SCHOOL BOARD OKs 1993-94 CALENDAR

School begins Aug. 26 for students in Cape Girardeau public schools and ends June 9, 1994.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved the coming year's school calendar along with a list of summer maintenance projects at its meeting Thursday.

The approved school calendar requires the district to invoke an agricultural exemption to state law, allowing classes to begin before Labor Day.

Christmas break is scheduled Dec. 19-Jan. 2 and spring break April 1-5.

Superintendent Neyland Clark said the week-long spring break provides a needed respite for students and staff during the second half of the school year.

When youngsters and staff work for that long a stretch, fatigue is a factor, Clark said. "The break will give them a chance to regain their stamina."

The calendar includes 179 attendance days for students. Two days in the calendar will be set aside for professional development; students will attend only half a day on those days.

An elevator planned for Central Junior High School tops the list of summer maintenance and repair projects approved by the board.

The elevator will be the third installed by the district. Elevators are in operation at Central High School and L.J. Schultz Middle School.

Business manager Larry Dew said the cost estimate for the new elevator is $65,000. It will be installed in the courtyard of the junior high, but he said the exact location is still under discussion. "We are looking for an area that will do the least amount of damage to the architecture of the building," he said.

Also on the repair list is installation of several ramps at the senior high school. Dew explained that several areas in the school have one, two or three steps, necessitating ramps to make the areas handicapped accessible.

The filing period for candidates for three seats on the school board is open through Feb. 2.

Tuition rates for the vocational-technical school were approved: the rate for high school students is $1,370.

An open house will be held Feb. 7 at the vocational school from 1:30-4 p.m.

The board approved start of the bidding process for district banking services.

Board president Ed Thompson and member Pat Ruopp announced they plan to pursue certified board member status through the Missouri School Boards Association.