SCHOOL BOARD POISED TO ADOPT PLAN

After a month of soliciting comments, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education stands poised to adopt a master plan that would launch the school district on a course toward new buildings.

As part of the process, the board will also consider a new committee to study how to change attendance areas at Monday's meeting.

The board meets at 6 p.m. in the Junior High Cafeteria. It is open to the public.

Approval of the master plan, selection of an architect and bond counsel and appointment of the attendance boundary committee are on the agenda.

The master plan calls for a 69-cent tax increase and includes a 10-year plan on how to spend that money.

In the first phase the district would build a new vocational building, elementary building and addition to Jefferson and renovate the four elementary schools it plans to keep.

The second phase calls for a new high school, converting the junior high school to a fifth- and sixth-grade center and the old high school to a seventh- and eighth-grade center. Eventually May Greene, Washington and Louis J. Schultz schools would be closed.

Under the plan, property taxes would increase from the current $2.88 per $100 assessed valuation to $3.57.

The master plan was unveiled at the board's October meeting. Board members set aside 30 days to give people a chance to look at the plan and make suggestions and comments.

Superintendent Dan Tallent said he has received just three. One who didn't like moving fifth- and sixth-graders out of elementary buildings, one who preferred that the new high school be built first and one who wanted the L.J. Schultz building closed first.

He is recommending that the board approve the plan.

The master plan calls for construction of a new elementary building, additional classrooms at Jefferson and closing May Greene and Washington schools. Changes in attendance boundaries would be necessary.

The committee would be asked to develop two boundary patterns. The first would accommodate grades kindergarten through six in the new building arrangement. The second plan would accommodate grades kindergarten through four when the fifth- and sixth-graders move to the renovated junior high.

Tallent would like a recommendation at the February board meeting. He has said that the plan must be in place before voters head to the polls.