PLEDGED SUPPORT IS BUILDING FOR SCHOOL BOND-ISSUE VOTE

The information campaign for the Cape Girardeau School District's bond issue that will be on the ballot April 1 is well on its way. The mood was understandably upbeat as kindergarten students this week painted bricks on a schoolhouse sign representing the first 1,000 "Yes" votes that have been pledged by supporters.

Information combined with enthusiasm -- it is just the kind of momentum that is needed to drive this campaign to victory.

As the vote pledge drive continues, the work will become harder. But one-on-one lobbying has proved an effective technique.

The goal is to obtain a minimum of 5,500 "Yes" votes. Research into past ballot efforts by the school district has shown that it will take that many "Yes" votes to pass a ballot issue.

Thirty-eight days remain until Election Day. In the coming weeks, the school district and its supporters will work to inform the community on the necessity of this ballot issue.

On April 1, voters will consider two ballot issues: sale of $14 million in bonds and waiver of the Proposition C rollback. The money would be used to build a new elementary school and vocational-technical school. The funding also would address a long list of improvements in the district. The governor has included half the cost of the vocational-technical school in his budget -- all hinged on local passage of this bond issue.

No doubt voters have some questions on their minds as to the upcoming election. Please send your questions to the Southeast Missourian, Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702. We will find the answers to your questions and publish them in the newspaper in a question-and-answer format we plan to run several times in the coming weeks. In fact, we will run this feature as long as you have questions.

Three public meetings have also been scheduled in the coming weeks -- another opportunity to have your questions answered. The school district will explain its proposal on March 3 at May Greene Elementary School, March 4 at Washington Elementary School and March 10 at Central Junior High School cafeteria. All sessions start at 7 p.m.

Informed consumers make wise decisions about clothing, automobiles, appliances and, yes, even schools. Information -- and lots of it -- combined with a "Yes" vote pledge drive will likely prove a winning combination.