SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BOUNDARIES SET FOR NOW, BUT FLEXIBLE

A plan to consolidate Cape Girardeau's six elementary into five earned final approval from the Board of Education this week.

To the board's credit, the endorsement came well before the April 1 election. One month from today, voters will be asked to approve a 69-cent tax increase and a bond issue, which would fund a new elementary building, a new vocational-technical school and a number of other improvements. The committee's work is based on a 10-year, two-phase master plan.

The boundary redrawing plan met with very little public criticism. That in itself is extraordinary. The popularity of neighborhood schools makes the notion of charge very difficult for most parents.

Perhaps this lack of discord underscores parental understanding that something must be done about Cape Girardeau's aging elementary schools. Under the plan, both Washington and May Greene schools would be closed. A new school would be built near the corner of Bertling and Sprigg Streets. Again, the school board has been up front with the location of the new school far in advance of the election.

This kind of full disclosure should help not only the campaign, but will build further trust between the school district and taxpayers.

While the complaints on the boundary changes were few, the board was wise not to shut the door on parents with concerns. The committee has recommended a periodic review of attendance areas, and school board members endorsed the notion. Some parents are concerned about future development in the new school area in terms of students walking. It is a legitimate consideration that should be looked at prior to the opening of a new school.

Of course, this plan is entirely dependent on the will of voters April 1. If the bond proposal is not approved, the board will be forced to go back to the drawing board.

The district may still have to address the matter of racial imbalances among its elementary schools. This boundary redrawing would be much more difficult -- uprooting many more students -- without a new elementary school.

There are many factors to take advantage of in this upcoming election -- probable state funding for the vo-tech building, parental approval of new boundaries, and full disclosure from forthright district leaders. Now is the time to jump on this school district bandwagon.