THE PUBLIC MIND: `YES' VOTE ENCOURAGED ON SCHOOL ISSUES

To the Editor:

As chairman of the Facilities Committee of the Citizen Advisory Commission on Education, I feel I have an obligation to the community to clarify some issues on the upcoming bond issue. Some often-asked questions from people I see every day are: Why do we need to build two schools at once? Why do we have two items on the ballot? Why does it cost so much? Is it really necessary?

The Facilities Committee report detailed many capital improvements that are long overdue in each of our buildings. Basically there are three items that need to be addressed immediately:

1) Relieve elementary overcrowding and replace aged buildings;

2) Improvements to upgrade other schools and create a better learning environment;

3) Develop a long range plan for facilities which includes restructuring the building fund.

Building one school will not solve our district's most glaring problem. The combination of a new elementary school and a middle school along with an addition to Jefferson is the most cost effective solution. Removing the sixth grade from our other elementary schools greatly reduces overcrowding at Franklin, Clippard and Alma Schrader schools. A middle school of 6th, 7th and 8th grades also fits well into our district's educational program.

Other capital improvements to create a better learning environment for our children include upgrading the electrical system and the addition of air conditioning at each school. We have to be able to more fully utilize today's technology, and that cannot be accomplished in our present situation. Air conditioning is not a luxury, it is a necessity for an environment conducive to learning and teaching. Earthquake preparedness is also a necessity.

There are many more improvements which need to be made for energy conservation, to replace equipment, to upgrade athletic facilities and renovate outdated areas in each school. This district has not had enough money in the building fund to properly maintain schools. It was not a priority of our previous board and administration. We need to increase the tax rate for the building fund to develop a long-range plan for continuous review of facilities and property.

Yes, $25 million is a tremendous amount of money. The costs are not just for two new buildings. The costs are for just the immediate basic needs which I have outlined. And, "Is it really necessary?" Is a good education for our children necessary? Our young people are the future of our community. A better education means better, higher paying jobs for them. A better education means our businesses and industries are hiring more qualified persons. We all benefit. There is no more important way to spend tax dollars than for education.

I want to commend our s chool board, administrators, teachers and all those in the community who have taken an active involvement in the effort to do what's best for the children of Cape Girardeau. Our everchanging society demands that we offer our young people an educational environment which will meet the demands of the future. Please vote "Yes" on April 6 for your children, for your grandchildren and for our future.

~~~~Robert G. Fox

Cape Girardeau