SCHOOL BOARD PANEL WILL HELP NAME NEW ELEMENTARY BUILDING

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education will organize a committee to name the school district's newest elementary school within the next month.

During a meeting Thursday, superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent told board members contractors had begun work at the elementary school site near the intersection of Bertling and Sprigg streets. Tallent told board members district policy requires the board to form a committee to solicit suggestions and make a recommendation regarding the naming of any building

Board members said they wanted the committee to be representative of the community. Dr. Bob Fox said he felt at least one senior citizen should be included because they could add "knowledge of the community and its history." Board president Dr. Ferrell Ervin also emphasized the need for representatives from Washington and May Greene schools, which are slated to close at the end of the school year.

Board members also approved various contracts and set a tax rate hearing for the coming year. Before the start of each school year board members schedule a date to hear public opinion on the amount they believe the school district's tax rate should be set.

The tax rate hearing for the 1998-99 school year will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at the vocational school.

Meal prices and contracts for bread, dairy and chemical products were also approved during the meeting. Board members voted unanimously to increases prices for breakfast, lunch and milk purchased from school cafeterias next school year.

School cafeteria contracts awarded during the meeting included: Bread products contract, Lewis Bakeries Inc.; service, soap and chemical products contract, Ecolab Inc.; dairy products contract, Prairie Farms Dairy; replace a water heater at Louis J. Schultz School.

In other business, drawings and bid specifications for construction of a new bus driveway at Alma Schrader Elementary School were approved. Bids must be returned to administrators by Aug. 5. and board members told administrators contractors should be instructed to complete the project as quickly as possible to ensure the safety of students attending the school.