SCHOOL IS NAMED FOR BARBARA BLANCHARD

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education voted to name the district's newest elementary school Barbara Blanchard Elementary School during a meeting Monday night.

The board voted unanimously to name the building under construction at Sprigg and Bertling streets in honor of Blanchard, who retired last summer after working 37 years as an educator. Blanchard's name was one of seven recommended by an ad hoc committee for consideration by the school board.

"There are a number of well-qualified individuals who have worked in education in our district who certainly are worthy of having a facility named for them," said the school board president, Dr. Ferrell Ervin. "Mrs. Blanchard is highly respected throughout our community, and I feel confident the majority of the public will be delighted the building has been named for her."

Blanchard's relationship with the school district dates back to her attendance at Washington Elementary School as a student in the mid-1940s. After receiving her degree in elementary education in 1961, she taught in Festus for one year before returning to Washington to teach fourth and fifth grades during the following two years.

After leaving to teach in other districts for four more years, she returned to Washington in 1968 and taught first, fourth, fifth and sixth grades through 1993.

In 1992, she was named interim principal at the school. She remained principal until she announced her retirement in spring 1997.

That retirement was short-lived because of a delay in construction plans for the new school. Blanchard agreed to work an additional year, and officially retired last July.

Blanchard school originally was scheduled for completion on June 30, but contractors now are projecting the project will require an additional month for completion. Jim Baker, project manager for R.L. Persons Construction Co., said delays in acquiring structural steel and supplies for some 40 sky lights caused the project to fall behind schedule.

"Based on everything we have, this date is achievable," said Baker regarding the new July 30 completion date.