NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS FACE BUILDING CHALLENGE

JACKSON -- Although the two school districts are about the same size in enrollment, that's where the comparison of Jackson and Cape Girardeau schools ends.

Cape Girardeau has about four times the population of Jackson, but Jackson R-2 Schools draw students from a large geographic area in the county.

Already the Jackson district has experienced an overwhelming growth spurt, while growth in the Cape Girardeau schools has been steady. Both expect 1996-97 enrollments near 4,300.

Steady growth has given Cape Girardeau the advantage in planning its long-term building needs, but rapid growth left Jackson administrators scrambling to keep up with school needs.

In Jackson, bond issues were passed to accommodate existing building needs, but by the time new schools were completed, more classroom space was needed.

Most Cape Girardeau classrooms are not filled to capacity, although some schools are more crowded than others. But the district has developed a plan to deal with growth.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education unveiled a long-range plan last week. Originally, the school board hoped to create a five-year plan but may adapt that plan to 10 or 15 years instead.

A facilities committee report reccommended closing May Greene and Washington elementary schools and Louis J. Schultz School, as well as building a new elementary school and purchasing land for future expansion.

The board's long-range plan includes building a new elementary school, new vocational-technical building and new high school but doesn't include a specific time line for their construction. The plan was developed for a five- to 15-year time frame.

"It may be developed in phases," said Cape Girardeau Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent. "It may be three or four years or longer."

Some of the work might overlap depending on funding for the projects. No specific information is available yet about the cost of new buildings since the district is still studying its finances.

Cape Girardeau has not been successful in its recent attempts to raise taxes for renovations and new buildings. Two bond issue proposals failed from 1993.

The district asked for a 99-cent tax increse in April 1993 to construct at middle school, new elementary school, an addition to Jefferson Elementary School and air condition buildings. The plan also included closing Washington and May Greene elementary schools. It was defeated.

District officials again asked for a tax levy in October 1993. That plan called for a 51-cent increase to construct a middle school and additions at Jefferson Elementary School. It also failed.

From those failed attempts, school officials have learned to start small and work in phases. If a bond issue ever were to pass, the district could close some of its older buildings and cut down on maintenance costs, Tallent said.

Only one recent bond issue failed in the Jackson R-2 school district. Voters didn't approve a bond for the construction of West Lane Elementary on the first try but it was approved during a second vote. The issue did not increase taxes.

Other bond issues were passed to build Orchard Elementary and a multipurpose building and to renovate the central office building. That project was completed in 1990.

As the community has grown, the Jackson district has purchased property for new school buildings. Most of the recent purchases for Jackson Middle School and Orchard and West Lane elementary schools are 25 acres of land, suitable for additions and expansion.

"We looked at the areas that were convenient for growth," Jones said.

Cape Girardeau has not talked about locations for its new buildings, but the district owns property along Sprigg Street Road, north of town. No new land has been purchased for at least 30 years.