TEACHERS OFFER BUDGET OPTIONS

Cape Girardeau teachers, facing elimination of staff positions and a salary freeze because of a budget shortfall, would like the Board of Education to consider alternatives.

One possibility would be to place some construction projects on hold.

A group of teachers from each building and every grade level has been meeting weekly to develop options. They plan to make a proposal to the Board of Education at the March 16 meeting.

"We were presented with a plan that had no alternatives," said Neil Casey, a teacher at Central Junior High School. "We think we can come up with solutions that will not gut educational programs."

School district officials are looking for ways to make up $1 million in the budget. Half that will be from new money to the district, but administrators are calling for $500,000 in budget cuts to take care of the difference.

Most of that money could be saved by freezing teacher salaries and eliminating some staff positions. Administrators hope those positions could be cut by attrition.

The district is also considering retirement incentives and has proposed elimination of a preparation period for high school teachers, who currently have two preparation periods.

"We do have suggestions we would like to offer to them, and we hope they will consider them in all seriousness," said Brenda Woemmel, a teacher at Central High School. "We're looking to see what we can do to support teachers. We do not want to lose staff positions, and we do not want to have class size skyrocketing."

In addition, teachers are worried because they haven't seen a long-range plan.

Teachers throughout the district have offered ideas. Suggestions are being sorted into an official proposal.

"Ultimately we will be judged by the choices we make, not the monuments we erect," said John Patrick, Central Junior High School teacher, referring to the district's building plans. "Build those facilities most needed. Place on hold those building programs that can wait. Get our house in order, then proceed with further building. Our children deserve quality teachers."

Voters approved a $14 million bond issue last year to pay for a new vocational-technical school and a new elementary school as well as renovations to existing buildings. A second phase calls for another $14 million bond issue that would include construction of a new high school.

"At this point we must all work together to formulate a feasible plan that will least affect the quality of our educational program and our students in the classroom," said Donna Ellis, a teacher at Central High School.

"As a veteran teacher with more than 25 years in our district, I have been through the wars," said Barbara Lohr, a teacher at the vocational-technical school.

"Here we are again," she said. "The district is in a financial bind, and the blame, as usual, is being attributed to the teachers. Teachers will be asked to shoulder the burden in this crisis by working even longer hours and teaching larger classes."

Teachers said morale has been adversely affected.

"Teacher morale has a direct correlation with the professionalism, dedication and learning environment within each and every classroom," said Mary Wilhite, a teacher at L.J. Schultz School.

"My main concern would be the issue of class size," said Linda Hill, a teacher at Clippard Elementary School. "I feel that would have an impact on the amount of small group and individual attention your child would receive if staff reductions result in larger class size."

"While new buildings are definitely important for the safety of our students, nothing can replace the attention of a good teacher," said Tammy Raddle, at teacher at Franklin Elementary School. "It is my fear that we may lose quality teachers because of our district's inability to pay them adequately."

Raddle said cutting teacher numbers will help finances in the short run, but in the long run it does a disservice to students, parents and the community.

"I truly hope the people making these important decisions concerning our school district always keep before them the faces of the teachers and students their decisions affect, because they are not just numbers, but the people who will be shaping the future for all of us."