SCHOOL BOARD VIEWS GUN-, DRUG-FREE ZONES

Cape Girardeau public schools will consider a resolution today that would establish drug-free and gun-free zones around city schools.

The Board of Education meets Monday at 4:30 p.m. at the Board of Education office, 61 N. Clark. The meeting is open to the public.

The resolution is part of a project initiated by the U.S. Attorney's office and local Optimist clubs.

Optimist member Melvin Gateley said Optimists have put the project on hold waiting for a response from the school district.

Gateley said some city officials discussed preliminary plans. "The next step was for the schools to look at this. After they do, we will get the clubs back together to see exactly what we can do."

A similar program was established in St. Louis in 1990. More than 600 signs were erected alerting passersby that the area is both a gun-free and drug-free zone.

"Mike Price with the U.S. Attorney's office mentioned that to Optimists in a speech one time," Gateley said. "I had gotten some of the four Optimist club members together and they seemed interested."

If implemented, the plan would include posting signs on school property, among other things. "We haven't gotten any of this finalized," he said. "We were waiting to see what the school district would do."

Also on the agenda Monday is a discussion of district health insurance. Cape Girardeau's National Education Association has asked to speak on the issue of insurance.

Last year, the board approved the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Alliance preferred provider option for medical insurance for one year.

Although the board approved the Alliance insurance plan, some board members expressed concern with a preferred provider option, PPO.

The plan pays the standard 80-20 on claims from Cape Girardeau hospitals, but under the PPO arrangement, the insurance company will pay 90-10 at program providers in St. Louis.

The recommendation was for a one-year trial period, Clark said.

The board also will consider a resolution concerning the local contractor employment. The resolution encourages bidders on district projects to employ local residents. It would also call for a disclosure of the percentage of the work force for a project who reside in Cape Girardeau.