The Cape Girardeau school board meeting was canceled Monday because of severe weather and has been for rescheduled for 6 p.m. Monday in the Central Junior High School cafeteria.

Board members were scheduled to discuss the elimination of second preparation period for tenured teachers of grades seven through 12. However, school superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent said the item had been changed from a matter for discussion only to an action item.

"The board will consider whether to eliminate the second preparation period for secondary teachers beginning with the 2002-2003 school year," said Tallent before the meeting was canceled.

In March, board members voted to adopt a phase-in program to eliminate the second preparation period at the secondary level and to assign a sixth teaching period to all probationary and new teachers beginning in the next school year. The action was to have a phase-in process that was to be completed by the 2003-2004 school year.

Debate was sparked at an April board meeting after board member Dr. Bob Fox questioned the wording of the earlier motion.