SCHOOL WAITS FOR STATE TO FUND CAREER CENTER

A million dollars in state funding for Cape Girardeau's Career and Technology Center remains in the hands of Gov. Bob Holden, state Rep. Jason Crowell told the Board of Education Monday night.

Crowell said another $832,000 in state funding for the new school is in the state's operating budget and should be released soon.

But it's unclear when the $1 million, the state also owes for the project, will be released, he said. That money comes out of the state's capital improvements budget approved by the General Assembly.

Crowell said the governor hasn't released the capital improvements money because of concern about tight finances in state government.

"Unfortunately, the capital improvements budgets are left to the governor's discretion," Crowell told the school board.

"You all kept your word. Now it is time for the state to step up to the plate and meet its obligations," he said.

In other business, the board voted to start the 2002-2003 school year after Labor Day to allow more time to complete construction of a new high school. School would start on Sept. 3 and end on June 4.

School officials said the academic year would have 176 days. Any snow days would have to be added on, said Superintendent Dan Steska.

School board member Mark Carver said it would be better to cut back on school holidays rather than extend the school year beyond June 4.

"That's going pretty late in the year," he said.