SCHOOL YEAR BRINGS NEW PACE, OPPORTUNITIES

The calendar may still say summer, but family schedules reflect a return to the busy fall session of school classes.

It is back-to-school time for area elementary and secondary schools as well as Southeast Missouri State University.

Welcome back, students.

Merchants are especially glad to see the return of thousands of university students. The traffic inconvenience is well worth the spending boom the university generates.

Some youngsters returned to school as early as Aug. 15, with the remainder of schools gearing up this week. All public schools in the region again took advantage of the agricultural exemption and started classes before the start of Labor Day. Of course, that means on Monday schools will take an early holiday respite.

Southeast Missouri State University started the year with 205 fewer students enrolled on the first day of classes than a year ago. The combined undergraduate and graduate count was 7,673, down 2.6 percent from last year.

It is a downward trend that the university has been battling for a number of years. No doubt tougher admission standards had an impact on the numbers this year, along with a dwindling pool of high school graduates.

Public school districts are keeping a close eye on enrollment as well. Under Senate Bill 380, increased funding in many districts is directly tied to a growing student base.

The Cape Girardeau public schools hope that when enrollment figures stabilize in a week or so, the numbers will at least equal last year. The Tuesday count was 4,362, down 23 from last year. That is an improvement over first-day-of-school numbers, which showed the district down 48.

Historically, the first days of school reflect the lowest enrollment of the whole year.

Jackson public schools continued their upward enrollment trend this year. The district had 107 additional students on the first day of classes, for a total student body of 3,813.

Scott City public schools began the year with 28 more students than last year, with the numbers evenly split between elementary and secondary. Total enrollment was 949.

Several area schools begin the new year with new faces and places.

Nell Holcomb Elementary School has undergone extensive renovation since June. The $750,000 remodeling project included roof work, installation of new heating and air-conditioning systems, replacement of windows and a new library area. Chaffee public schools also broke ground last week on a 14,051-square-foot high school addition. The $778,163 project is the third phase of a district building program. Construction of a new middle school at Jackson is under way to help alleviate overcrowding.

The Cape Girardeau public schools begin the year with six new principals at Central High School, the junior high school and L.J. Schultz Middle School. Some of the changes reflect promotions of familiar faces; others are new to the district. The change in administrative leadership at these buildings should allow for new approaches with students and teachers.

One dark cloud on the horizon is the uncertainty of statewide funding. The secretary of state's office should announce today whether a $310 million tax increase to fund Senate Bill 380 must go to a vote of the people. A Cole County judge ruled last week that it should, unless the state can convince him otherwise.

This vote could have serious implications for districts that greatly benefit from the reform bill, including Jackson. Many districts have already hired the teachers and spent the money. Senate Bill 380 continues to be a legal fiasco.

With books and pencils in hand, thousands of area students are back in the classroom ready to learn. It is a reassuring routine in the circle of life.