SCHOOL BOARD `PREACHES TO THE CHOIR'

Members of Cape Girardeau's Board of Education "preached to the choir" about the Proposition C rollback waiver at a public hearing Thursday.

Voters will decide on Tuesday if the school district can waive the rollback, resulting in a 37-cent tax increase per $100 assessed valuation. The money will be used for building improvements.

Attending the public hearing were three members of the media, five school board members, six administrators, two teachers and one school secretary.

"I feel like I'm definitely speaking to the choir," said Board Member Kathy Swan.

Swan explained that Tuesday's vote is the first phase of a two-phase building improvement plan for the school district. Board members plan to come back, probably in the fall, and ask voters to approve construction of a new elementary school.

"Repair and maintain buildings is what we heard very loud and clear at the public forums earlier this year," said Superintendent Neyland Clark.

After two failed ballot measures, the school board held three public hearings to gather input on what voters would like to see happen. Many said the school district should repair existing buildings.

Tuesday's waiver of the Proposition C rollback would be a way to generate money to fund those repairs.

Proposition C is a 1-cent state sales tax, approved by Missouri voters in 1982. Half the money goes to increase teacher salaries. The other half is used to reduce local property taxes. Local school districts roll back their tax levies to reduce property taxes. Cape Girardeau's rollback is 37 cents.

Voters in over 200 school districts in Missouri have waived the rollback. Many of these districts waived their rollbacks in an effort to meet the state mandated minimum tax levy of $2.75. Cape Girardeau's rate at $2.87 was above the minimum, but the district is allowed to roll back its rate also if voters say yes.

The increase would cost the average Cape Girardeau homeowner an additional $40.98 a year or $3.42 per month. The 1990 census says Cape Girardeau's median home has a market value of $58,300.

New local money generated by the increase would equal $1.1 million per year. That money has been earmarked for building improvements. A specific list of projects was published in the May 22 Southeast Missourian and is also available at the board office.

Under Missouri's Senate Bill 380 legislation, school districts are rewarded for raising local taxes with increased state funds. The 37-cent increase would mean an additional $1.6 million in state money. That money would be used for educational programs.

Swan said many of the improvements will enhance safety and energy efficiency within the buildings.

"With facilities, we are talking educational impact as well," she said. "We are talking about upgrading computer labs and libraries. We feel responsible to prepare graduates to be computer literate.

"Also our educational programs are somewhat dictated by facilities," she said.

For example, some classrooms do not have necessary outlets to plug in computers.

Board President Ed Thompson said the planned renovations and building improvements would be completed by using local services.

"We will try to use all local people, local businesses, local workers, local architects and local engineering," Thompson said.

"All the buildings in the districts would benefit from this," he said. "Even the buildings we hope to eventually close (Washington and May Greene) will benefit. Most of those benefits are relocatable to a new facility."

Thompson hoped the lack of turnout Thursday means a lack of opposition to the proposal.

"With the success we had at forums earlier in the year, with 50 to 100 people, we were hoping for the same turnout tonight. We have made an effort to communicate. We've made ourselves available."

In addition to the hearing Thursday, board members and administrators have been speaking with civic clubs, businesses and other groups. "Really anyone who will listen to us," Thompson said.