SCHOOL BOARD DEBATES SPACE

Members of Cape Girardeau's Board of Education expressed a desire to get moving on a building plan even if it may mean putting plans for a middle school on a back burner.

The board Wednesday discussed the possibility of asking voters to approve construction of a new elementary school and an addition to Jefferson Elementary school. The board also asked for information about a middle school for grades seven and eight only.

Two previously defeated tax measures would have funded construction of a sixth- seventh- eighth-grade middle school. But some parents have objected to moving sixth-graders from elementary schools.

In a closed meeting Wednesday, the board voted to suspend for one year two Central High School students for possessing a weapon on the campus. "We regret having to take such drastic action but we intend to maintain law and order in our schools," said Board President John Campbell.

At the open study session board members talked about their impressions from three public hearings held in November and possible plans that might win voter approval.

Campbell said, "I want to get started in implementing our plan."

Board Member Pat Ruopp said if the board plans to go after a middle school again, "we have a tremendous job of educating the people of Cape Girardeau."

He suggested that such a measure could not be presented to voters until spring of 1995. "It will take that long to educate the public," Ruopp said.

Board member Lyle Davis agreed that people need information on middle schools.

"What I have found from the public forums is that many people, as was I, are tremendously under-educated on middle school. Now I'm a big proponent of the middle school. We, the community, have not done a good job educating on the middle school."

Ruopp said: "As a result of the forums, I heard people saying if we ask to building an elementary school it's going to pass. How committed is the board to the middle school issue?"

Board member Ed Thompson said, "It doesn't have to be a sixth- seventh- eighth-grade middle school. It could be a seventh- and eighth-grade middle school with a plan for a wing for the sixth-grade to be built at some other time.

"I think it's pretty apparent that a sixth- seventh- eighth-grade middle school is not going to fly right now," said Thompson.

Steve Wright said: "I agree that 1995 is too long. Let's put the middle school on the back burner and go for the elementary school. I want to get something started."

Member Kathy Swan said, "What we do know is that people recognize the need for a new building. And they will build an elementary school. People are not opposed to the middle school but do not want the sixth grade included. They would like a sunset clause on a tax."

The board asked administrators to gather information and another study session will be set at the board's regular meeting Jan. 10.

Campbell asked if the May Greene and Washington buildings were closed and use of trailers discontinued, could the district's elementary students be housed with one new 500-student elementary school and an addition to Jefferson Elementary.

"We know we would need at least one new one plus the addition, but we may need two elementary schools," Campbell said.

Davis added that building a new elementary school and an addition to Jefferson and then closing May Greene and Washington would allow no room for future growth. In fact, the district could be more crowded than now.

At the meeting, board members also talked about possible alternative funding for construction.

By law, school districts may raise funds only through property taxes. School districts cannot levy a sales tax.

However, board members discussed briefly a sales tax levied by the city of Kansas City and dedicated for school use. "Maybe we could have a joint venture on a sales tax with a portion of the proceeds ours and a portion of the proceeds theirs," Campbell said.

Davis also talked about federal money available to schools through Title 4 federal entitlement programs. Magnet schools are part of that program. He said 57 of 150 applications for grants were approved. Funding ranged from $300,000 to $3.6 million.

Thompson said a district patron suggested to him that the schools rent a vacant building and make it an elementary school.

Davis said the possibility of utilizing a vacant building has been discussed. "We are wanting it to be donated instead of rented," he said.