PAT RUOPP RESIGNATION STATEMENT

To the Citizens of Cape Girardeau,

It is with a heavy heart that I come before you today. After thirteen years of selfless service to the Board of Education I am announcing my resignation, effective immediately.

This action is necessary following the Board meeting on Monday night.

Prior to the Board meeting Mrs. Swan and I personally visited Dr. Fox with the sole purpose of reconciliation. We also each phoned Mr. Wright suggesting that both factions work together for the good of the district and its students. We were very sincere in our conciliatory gestures. Evidently Dr. Fox and Mr. Wright did not feel that mutual cooperation was necessary. I strongly disagree.

I have always felt that stability, experience and history are important to the smooth operation of a district the size of Cape. Thirteen years of service tend to give you knowledge in areas of policy, legislation, and finances that cannot be acquired in a year or even two. The added experience of being certified in board membership also adds depth to that history. I believe experience is still the best teacher.

During the thirteen years I have spent thousands of hours working for the district. The numerous phone calls, interruptions, and countless meetings have interrupted my business and personal life. I have done this without complaint because I have had the best interest of the students at heart.

I am a person of integrity. I came to this position with no special interests or axes to grind and that is how I am going to leave. I have always been financially responsible to the taxpayers of Cape to the point that I have given much more to the District than I have taken from it.

Being a good board member or superintendent is much more than arguing over graduation policies or the use of credit cards. It is staying abreast of state and federal legislation and how it affects our districts; it is taking a tight budget and making sure that deserving professional and non-professional staff get annual raises; it is keeping ever aging facilities running so that they can be about the business of education; it is supporting our individual administrators in tough issues as they relate to drugs and guns in our schools; and it is making sure that every child gets a good educational opportunity no matter how different their personal backgrounds are.

In closing I would like to say that the last year has been particularly hard for me and my family. The negative press has been hard on my parents, my in-laws, but particularly my wife and two small children. To them I offer my most sincere apology. To them I pledge that I will pay more attention to you in the future.

I wish Dr. Clark, Dr. Niggle, Dr. Bollwerk, and the teachers and students of Cape Public School District No. 63 all the best.

Thank You & goodbye