THIRD SCHOOL FORUM DRAWS QUIET CROWD OF ABOUT 70

Following a quiet open forum Monday at Central Junior High School, Cape Girardeau Board of Education President John Campbell said he is in no hurry to make any decisions about the district's future.

About 70 people turned out for the third public forum scheduled by the school board to gather comments about how the district should proceed in the wake of twice failing to increase its tax levy.

At the meeting, about six people asked brief questions or made impromptu comments. No one presented prepared comments or statements and the meeting lasted just under an hour.

The board canceled a study session tentatively set for Nov. 22. Campbell said he would like to wait until the regular December board meeting before discussing comments the board has received.

"We don't want to make any more hasty choices," Campbell said.

In April and October, voters defeated tax increase proposals that would have raised money to build new schools. Faced with no new buildings and no new funding, the school board is taking a look at how to proceed. The board has asked for public input, at the forums and also in writing.

"We are still getting comments in writing," Campbell said at the close of the meeting. "I know there is more information I'd like to digest."

Superintendent Neyland Clark added that the district will not put a ballot issue before voters in February. A decision has to be made 60 days prior to the election.

Meetings held over the past two weeks at May Greene and Alma Schrader schools drew more vocal crowds.

District administrators presented information about three goals the school is working toward: establishing a sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade middle school; providing parental choice for elementary schools; and providing racial balance.

A number of different options were outlined by Richard Bollwerk, director of elementary education.

One choice which has received a lot of attention would transform May Greene Elementary into a sixth-grade center. Parents of children in grades kindergarten through five in the May Greene district would have a choice of elementary schools to attend.

Following the forum, Clark added, "Now we wait to receive additional written comments. We have been getting a few more over the past two weeks. We are taking each very seriously and all board members are getting copies of the letters we receive.

"I don't think the board or administration is in any hurry to move in any direction," Clark said.

He added that as the process moves forward, additional public forums likely will be held.

"As we near some sort of resolution, we will come back and hold other public forums to clarify points and then to listen again."

At the meeting, Karen Moore, parent of a fifth-grader at Franklin Elementary, questioned the safety of May Greene and its suitability for use as a sixth-grade center.

"Is it safe?" she asked.

Bollwerk said the buildings are currently being used to educate students. "We really don't want to use May Greene and Washington," he said. "But that's all we have."

Following the meeting, Moore added, "First they told us the facility was unsafe. Now it's not? I just want them to make sure the building is safe." Moore added that she is not opposed to the idea of a sixth-grade center.

Fred Withrow, a former principal who has been a vocal opponent of both the failed tax measures, said, "Washington and May Greene are in better shape physically today than they were in 1950. They are excellent buildings and will be for a long time as long as you spend a little money once in a while."

He also asked school officials to define what they mean by the term middle school. "We've had a middle school for 30 to 35 years. We're standing in a middle school right now," he said, indicating the junior high school.

Henry Mann asked if the failed middle school proposal's price tag could be reduced. He also recommended that the district do a better job explaining the costs of any future tax increase.