NEW CAREER, TECHNOLOGY CENTER 20 PERCENT FINISHED

Work on the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center being built to replace the Area Vocational-Technical School at 301 N. Clark is moving at a steady pace.

"They've had very few days that they've not been able to work," said vo-tech school Director Harold Tilley. "It's moving along very nicely with few delays."

Cape Girardeau schools Superintendent Dan Steska said Monday Kiefner Construction Co., the general contractor on the project, has completed 20 percent of the work. Concrete footings have been poured, and workers have started setting the steel frame for the block-and-masonry building. Installation of electrical wiring and plumbing also has begun.

"Everyone seemed to be generally satisfied that the construction was proceeding smoothly," Steska said. "My perception is that the job has gone very well to date."

The center is under construction west of Kingshighway and Southern Expressway along a gravel section of Silver Springs Road. Classes are scheduled to begin in the center in fall 2001. The old vo-tech school will be used as office and storage space.

Tilley said vocational staff members have worked closely with contractors and architects since they began work on the 120,000-square-foot facility. Staff also worked with Tilley to write a successful grant application for $800,000 from the state to pay for new equipment and furnishings for the center.

Business and industry partners supplied the match of 25 percent, or $200,000, required by the grant.

"We'll be moving very little," Tilley said. "We've already started ordering equipment and furnishings and begun to store those until we can move them into the new building."

Total construction costs will be about $11 million, almost double the original estimate of a long-range planning committee five years ago. The Missouri General Assembly pledged $3.15 million to the project.

Despite numerous delays, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education voted to proceed with the project as planned last summer after learning Missouri legislators historically cover cost overruns for vocational school projects.

Tilley said an application has been filed requesting $1.8 million in supplemental funds. A response is expected in March.

"This is very important to the economic development of this region, and we've had assurances from our local legislators that they will be pushing for this," he said. "It's important we continue with our training efforts, and you have to have good facilities to train."