VO-TECH SITE PURCHASED; SCHOOL BOARD PLANS 75 ACRES IN CENTER OF DISTRICT

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education purchased 75 acres for a vocational-technical school nearly dead center in the school district.

The property is situated between Silver Springs Road and South Kingshighway southwest of the Kingshighway-Southern Expressway intersection. When Southern Expressway is extended westward, it will front the property's northern edge.

While the Cape Girardeau city limits end near I-55, the school district extends west and south to the Highway 25-77 intersection, commonly called Blomeyer Junction.

The district's long-range plans call for construction of a high school on the same tract.

The board agreed to purchase the property from Earl Norman for $1.475 million. Norman agreed to donate $100,000 to the school district, so the net cost is $1.375 million, or $18,333 per acre.

Property on nearby Southern Expressway is selling for $30,000 to $60,000 an acre.

"I feel like we're fortunate to get it," said board vice president Terry Taylor.

Voters approved sale of $14 million in bonds on April 1 to fund construction of a vo-tech school and an elementary school. The elementary school will be built on property the district has owned for years north of the Sprigg-Bertling intersection.

Dr. Dan Tallent, school superintendent, said the district needed 70 to 80 acres to provide space for both the vo-tech and high-school buildings.

The board considered a number of locations but wanted property close to the center of the school district.

"We were sensitive about locating in residential areas," said Tallent. "We also didn't want people to have to drive all the way through town."

The vo-tech school will draw 2,000 vehicles a day, including adult and high-school students and staff.

Since the site is away from congestion it will improve campus safety, Tallent said. People in the area will most likely be traveling to and from the school, making those who don't belong there obvious.

Tallent said the fact that the new schools will be visible from I-55 will show progress.

Tallent explained the property is nearly flat, which means dirt work will be kept to a minimum.

The school board hopes to award a contract for construction of the vo-tech school by fall and the elementary school by mid-summer.

The school board hopes to meet within the next few weeks with the Cape Girardeau City Council to talk about improvements planned for the area, including roads, water and sewer lines.

City plans call for Southern Expressway to cross Kingshighway at the northern edge of the school district's property. Mount Auburn Road is also to be extended south and eventually meet up with Southern Expressway.

The board is interested in timetables from the city concerning the improvements.

"It's a beautiful piece of property," said board member Bob Fox.

The board will meet Wednesday to award a bid for the deposit of proceeds from the bond sale. The school district is looking for the best deal on what amounts to an interest-bearing checking account for $14 million.