SCHOOL UPGRADE PROPOSED; BOARD WILL DECIDE ON $25 MILLION BOND SUBMISSION

Cape Girardeau public-school officials have set a $25 million price tag for improvements that would be carried out under an upcoming bond-issue proposal.

That $25 million would buy two new school buildings, an addition to Jefferson Elementary School, earthquake resistance, air conditioning and electrical updates for existing buildings.

Superintendent Neyland Clark and Board of Education President Ed Thompson revealed the price of the project Friday. They explained that a tax increase of 72 cents would retire the bonds.

In addition, the board plans a 27-cent increase in the district's building fund levy, which would bring the total tax increase to 99 cents.

According to the 1990 census, Cape Girardeau's median home has a market value of $58,300. The 99-cent increase would cost the owner of that home an additional $109.66 cents a year, or about $2.10 a week.

Thompson said the Board of Education plans to vote on the measure at its Feb. 8 board meeting. The deadline to place an issue on the April 6 ballot is Feb. 9.

If the proposal is approved, May Greene and Washington elementary schools and L.J. Schultz Middle School would be closed.

Cape Girardeau voters would see two school issues on the ballot. The authorization to sell bonds requires 57.1 percent approval to pass. Raising the levy in the building fund requires a simple majority of votes to pass. The package could be implemented only if both measures were approved.

Clark said sale of $25 million in bonds could be repaid at a tax levy of 72 cents. Officials also hope to raise the district's building fund levy from 8 cents to 35 cents. Money in the building fund is used primarily for maintenance. Clark said electrical updates are included in that increase.

Two new buildings, an elementary school and a middle school are planned for construction on district-owned property at Sprigg and Bertling. If voters approve the package, Clark said the new facilities could be completed in two years.

Jefferson Elementary School addition includes 12 classrooms and an early childhood center. Enrollment at the school could be increased to 500.

Earthquake resistance, Clark explained, would provide added safety for students and staff in existing buildings. In a 6.2 earthquake, the size quake studied in preparing retrofitting costs, the structures would likely be damaged beyond repair. Cost of the retrofit is $4 million.

New construction would be seismically designed to provide for both safety of occupants and preservation of the integrity of the building.

"The new buildings could be used as shelters," Clark said. Cost of seismic design of the new buildings is included in the construction costs.

The proposal also allows the district to bring electrical systems up to codes and allows the district to begin the process of making all buildings handicapped accessible in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

If voters approve the measures, Clark said the district in the future would be able to borrow against the equity built up in the bonds.

"This allows us to come back and borrow against the equity, and we could do that without raising taxes," he said. He said long-range plans call for another new elementary school in the northwest part of the city in perhaps eight years. Bonds for that school, theoretically, could be issued without a tax hike.

If the new buildings are constructed, Clark said May Greene and Washington schools will be placed for sale. If sold, the money would go to the building fund.

Alternative uses are being considered for the Schultz building, like an alternative school setting, Clark said.