LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: JACKSON VOTE ON SCHOOL ISSUES ISN'T NECESSARY

To the editor:

It seems to me it's time for the opposition to take center stage, opposition meaning those of us who were opposed to passage of the Jackson School District's $6 million bond issue on the ballot Aug. 8. Do those who are so unyieldingly supportive of the issues really believe the only reason people move to Jackson is because of its schools? I sincerely hope they are not of that persuasion.

My wife and I moved to Jackson five years ago to be close to our children who, incidentally, live in Cape Girardeau. We settled in Jackson because it seemed to be a nice, quiet, rural community, certainly not because of its school district. We have grandchildren in the Cape Girardeau School District and at Notre Dame High School, but none in the Jackson school system.

To be intimidated -- not only by school board members, but by others who favored passage of the issues -- by threats to place funding proposals again -- for the third time in less than eight months -- on the Nov. 7 general election is unconscionable. Also, to spread the alarm that because the issues were defeated people in the Jackson area wouldn't be able to sell their homes is another ridiculous assumption by those who favored passage.

Education is not predicated on the amount of money pumped into a school system. When I read the report outlined by the "Keeping Jackson Schools First" committee, I was shocked at some of the nonsense reflected in that report: $6 million for 18 additional classrooms adding a multipurpose gymnasium to the junior high, expanding a computer lab to include a writing/research lab," and to "increase districtwide technology by adding technology equipment and wiring." I'm not sure we voters understand all those heavy requirements to improve the educational standards in our district.

Now let's talk about taxes. My own tax bill for 1999, real estate and personal property, totals $1,628. A whopping 68 percent, or $1,111, is allocated to Cape Girardeau County public schools. This leaves only 32 percent of revenue to cover the rest of the city, county and state needs. A pittance indeed, considering an expanding Jackson with all its city revenue requirements. Collections from real estate and personal property taxes in support of the Jackson School District for 1999 totaled almost $7 million. Further, the district receives an additional $1,600 per pupil from the state. At approximately 5,000 students in the Jackson system, this totals around $8 million, a combined total of $15 million. It appears some people in Jackson are more interested in having the richest school system in the state rather than an academically superior system.

Dr. Ron Anderson, superintendent, has stated the request for additional funding won't go away just because the voters turned down the issues in two elections already this year. Dr. Wayne Lewis, Board of Education president, reminded members of the board of the Aug. 29 deadline for placing funding proposals on the Nov. 7 ballot. Do they mean the board will keep placing it on the ballot for each future election hoping it will pass? From what I have seen so far, that might be considered highly reckless.

Isn't it about time the heads of the Jackson district employed a little management expertise and concentrate their energy on ways to reduce educational costs rather than their futile appeal for more money from the taxpayers?

RICHARD BRUCE

Jackson, Mo.