SCHOOL BOARD STUDIES BOUNDARY PLAN AGAIN

Elementary school boundaries and staff salaries will be among topics discussed at a Cape Girardeau Board of Education meeting tonight.

The board meets at 6 p.m. at the Central Junior High School cafeteria.

Board members will consider approval of a boundary plan for the district's five elementary schools scheduled to open next year.

A proposal submitted in February which included sweeping changes to nearly every elementary school border will not be considered by the board. Instead, board members will decide whether to approve a proposal developed by school officials earlier this month.

The second proposal makes fewer changes, altering lines only between Franklin School and the new Blanchard School still under construction.

Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent said he hasn't had any response to the newest proposal, unlike the loud criticisms voiced over the plan submitted in February.

Anyone wishing to comment about the boundary changes prior to a decision by the board must do so during a segment allotted for public comment at the beginning of tonight's meeting.

"I think that the plan we proposed can get at least four votes from board members, and that's what it takes to pass it," Tallent said. "It's time we bring that to some conclusion for everybody's sake."

Tallent and business manager Dr. Steve Del Vecchio also will present staff salary schedules for the 1999-2000 school year for the board's approval.

The proposals include two-year incremental increases for all staff to raise salaries up to higher rates based upon years of experience and continued education before the board voted on a salary freeze last year.

"It gets everyone back to parity," said Del Vecchio. "Naturally we'd like to do more, but at this point that's the best we can do."

In addition to two-year incremental increases, the board will consider small pay increases for teachers and other staff. The teachers' proposal includes a $5 increase for each step on the salary schedule, a $10 pay raise for the year. The classified staff plan includes a 5-cent-per-hour increase per step, which amounts to a raise of 10 cents per hour.

"The administration and the salary committee are putting forth the same proposal because we both agree that it's a good proposal," Tallent said. "We've been working on this for some time."

Several items, including a monthly fund transfer, approval of new science and guidance curricula and various budget adjustments also will be considered at the meeting.

Cape Girardeau school board

Monday, April 19, 1999 6 p.m.

Central Junior High Cafeteria

Action Items

-- Approve elementary attendance boundaries.

-- Approve resolutions.

-- Approval of fund transfer.

-- Approval of science curriculum for K-12.

-- Approval of 1999-2000 salary proposal.

-- Approval of 1999-2000 calendar.

-- Approval of comprehensive guidance curriculum for K-12.

-- Approval of summer school application.

-- Approval of budget adjustments.

-- Adjust board-paid insurance for the 1999-2000 school year.