PANEL PROPOSES CLOSING SCHOOLS

Cape Girardeau has maintained its aging school buildings well but should close May Greene, Washington and Louis J. Schultz schools and build a new elementary school, a facilities review committee suggests.

A 35-member facilities committee will make its final report tonight at 7 in Room 214 of the Vocational-Technical School. The committee divided into three subgroups -- elementary, secondary and vocational-career -- to study the district's building needs.

After touring each of the district's 10 school buildings, some of which are at least 75 years old, the subcommittee groups made recommendations and then incorporated them into a comprehensive plan. The school board will listen to the recommendations tonight and make a decision later.

As the board develops its plan, the committee said it should consider eliminating three of its oldest buildings -- Washington, May Greene and Louis J. Schultz -- and building a new elementary facility, relocating the seventh and eighth grades to expand program offerings, and coordinate a new vocational-career center with the high school building.

"I think the district does a good job of maintaining its buildings," Dr. Bob Fox, board president, said. "But there's a lot you can't do there that you can do in a more modern building."

However, the report is just a suggestion. The board can decide which elements and recommendations should be included in its facility plan.

"We need so much that we will have to do it in phases," said Fox. "We tried it all at once before and it didn't work."

The committee spent some long hours at work touring each building in the district. Each subcommittee made a final evaluation before meeting with the entire group last week.

"We came to a consensus of what should be considered," said Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent. "It's a conclusion about what elements should be in a final plan."

The first component of a final plan should address the needs for a minimum of 10 to 15 years, the report suggests.

None of the findings in the report should be a surprise to board members, Fox said. "We looked at it all in 1991 and 1992," he said, adding that nothing has changed since then. "But this time a structural engineer looked at all the older buildings."

After hearing the committee report, the school board will meet again Saturday morning to create a long-range facilities plan for the district.

"We want to try to put down a skeleton draft of the facility plan," Tallent said, adding that the community will have some input before the plan is finalized.

OLD BUILDINGS

A committee recommends that Cape Girardeau Board of Education consider closing the district's three oldest buildings.

Washington Elementary, 621 N. Frederick, was built in 1914. It is a brick and masonry structure. The building originally contained 40,000 square feet. The facility was increased in 1926 and 1931, adding six rooms and a gymnasium. This increased square footage by 16,000 square feet. Renovation occurred in 1967-68.

Louis J. Schultz School, 101 S. Pacific, was built in 1914. The brick and masonry structure had 45,000 square feet when it was built. It was increased in 1920 by 15,000 square feet. A 5,000 square foot shop was added in 1941 and the building was renovated in 1965.

May Greene Elementary, 1000 Ranney St., was built in 1919. It is a brick and masonry structure and originally contained 23,000 square feet of space. The facility was increased by 7,000 square feet in 1926. Renovation occurred in 1966 and 1970, bringing the total square footage to 30,000.