TECHNOLOGY CENTER FUNDING UNCERTAIN

Southeast Missouri State University officials aren't ready to start building a technology center just yet.

First, the school must get the $5 million for the project.

The Missouri House Budget Committee added the project to the budget Tuesday, along with money for 26 other higher education building projects on other campuses and two new prisons.

The committee budgeted $2 million to begin construction for the technology center, $1.5 million for a new Cape Girardeau vocational-technical school and $1.5 million for an education center in Sikeston.

The capital budget still has to be passed in both houses and differences ironed out in a conference committee before it ever gets to Gov. Mel Carnahan's desk.

"Obviously, we are pleased at this point it is under consideration," said Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast's president.

He said it remains the school's top capital priority. But Nitzschke said the committee action is just one step in the process.

"I think there are a lot of issues that haven't been resolved," he said.

Funding remains so uncertain that Southeast officials didn't even mention it during the open session Wednesday of the Board of Regents.

"I don't think it would be wise to talk about figures right now," state Rep. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau, said Wednesday from the state Capitol.

Kasten is on the House Budget Committee, which put the technology center in the budget.

But Kasten said the budget has yet to be debated on the House floor and easily could be amended.

"It is really kind of a delicate thing now," she said. "We need to make sure we don't foul it up."

Southeast won't get the entire $5 million needed to build the technology center this year, said Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents.

The House Budget Committee's partial funding of the project offers the only way the project will move forward, he said.

Its possible, Southeast might have to seek private funding to complete the project, Dickerson said.

State Rep. Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston, came up with the funding plan, Dickerson said.

Without it, funding for construction of a vocational school in the Cape Girardeau School District would be in jeopardy, Dickerson said.

The school district has sought about $3 million to pay half the cost of a new vocational school.

But Dickerson said reduced funding this year would be better than none.

Dividing up $5 million in funding among several projects in the region makes sense, said Dickerson.

The whole focus is on improving technical education in the region, he said.

"Southeast is the touchstone to make it work in the 25 counties," said Dickerson.

State Rep. David Schwab, R-Jackson, said some lawmakers are concerned that the funding would go to a consortium involving Southeast, area community colleges and vocational-technical schools rather than directly to the university.

Southeast wants to build a 40,000-square-foot center to replace its current industrial-technology building and provide training in advanced manufacturing operations.

The university wants to set up a polytechnic institute that focuses on technical training.

Southeast would move all of its industrial technology programs out of the aging Serena Building, which has become inadequate for its needs, university officials have said.

BOARD OF REGENTS

Wednesday, April 30

Action items

Approved fees for the Doctor of Education Cooperative Program.

Agreed to spend $60,000 for construction plans for improvements to Southeast Missouri State University's recreation fields.

Approved resolutions honoring retiring university employees and Ohio Valley Conference athletic achievements.

Established a major in international business and a minor in business administration.

Conferred degrees for 1997 spring commencement.