SCHOOL BOARD AWARDS CONTRACTS

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education hired staff members and approved a building rental fee waiver during a special meeting Thursday.

The special board meeting was held primarily to approve new contracts for teachers and support staff. Board members approved contracts to hire 11 teachers and four other staff members.

No new administrators were hired.

Board president Ferrell Ervin said a special board meeting was necessary to ensure new personnel would still be available to fill positions.

"We want to make sure we issue those letters as soon as possible so they don't continue to be on the job market," Ervin said following the meeting. "That's only fair to them and also to us."

Ervin said he was pleased with the reduction in the number of teachers leaving the district this year. The Cape district has seen a 41.5 percent staff turnover rate in the past three years, largely due to low salaries and a one-time retirement incentive offered in 1998.

Of 11 positions available this spring, two were vacated by retiring teachers. Three other teachers likely would have remained within the district, but their spouses took jobs in other communities, Ervin said.

"It's looking much better than in previous years. That part was encouraging," he said.

In other business, the board approved a building rental fee waiver request by a 6-0 vote. Dr. Bob Fox was absent from the noon meeting.

West Side Church of God members requested a waiver of the $15-an-hour rental fee normally charged for community groups to use school buildings for activities.

The church plans to sponsor activities to commemorate the National Day of Prayer May 4 at Blanchard Elementary School.

Board member David Goncher questioned whether there would be concerns regarding a church-sponsored function being held in a public school building. Board members agreed such concern was unlikely because students would not be mandated to attend the function, to be held after school hours.