LEND A POSITIVE VOICE TO DISCUSSION OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS

Now that voters of Cape Girardeau have turned down, for a second time, a proposal that would replace some of the deteriorating school buildings in their district, supporters of education are left only to throw up their hands in dismay ... or perhaps just throw up. Having scaled back by half the rejected offering of April, and with a $900,000 sweetener added by new state law, the school district asks -- or should ask -- this question: What does this community want from public education? If the last two ballot issues have been unacceptable, the taxpayers of Cape Girardeau should step forward to tell school officials what is acceptable.

In April, the school board presented to voters a $25 million bond issue to construct two schools, plus a separate tax increase for building maintenance, with a total impact on property owners of 97 cents per $100 assessed valuation; both failed. This week, the board put before voters a proposal to build one school and add to an existing structure, with a total impact of 51 cents on property owners. It failed also. On the bigger issue in April, there were 4,954 "no" votes cast, and that number was reduced to 3,133 this time around. Still, the "yes" votes were not sufficient enough in either case to get the job done, and there is no honor in getting beat by fewer votes than before. The school district failed to garner enough people who bought into the plan, and that's all that matters.

There is a groping in the aftermath of this defeat for reasons.

Some people will point out that a great many Cape Girardeans see themselves getting no reward from money paid to the public school system. It is true that 1,200 students attend parochial schools in Cape Girardeau, from kindergarten through 12th grade. In most cases, their parents are paying taxes for public education in addition to tuition at those schools. In addition, there are, according to 1990 census figures, 7,741 residents of Cape Girardeau age 55 and older. Those are significant numbers of people feeling, perhaps, they have no stake (except on the negative side, through taxes) in the upgrading of public schools.

Some people will point out that Cape Girardeau is a conservative place that doesn't like turning money over to a public treasury. But the money raised by this issue will never be touched by Bill Clinton, will never be touched by Mel Carnahan, will never by appropriated by the U.S. Congress. It was to be money from Cape Girardeau being spent in Cape Girardeau for the betterment of children. The taxpayer living in a median-priced house would have contributed 15 cents a day had this issue passed; how many people deny their children 15 cents a day now to buy a snack? This money would have kept these many young people in air conditioning during hot months and in safer structures if an earthquake occurs.

Some people will point out that the money, even such a reasonable amount, is just not available, that the economy of Cape Girardeau is not such that people can not spend a dime and a nickel more each day to improve public schools. The fact is, however, that Cape Girardeau County ranks consistently in the top 10 counties in Missouri in employment; this is not a depressed area. Further, the economy over the long haul will be dragged down if education suffers; employers, particularly in modern industries, are seeking workers with higher skill levels provided by good schools, and they will go where they can find those workers. If Cape Girardeau isn't the place, and evidence points to the fact it may not want to be, then these industries and their jobs will go elsewhere.

In every sense, the tax issue Tuesday and the improvement of schools generally can never be seen as a short-range investment. Buildings stand for decades and serve generations of young people. The knowledge that students acquire in well-run schools plays itself out in numerous ways and breeds an enhanced quality of life. The value of good schools to a community can not be overstated.

Assuming, then, that the 3,133 voters who rejected the school proposal Tuesday found fault with the district's plan, a constructive step would be to determine what exactly was wrong with that plan and what type of plan might be passable. A clip-and-mail coupon has been included along with this editorial. If you voted no in Tuesday's election, please answer the questions on this coupon and mail it to the Southeast Missourian. Your answers will be revealed on this page in the next week. Don't just cast a negative vote and leave it at that; take a positive step and give some voice to your reasoning. Do education in Cape Girardeau a favor.