STATE AID SOUGHT FOR NEW VO-TECH

Two Cape Girardeau lawmakers want the state to pay half the cost of a new $6.3 million vocational-technical school.

State Sen. Peter Kinder sent a letter Friday to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requesting such funding for the next fiscal year.

State Rep. Mary Kasten said Saturday she plans to send a similar letter.

Kinder made the written request in a letter to Dr. Russell McCampbell, assistant commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

Kinder asked that $3.15 million be included in the education department budget to help construct a 90,000-square-foot vocational school.

State funding would be contingent upon approval of a bond issue by Cape Girardeau School District voters.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education is considering asking voters to approve a $14 million bond issue in April.

The bond issue would fund construction of a new vocational-technical school and a new elementary school, as well as renovation of other school buildings.

Kinder said state aid for a new vo-tech school would lighten the burden on local taxpayers and could increase the chances for passage of a bond issue.

School board member Harry Rediger said the school serves more than the district's students. It serves students from the region and offers many adult education classes.

He said that justifies asking for state aid.

Rediger said school officials asked for the help of the two Republican lawmakers to secure state funding.

Rediger said Gov. Mel Carnahan has voiced support for strengthening vocational-technical education at both the high school and college levels.

Rediger said school officials might contact Carnahan this week.

The school board will consider next month whether it wants to put a bond issue before the voters.

Rediger said a promise of state funding would be a help in selling a bond issue to voters.

But Kasten said it is uncertain if the education department and the governor will include money for the project in their budget proposals.

The state may not be in a position to make any assurances about state funding prior to a possible bond issue vote in April, Kasten said.

Kasten said vocational education is important in today's high-tech world.

Kasten said planning for next year's state budget began in the summer. State agencies already have developed budget proposals in advance of next year's legislative session.

"So it is maybe a little bit late in getting it in," Kasten said. Still, she said, she hopes the project will get the support of the governor and be funded.