SCHOOL FINANCES ON MINDS OF GRADUATING SENIORS AT JACKSON

JACKSON -- High school seniors may be more optimistic about their futures than they are about the future of Missouri schools.

"I think the students behind us are going to have a tougher time in school," said Craig Crawford, who graduated from Jackson High School Sunday and plans to study business management next fall at Southeast Missouri State University.

"With things like sports being cut out of schools, I think there will be more drop-outs. For a lot of us, sports is a big part of school. Without it, I don't think kids will be as involved," he said.

Some of Crawford's classmates feel the same way. They said budget cuts are on the minds of students more than teachers, administrators and parents might think.

Jackson schools typify the money crunch facing most Missouri schools.

Last week, the Jackson School Board considered resubmitting a 35-cent increase in the school tax rate that was defeated by voters in April. It would be an attempt to keep the district financially sound and to keep school programs from disappearing from student's schedules.

The district has not cut sports programs, but some seniors said they see decline, not improvement, ahead for Missouri schools, and in the process, a drop in the quality of education Missouri students receive.

The Jackson school board, like many others, have backed away from capital improvement plans, hiring additional teachers and even purchasing equipment and supplies in an effort to save money. The Jackson School Board is also considering reducing the district's share of employee health-care costs.

Other districts have frozen teacher's and administrator's salaries in their cost-cutting efforts.

Senior Susan Baker said: "I think we're glad we're getting out now, before it gets really bad."

She said if schools are continually underfunded by the state, the education of younger students will undoubtedly be affected.

"It just seems like they're cutting back on everything," said Baker, who also plans to attend Southeast in the fall and major in behavioral science.

A class of 255 seniors graduated from Jackson High School Sunday afternoon. Most area schools are holding graduation ceremonies in the coming weeks. Cape Central High School is the last to hold graduation, on June 5.

Crawford said if students educations are affected by budget cuts, it won't show in their grades, but rather in their enthusiasm for school activities.

"I don't think they are going to be any less smart than we are, I just think they are going to be less involved," Crawford said.

And students feel like the financial problems facing the state's public schools will worsen before it gets better.

"It looks like it's going downhill to me," he said.

But another Jackson senior said students are only influenced by budget cuts if they affect them personally.

For Roussel, nothing could spoil her graduation day.

"Things are looking great to me," she said, standing next to her fiance after the ceremony. Roussel, who has received a Regent's Scholarship to Southeast, said she plans to become a veterinarian.

"I've got a good job at Walmart, a Regent's scholarship and I'm getting married," she said. "My outlook on life is really good."