NEWS SCHOOL: BOARD OKs PLANS FOR BUILDING

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education Thursday approved a "clean, simple, economical" design for a new elementary school. A groundbreaking could be held in October.

"We wanted a functional facility to serve the community. I think that's what we have here," Dr. Ferrell Ervin, president of the board, said after getting a look at the architect's drawings of the building and site plan.

The board approved both building and site plans at a special meeting.

Architect Thomas Holshouser said the design is "clean, simple and economical." Holshouser and architect Charles Herbst are working together on the project.

The building has 18 classrooms all with exterior windows and three kindergarten classrooms, each with its own restroom.

The interior of the building includes a library, a computer lab, music and art rooms and special-service classrooms.

The design includes a cafeteria and a gymnasium with a movable wall between the two. The area could be opened to accommodate large PTA meetings or other assemblies.

Hallways are designed so much of the building could be closed off if the gymnasium and cafeteria area were used in the evening or weekends.

The building will be situated on the northeast corner Bertling and Sprigg streets with the entrance from Sprigg.

Separate areas are planned for school buses and parents dropping off and picking up students. The property will be terraced with a football-sized playfield planned just south of the building.

Tallent said architects talked with teachers and administrators about what they would like to see in the building.

"We were looking for something energy efficient and aesthetic," Holshouser said.

Tallent said the design meets both those criteria. "I think this is something the community can be proud of. They have done a good job."

Construction of an addition to Jefferson Elementary School is moving on approximately the same time schedule as the new elementary school.

Bid specifications for dirt work for both projects should be available in about two weeks. Tallent said the dirt work should begin in about four weeks.

Cape Girardeau voters approved a tax increase in April to fund construction of the elementary school, the addition to Jefferson and a vocational-technical school.

Progress on the vocational-technical school has been slowed because of a corn crop planted at the site, but groundbreaking on that building is expected this fall.