THE PROBLEM IS SCHOOL UNDERFUNDING

The news article on the front page of the July 1 Southeast Missourian stated that the Cape Girardeau School District was close to being declared a financially distressed district because of "overspending" in years past. As a 35-year employee of the district who has worked with staff members at all position levels, I wish to disagree with that comment.

Talk to any teacher, secretary or custodian, and you will learn very quickly that the problem is not a matter of overspending in years past, but one of long-term underfunding.

* Teachers continue to make numerous purchases out of their pockets for classroom supplies because their budgets have remained basically the same for the past 10 years. How far do you think you could stretch $40 to $50 to provide supplementary teaching supplies for 125 to 150 secondary students? Teachers can't, so they sacrificially spend money from their personal budgets and subsidize the district budget in order to provide quality instruction for their students. Do teachers think the district has overspent in years past? I seriously doubt it.

* Secretaries can quickly tell you how, in the past 10 years, they have had to change from using $200 typewriters to using $1,500 computers, printers and accompanying accessories. This was necessitated by the need to quickly process information, much of which is required by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Do secretaries think the district has overspent? Not when they are trying to find ways to conserve on paper usage and printer cartridges.

* Our custodians do an excellent job of maintaining our buildings. The cost to keep them looking good keeps rising. Throughout the past 10 years, the cost of cleaning supplies, mops, wax, hand towels and toilet paper have continued to increase. Do custodians think the district has overspent? Not when they are asked to maintain the same appearance with fewer of the more costly supplies.

* In addition, the district is confronted by the increasing costs of utilities, property insurance, health insurance and building repairs such as roofs and heating systems to name a few of the items over which the district has little control.

While these costs have continued to rise, salaries for teachers and other staff members have seen little increase during this same period. As a result, the district has sunk to offering the lowest starting salaries throughout Southeast Missouri. In fact, teacher salaries are $2,000 to $3,000 below most districts, particularly those with comparable student enrollment. With approximately 75 percent of the district's expenses tied directly to salaries and with those salaries remaining low and relatively unchanged, logic dictates that overspending did not occur because of salaries.

The financial problem for the school district is not a matter of overspending. It is a matter of underfunding from the state and local patrons. Obviously from recent news media reports, the district cannot expect any improvements in funding from the state in the foreseeable future. If quality education is to continue in the Cape Girardeau School District, then parents and patrons must be willing to provide the needed funds.

Overspending? I don't think so.

Underfunding? Definitely yes.

Gerald Richards of Cape Girardeau is principal of Central Junior High School.