IMPACT OF NEW SCHOOLS: NEW SCHOOLS WOULD SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE (LAST IN A SERIES)

School board president Bob Fox thinks Cape Girardeau is poised for a growth spurt that would be triggered by a yes vote on Tuesday's school funding issues.

"In the past few years, the city has improved the quality of life in just about every area," Fox said. "Improvement of the schools is the next part."

"Chances for this town staying static are slim to none," Fox said. "There will be more growth, greater demand for housing, our property values will increase. Now jobs will be coming. And this big expansion won't all be in Cape Girardeau. This will impact the whole region."

On Tuesday, voters are being asked to approve two funding measures that would mean a net increase in the tax levy of 34 cents. On the ballot is approval of the sale of $14 million in bonds and waiver of the Proposition C rollback.

If approved, the money would fund the first phase of the school district's master plan: construction of a vocational-technical school, an elementary school, an addition to Jefferson and renovations to the district's other buildings. May Greene and Washington would close.

The second phase, planned for 2001, would include construction of a high school for grades 9 through 12. Elementary schools would house grades kindergarten through four. Fifth and sixth grades would be in a remodeled junior high and seventh and eighth grades would be in a remodeled high school. L.J. Schultz would close. A second bond issue would need voter approval, but taxes wouldn't go up.

John Mehner, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, agreed with Fox that the school issue is a key for growth in the community. The chamber serves as the fiscal agent for the school campaign and endorses the proposals.

"Recently voters of Cape have really stepped up to the plate when looking at infrastructure," Mehner said. "First it was the transportation issue. Then the water issue. This is really the third piece of the puzzle. And it's a really big piece of the pie that would complement every part of our community."

He said the plan addresses educational needs for the whole community.

"Things are a lot different today than they were in the 1920s and 1930s, not to the mention the teens when three of our buildings were built," Mehner said. "Generally speaking, school buildings have a useful life as a school and that life is basically over for some of our schools. It is far less expensive and far more prudent to build something new."

In addition, improved facilities are needed to teach the skills children need today, Mehner said.

"We are not abandoning the basics," he said. "Children need to read and write and do math. Those skills are part of the plan. But anyone in business knows the importance of technology. Those skills are needed too."

The new, larger vocational school will focus on job preparedness. Mehner said that specialized training, especially one and two year courses, is critical for the future of Cape Girardeau's labor force.

"Anybody who comes here to look, whether it's a manufacturing operation of a professional service operation, ask what kind of training facility and educational service do we have here."

Mehner said the programs here are solid and have helped many businesses with training needs. Improvements to the programs would also improve Cape's attractiveness to new business.

When businesses consider locating in a community, educational facilities are always high on the list of considerations. Business owners want to know what type of training is available for their workers and what type of trained work force already exists. In addition, they are interested in the quality of schools available for children of their employees.

Plans for new educational facilities in Cape Girardeau don't stop with the public schools. In addition to the plans for new public schools, construction of two private high schools is in the works. Notre Dame Catholic High School is raising money for a new campus, as is Eagle Ridge Christian School.

Southeast Missouri State University has submitted plans for a vocational school. The university's program hasn't been funded. If approved, the university's program would function independently from the Cape Girardeau School District's vocational-technical program, although the two would be able to offer complementary programming.

A site has not yet been chosen for the public school district's vocational-technical school, Fox said.

Mehner said, "As people ask about educational facilities, think of the advantage Cape Girardeau will have when we can say not only do we have a very progressive public school system, but we also have a Catholic school system from kindergarten through high school, a Christian school system from kindergarten through high school and a Lutheran school system from kindergarten through eighth grade. It really hits the diversity issue. Obviously there is enough interest in this community to support all these projects."

EDUCATED VOTE

In November 1995, a top 10 list of improvements was developed based on a series of public meetings and surveys. The master plan, approved in November 1996, addresses each of these concerns. Some require additional money. Others require a change in how things are done.

Top 10 list from community meetings

1. New/upgraded facilities

2. Technology/equipment

3. Smaller class size

4. Alternative schools/programs

5. Air conditioning

6. Communication/community trust

7. Discipline

8. Alternative/additional financial support

9. Vocational education/work ethic

10. Schools more family centered/parental involvement

How each has been addressed

1. Build an elementary school, vocational-technical school, an addition at Jefferson and renovate Alma Schrader, Clippard, Franklin, Junior High and Senior High.

2. Money from tax increase would improve electrical systems, purchase computers and infuse technology into the curriculum starting at kindergarten.

3. Class sizes are reduced at the end of the second phase, when a new high school is in place and elementary schools house kindergarten through fourth grade.

4. An alternative school is open. New programs including mentoring and alternative teaching methods are planned.

5. Bond issue renovations include air conditioning. The senior high is air-conditioned during the second phase.

6. New superintendent Dan Tallent took over July 1, 1996. Community input was sought during the development of the master plan. The plan includes a specific goal to provide public with greater access to information concerning current status of all aspects of school district.

7. The plan includes a goal for students to develop greater awareness of self-discipline and respect for rules. Already, video cameras are in place on school buses.

8. Grant writing is encouraged and bringing money to the district.

9. Construction of larger, better equipped vocational school part of the bond issue. Also the plan outlines ways to work with local business and industry to better prepare students for work.

10. The plan calls for more parental involvement in children's education and school activities. Specifically a corps of parent volunteers would be developed.