SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSES CHANGING MEETING TIME

Members of the Cape Girardeau Board of Education Tuesday discussed the possibility of changing meeting times and adding a monthly study session.

Board members also considered holding meetings at different school buildings in the district.

Superintendent Neyland Clark said the issue will be on the agenda for the September Board of Education meeting.

Also at Tuesday's board meeting, board member John Campbell suggested changing meetings to the late afternoon, sometime between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Board member Ed Thompson suggested taking the board meetings to each of the school buildings.

Currently the board meets at 7:30 p.m. at the district office, 61 N. Clark.

Campbell said nighttime meetings restrict board members from attending other activities. "Several meetings conflict with other school events," he said.

Board member Carolyn Kelley suggested that the board also hold a monthly study session, perhaps on a Friday afternoon prior to the regular board meeting. The idea of a study session has been raised by board members before.

"We just need some ample time to discuss issues," she said.

The board also set the 1991-92 tax rate at $2.84 per $100 assessed valuation. The rate is increased by 1 cent from last year. The 1-cent increase is caused by the Proposition C rollback.

Tony Stephens told the board he was concerned about the class size of his child's sixth-grade class this year at Charles C. Clippard Elementary School.

Three sections of fifth grade at the school are being made into two sections of sixth grade. The two classes will have 26 students each. Also, a number of special-education students will be mainstreamed into the classes at the school.

Stephens said: "I am concerned about over a 50 percent increase in my child's class size. These are kids who are used to a class size of 17. It is now being increased to 26. That puts a lot of stress on the kids."

Clark said a class size of 26 is not considered excessive. "It's not ideal, but it's not excessive," said Clark.

Board president Pat Ruopp told Stephens the board would refer the matter to the administration for further study.

The board approved first reading of a new policy to adhere to the state's ethics law. The second reading and passage will be on the agenda for the September meeting.

The proposal would require all school board members and key members of the school district staff, including the superintendent and business manager, to file financial disclosures with the state.

Clark said, "In planning for future public support, I believe it is important to sign and file these affidavits to convey the open and honest transactions conducted by the school district."

Campbell agreed but said it is unclear exactly which forms must be filled out. He said, "We should let (school attorney) Joe Russell lay it all out for us, then we'll comply."