent said this project is moving along steadily, although the plans for a new elementary school and a new vocational-technical facility are not ready for approval.

Cape Girardeau Board of Education Agenda

Monday, June 30, 1997 - 6 p.m.

Central Junior High Cafeteria

Old Business

Miscellaneous

* Action items

* Board policy updates -- Third Reading/Approval

* Graduation requirements

New Business

* Approval of consent agenda items

* Payment of bills

* Personnel employment

* Graduation list

Miscellaneous consent agenda items

* Informational Reports

* Superintendent's report

* Treasurer's report

* Secretary's report

* Standing committee reports

* Ad Hoc committee reports

Miscellaneous

* Action items

* Fund transfer

* Adopt 1996-97 budget as preliminary budget

* Approve floor plan for Jefferson School addition

* Budget amendments

* Appoint board member to replace Terry Taylor

* Approval of computer hardware bid

* Approval of PL 94-142 LEA Annual Compliance Plan for F98

* Non-Action items

* Financial statement -- May

* Health report -- May

* Cafeteria Report -- May

* MSBA Board Policy updates -- First Reading

* Technology report -- Update

* Property insurance

Information and proposals from board members