SCHOOL COMMITTEE WILL EXAMINE YEARBOOK DISPUTE

A committee will be formed to look into the Cape Girardeau Public Schools' policy of contracting photography services for the high school yearbook.

But a photographer who questioned the policy is unhappy about the proposed committee investigation.

Cape Girardeau's new superintendent, Neyland Clark, who will officially begin his position with the school district Monday, said Wednesday that the committee will look into what is good and/or bad about the present policy.

Members of the committee have not yet been appointed, but Clark said high school Principal Dan Milligan, yearbook adviser Liz Lockhart and James Englehart, director of secondary education, will be involved. In addition, he said, several community members will be selected.

"The committee will be made up of other folks besides just school folks," Clark said. "It's important that the local business people know we will be sensitive to their needs."

At the school board's June 11 meeting, Cape Girardeau photographer Steve Robertson questioned the district's policy of awarding a contract to one photographer to provide all the photographs of high school seniors for the yearbook.

The yearbook photographs are taken at no cost to the students. The contract photographer provides the district with other services and supplies, as spelled out in the bid specifications.

At the June meeting, board members told Robertson they would respond to his request at the July meeting. Clark said the board will be formally notified of the formation of the photography services committee at the July 9 meeting.

Clark said, "Basically what I've done is met with Jim Englehart and Dan Milligan and discussed the issue of our contract on photography services. I've asked them to construct a committee to study the issue of the bidding procedure and specifications as they pertain to photo services."

Clark said the committee will make a report to him and he will present the information to the board.

"They will look at the practices currently exercised and if there are any improvements we can make," he said. "Mr. Robertson's concerns will certainly be taken into consideration."

But Robertson said Wednesday he was not happy with the proposed committee.

Robertson wants the district to stop its current policy of requiring that senior pictures for the yearbook all be taken by the same photographer.

"The committee he's forming is not what I requested," Robertson said. "I requested that the school board immediately put a halt to this improper, monopolist policy of forcing the kids to use a single studio against their will.

Robertson said he believes a committee is a way to postpone any decision about the issue.

"We all know how slow committees move," he said.

Robertson said that if he doesn't get any favorable action at the July 9 school board meeting, he intends to:

File a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Challenge the president of the school board to a debate on a local radio talk show.

Circulate a petition calling for an antitrust investigation and forward that to U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson.

Complain to Missouri Attorney General Bill Webster and Secretary of State Roy Blunt, both of whom, Robertson said, have expressed their support for competitiveness in the marketplace.

"I have not received a negative response on phone or from customers," Robertson said, "They tell me, `That's great. Don't give up. ~Don't get discouraged.'"

"I think there are enough people upset about this thing to convince Bill Emerson to bring some federal investigators into town," said Robertson. "You cannot mess around with the free market in this country."