READERS RESPOND FURTHER TO SCHOOL ISSUE

In the aftermath of the Oct. 5 election failure of a school improvements package for Cape Girardeau, the second time such an issue has failed, the Southeast Missourian published a clip-and-mail coupon seeking comments on the negative outcome.

Several dozen people responded to our request. What follows are comments offered concerning the second question on the coupon. We publish them basically as submitted, hoping to draw from them something of the reasoning of those who voted against this issue.

In Wednesday's edition, we published responses to the first question on the coupon. In Friday's edition, we will publish some longer, more detailed commentaries that were submitted in response to the coupon.

As always, we welcome other letters concerning this subject. We would like for this to be just the beginning of the dialogue.

What would make a school improvement plan acceptable?

The last taxes voted in went for raises for the big dog's pockets. People don't forget this.

The board wants money from local people, why not employ local people?

Cut the administrators' salaries way down. All of them.

Too much taxes.

Buildings do not need to look like country clubs.

Revive the prior separate issue to earthquake retrofit schools, air-condition them and provide them with adequate electrical power.

Get rid superintendent. Quit wasting money. Put on sales tax so all pay.

Cut waste and redo administrative structure. Take a close look at expenses and costs.

The older buildings could be renovated, as beautiful old Lorimier School was improved. Schultz is a great old building. (The part in bad shape was added about 25 years ago.) Old Broadway School looks in good shape today, also. Renovation could go on over a span of time, perhaps one school at a time.

The district needs new elementary buildings, not a middle school. Renovate Washington and May Greene. Re-landscape the school grounds. Keep the schools where they are so that the neighborhood school is intact. Add some classrooms to Jefferson. Why build a middle school when the number one need is elementary schools?

Plan a four-year tax. Save by traveling not more than 50 miles for sports. Cut out some of the white-collar desk jobs. Pay lower workers more so they can vote for tax. These are complaints we feel and hear every day in retired groups.

Put some middle class people on school board; ones we have are too rich. Use existing buildings; do more remodeling. Cut out some high salaried staff.

A special school tax paid by or in a form such as sales tax to all residents, not just homeowners.

Trim administration and frills. Fix up old schools.

Repeal Gov. Carnahan's education tax.

Forget about middle-school concept.

Has anyone checked the age of St. Mary's school building? And I notice they have air conditioning.

Reality. Exact plans for use of money in classrooms to improve learning opportunities. Will not vote for Clark Memorial Middle School.

The superintendent of schools needs to quit acting like he is the savior of our schools. He appears arrogant and overly assured that he knows how to spend my money. For me to vote for a tax increase, the following must be done:

What is the plan? Do we need $25 million or $10 million? Let me know exactly what it will cost me. Quit trying to shame me into voting for something.

Voters in Cape feel that many past dollars have been wasted. Look at the so-called "new gym." This is a dinosaur and has had minimal use at great expense. This is something we just "had to have." Look at the current City Hall. This building was going to crush our kids, was unsafe, etc. Now look at it.

The Missourian should show some type of restraint, i.e., maturity, when they write their silly little editorials and mention "throwing up." This probably worked in the sixth grade. You pseudo intellectuals somehow feel that you know what's best for me and how can the voter dare question the word of the school system and the knowledgeable editorial staff of the Missourian.

New location would involve horrendous traffic problems.

A tax that would tax everyone, not just the property owners.

More efficient management of school tax dollars. Thorough explanation of middle-school concept to taxpayer.

Cut out high-priced frills not needed in this building. Let renters help pay the tab.

Improve discipline and the quality of education first, then make smaller community schools.

To completely renovate Washington and May Greene schools. I would vote for even more than the 51 cents levy asked for.

Find a source of funding other than the property tax. Forget the idea of a middle school.

Forget middle school. Trim fat at the top. Follow the suggestions of subcommittees.

Reinstate cuts that dumped on teachers. Get eighth grade out of the middle school. Get a middle school principal that can discipline students.

A new school board that knows how to think.

We don't need a middle school. Add on to present buildings.

Include revenue from riverboat gambling. Show better results from money now spent. Take more input from parents.

Cut out a lot of the waste.

Publish the amount of school taxes they received in 1992 and 1993.

Change the administration. Elementary school is better than middle school.

Honesty and integrity.

Change the administration.

Show me what I'm getting for the money. Buildings alone don't turn out good students. Good teachers and good parents turn out good students.

The administration must learn to be good stewards of our tax money. Mrs. Bennett said that the public did not know what they were voting for. Is this were true, then perhaps the public was not informed. The seniors and "uninformed" did not defeat your tax increase proposal. I think when you tell the people the whole story, up front, then you will get your tax increase. We are all for good education, and we are not ignorant.

A sunset clause may help.

Trim down the bloated administrative staff. Reduce unnecessary spending.