Whittling down Cape schools' wish list

Cape Girardeau school board members and district administrators will face the tough task of prioritizing projects for capital improvements that could begin during the 2009-2010 school year. A "wish list" was presented to board members last week.

Among the possible projects are a plan to replace or renovate Franklin Elementary School, add six classrooms to Clippard Elementary School, remodel the junior high, and build a football stadium, performing arts auditorium and four to eight classrooms at the high school.

All plans are in the discussion phase, and no decisions have been made.

"There will be discussions about what's pressing, what isn't, can it be delayed and can we afford it," said Patrick Morgan, director of administrative services. Morgan conducted interviews with each building principal to compile the list, part of a five-year facilities plan.

Bonds approved by voters in 2000 to construct a high school will be paid off between 2009 to 2010; $12.5 million is still left to be paid. At that point, voters could approve continuing with the issue without a tax increase, according to Brenda McCowan, former director of finance and current coordinator of federal programs and grants.

The continuation would allow for some of the projects, Morgan said. He said the number of projects would depend on which are determined to be priorities and on more accurate cost estimates.

Fifty-six cents of the $4.16 per $100 assessed valuation tax levy currently goes to debt service.

Superintendent Dr. David Scala has pushed for a facilities plan, saying it was one of his priorities before he retires at the end of June.

Some board members expressed concern the plan was not as thorough as they expected but said that allows latitude.

"I was expecting a real plan, not just a list," said board member Paul Nenninger, adding that he does not want to be critical of the effort. "There are some schools that are not even mentioned in this comprehensive plan, and that shocks me, but maybe I'll find out with more research that it's appropriate," he said.

Members plan to tour schools and visit with principals before continuing discussions. Morgan said there is no timeline as to when any decisions will occur.

Here is a look at what is proposed for buildings identified as needing major work. The schools are not listed in order of priority:

Franklin Elementary

The school, built in 1927, is outdated but structurally sound, Morgan said. Plans call for four additional classrooms and an elevator.

Enrollment is currently at 237 students and capacity is 250. The school could either be replaced at a cost of $5 million to $6 million, or renovated at a cost of $4 million to $4.5 million.

"Personally, I'd hate to see the building torn down, but I need to look toward the future," principal Rhonda Dunham said, noting the option is only a possibility.

Clippard Elementary

Principal Sydney Herbst did not return an initial phone call and deferred questions to Morgan after a subsequent call. A proposal lists the addition of six classrooms at a cost of $750,000 to $1 million.

Central Junior High School

Areas in the basement are without heating and air conditioning, plaster is peeling, and more surveillance and lighting is needed in places, principal Roy Meridith said.

"This is an aging building, and with any aging building you have physical concerns," he said.

Meridith said he would like to see a bigger library and the issue of bundles of wires running along the ceiling addressed.

Remodeling the 50-year-old building would cost between $9 million and $15 million.

Central High School

When the high school opened in 2002, plans for a football stadium and auditorium were eliminated due to cost, and special education classrooms were divided in half.

Football games are played at a cost of $2,000 per game at Southeast Missouri State University, and busing the team costs about $600 each game, athletic director Mark Ruark said.

He said team pride would increase with the school's own stadium, and crowds wouldn't be limited by games currently scheduled for Thursdays.

Principal Dr. Mike Cowan said he would like to see the addition of four to eight classrooms.

"As glamorous as the football stadium and auditorium may be as far as broader appeal to more people, the much greater need on our campus is classrooms," Cowan said.

About 25 sections of classes are without a permanent home; teachers travel, using a cart, to other rooms available because the teacher there has a planning break.

"When you have to move around and you're dealing with beakers and test tubes, the quality of teaching suffers. You're much more prone to say 'Today we're going to do a worksheet,' and that's wretched," said Micah Janzow, the head of science at Central.

Other plans

The five-year plan outlines smaller projects for each year as well. This school year's projects include: adding restrooms and concessions to high school athletic areas, creating additional parking at the middle school, resurfacing the playgrounds at Blanchard and Jefferson elementary schools, installing new security cameras at the middle school, and various roofing and flooring projects. The district office is expected to be renovated to accommodate alternative school students, displaced by the sale of the aging Schultz school.

Many of the projects listed for subsequent years involve routine maintenance. The only project scheduled above $100,000 is the replacing of the swimming pool bubble in 2009 at an estimated cost of $350,000.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123