SCHOOLS HOPE THE ODDS ARE IN THEIR FAVOR

If history is any indication, Cape Girardeau and Jackson Boards of Education have a good chance of winning voter approval for funding measures that will be decided during elections Tuesday.

Both districts have passed at least half of the funding proposals that have gone before voters since 1980. Voters appeared most receptive to measures that required no overall tax increase. The approved measures generally required only a simple majority of total votes.

Cape Girardeau schools Superintendent Dan Steska hopes the odds are on his side when voters consider an $18 million bond issue Tuesday. A four-sevenths majority, or 57.14 percent, is needed for passage of the measure.

The bond issue, which does not require a tax increase, would fund construction of a new high school to house grades nine through 12. If approved, grade levels would be redistributed throughout the district to improve building usage and accommodate future growth.

Louis J. Schultz School, built in 1914, would be closed if the measure is approved. Fifth and sixth grades would be removed from elementary schools to a two-grade center at the junior high school, while Central High School would be converted to a seventh-and-eighth-grade junior high facility.

In the past 20 years, Cape Girardeau voters have approved only half of the 10 funding proposals they have considered. The district's last two proposals, both made in 1997, received nearly 65 percent voter approval.

Steska said he hopes voters approve the latest proposal, which completes a two-phase building plan first designed by committees of school patrons and staff in 1995.

"I think we're getting a lot of good feedback," he said. "I'm hopeful voters will continue the commitment we made to our students with the passage of phase one funding three years ago."

While no one can definitively predict the number of voters who will participate in an election, Steska said he anticipates about 5,000 yes votes will be needed.

"That's what we're thinking we'll need, based on past election totals, but you never can tell how many voters will come out for an election," he said. "We're just encouraging all of the folks who say they support the bond issue to make sure they go to the polls."

Jackson voters have been more accommodating when it comes to funding their schools. Since 1984, six of seven funding proposals have been approved.

The only measure to fail was a 35-cent tax levy increase proposed in 1992. Voters rejected the tax levy increase 1,632 votes to 1,220.

Then-schools Superintendent Wayne Maupin attributed the defeat to a lack of information about the proposal and a general "anti-tax" sentiment.

"Basically, I guess we simply didn't work hard enough at it," Maupin said following the loss. "We really didn't get out and convince our patrons that we really have some bona fide financial needs, which is especially important when you have a growing school district."

The increase was proposed to end a deficit-spending trend, maintain staff and academic programs, and offset reductions in state funding.

All took place during the beginning of a significant growth spurt in the district that is shows no signs of ending soon.

School officials considered reposing the levy question, but instead convened a committee of patrons and staff to study the district's needs.

The committee determined a middle school was needed to relieve overcrowding in the junior high and elementary schools, and two elections were scheduled in 1993 to finance construction of the new building.

In April 1993, about 76 percent of participating voters approved a no-tax increase, $4.7 million bond issue to fund construction of a sixth- and seventh-grade middle school.

Six months later, Jackson voters approved in a 1,824 to 116 decision a 12-cent waiver of the Proposition C rollback to bring the district's tax levy up to $2.75, the state minimum.

And in 1996, Jackson voters approved a 20-cent tax hike when they supported a $7.8 million bond issue to fund construction of a high school math and science building, an addition at North Elementary School and a new elementary school to be built south of town.

The proposal received 66 percent of votes, well over the 57 percent majority needed for approval.

Current Superintendent Ron Anderson said he hopes voters will continue to support Jackson schools when they go to the polls Tuesday.

Jackson school officials are asking voters to approve an $11 million bond issue for construction of an elementary school, an addition and renovations to R.O. Hawkins Junior High, and some technology upgrades throughout the district. A four-sevenths majority is needed to pass the measure, which would increase the debt service levy by 15 cents.

The second proposal seeks a full waiver of the Proposition C half-cent sales tax. If approved, Jackson school officials would increase the operating tax levy by 40 cents to hire additional certified and support staff.

The waiver requires a simple majority vote for passage.

The district is requesting a total tax-levy increase of 55 cents per $100 assessed valuation. Unfortunately, there is no recent precedent for school officials to consider: It's the first time in at least 20 years the district has requested two funding measures during the same election.

"We haven't really gone back to see how voters have voted in prior elections," Anderson said. "We're hoping they understand the growth the district has had over the years and remember the students by approving the bond issue and levy increase."