SCHOOLS GROUP WILL MEET WITH PARENTS

The committee looking at redrawing Cape Girardeau's elementary school boundaries plans to hold parent meetings at each elementary school.

Details for the proposed meetings will be discussed when the committee meets Monday.

Committee co-chairman Dr. Bob Fox said committee members may look at holding all the meetings on the same evening and having each building principal follow the same format to conduct the meetings.

"That way we will get responses from different areas to the same questions," Fox said.

The committee meeting Monday begins at 7 p.m. at the L.J. Schultz Library.

First on the agenda is a discussion of rules for the committee's operation. The agenda also includes a time for public input and questions.

Fox said committee members were surprised by the number of people attending the redistricting meetings. About 15 people attended the first meeting. The second meeting drew a crowd of about 60.

"The second meeting was a little bit of a surprise," Fox said. "It's a very volatile issue."

Many parents and community members attending the Jan. 24 meeting felt the committee tried to shut them out of the decision process.

Several committee members said they felt uncomfortable brainstorming in front of parents and the media. The group includes parents, school principals and two school board members, Fox and Steve Wright.

Fox said, "We never intended to pursue this without public input."

The agenda allows a place at the end of the meeting for patrons to make suggestions and ask questions.

"I don't know if we can answer the questions right away," Fox said. "We may write down questions and get back with the answers."

Committee members have asked people to send written suggestions, but Fox said none has been received.

At Monday's meeting the committee will receive information on previous tax issues the school district has attempted, information on the condition of school buildings and also state accreditation guidelines.

The committee is looking for a way to balance enrollments at Cape Girardeau's six elementary schools. Some buildings have larger class sizes than others. The committee is also looking at racial imbalances that exist in elementary buildings.

Cape Girardeau redistricting committee meeting

Agenda

Feb. 6 7 p.m.

L.J. Schultz School Library

Call to order

Committee/audience participation and rules of order.

Approval of the Jan. 10 and Jan. 24 meeting summary.

Additions to the agenda. Questions or concerns from the previous meeting.

Review of the three previous tax issues.

Brief review of the condition of the buildings as given in the Project Partnership report.

Explanation of the MSIP Resource Standards.

Proposal to schedule parent meetings at each elementary school.

Discussion of decision-making based upon educational concerns vs. political concerns.

Follow-up discussion on ideas suggested at the Jan. 24 meeting.

Future meeting dates: Feb. 23 and March 14.

Public input/questions.

Adjourn