LETTERS: SCHOOL PLAN QUESTIONED

To the editor:

I am a property owner in Cape Girardeau and am, of course, interested in the future school bond issue. I have noticed much publicity about the plan for increasing property taxes and building new schools, but I haven't seen anything about the justification for these expenditures. Has the city grown so much in the past few years to warrant new building? Are any of the current buildings structurally unsound? Is a lack of air conditioning for the time when we may teach school all year a requirement at this time? Can the seventh and eighth grades fit into the current high school building without creating a large amount of nice-to-have but wasted space, and who will pay for the operating costs of this extra space?

The superintendent of schools has stated that the state will pay 80 percent of additional student transportation costs associated with the new building plan. Will my state taxes then increase in order to pay for new transportation costs?

Almost as important as sound justification and requirements for the new building and renovation plan is the plan which will ensure the best future use of schools designated to be dropped from the system. The current cavalier approach is to sell them, and if no buyers are available then to give them to the city for parks or something. I would hope that more though and planning would be given to a constructive or innovative use of these valuable properties.

H. FRANKLIN MAZE

Cape Girardeau

EDITOR'S NOTE: This newspaper has reported extensively on the school district's master plan and the concerns leading up to it. Mr. Maze's specific questions will be given to the district to respond to.