JEFFERSON CITY - Throughout his campaign, Mel Carnahan promised his No. 1 priority would be education. In his inaugural address Monday, Carnahan made it clear he intends to keep that promise.

The new governor devoted much of his address to education. He said, "Education and jobs, that's my mission as governor."

That inaugural theme was good news for Cape Girardeau Superintendent of Schools Neyland Clark, who was among several hundred Southeast Missourians who made the trek to Jefferson City.

"He is putting education as a top priority of his administration no doubt about it," said Clark.

"He described it in much more emphatic terms today: that his administration will be judged by his performance in helping improve education," Clark said.

Clark said many other educators are excited abut the emphasis on education and the commitment of Carnahan and legislative leaders to increase education funding and emphasis.

"It appears he has brought leaders of the House and Senate into a common effort to improve education," said Clark.

By making education a focal point of his inaugural address, Clark said Carnahan has "made it really public that he was not feeding us rhetoric and that this is something that will be done."

Clark, who serves on the finance subcommittee of Carnahan's education transition team, said he was especially pleased that the governor stressed a need to rewrite the school foundation formula.

Many of Carnahan's goals for improving education are consistent with proposed national guidelines, which Clark said would help keep state and national goals consistent.

But while Carnahan's emphasis on education is welcomed, Clark stressed the governor has also made it clear that he expects a good return on the education dollar and that schools will need to be more accountable. "With that increased emphasis, we as school officials have a tremendous amount of responsibility," said Clark.

The superintendent was also in Jefferson City to watch the Cape Girardeau Central High School Band, one of 13 bands in the inaugural parade through downtown Jefferson City to the Capitol.

The 112-member band was invited to participate in the event by State Auditor Margaret Kelly, who hosted a lunch for them. Rep. Mary Kasten and Sen. Peter Kinder, both of Cape Girardeau, gave band members tours of the Capitol.

Band Director Ron Nall recalled that he had marched in the 1965 inaugural parade of Warren Hearnes as a member of the Southeast Missouri State University Golden Eagles.

Nall said students were encouraged to see the Capitol and take part in inaugural activities.

Nall explained that on all band trips he tries to set aside some time for sightseeing and educational opportunities to help make the trip memorable for students.

Besides the Central High Band, also participating in the parade from Cape Girardeau was U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, who joined most members of the state's congressional delegation. Emerson is Carnahan's congressman, representing his hometown of Rolla.

Cape Girardeau native Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., now serving as a member of the Missouri Supreme Court, sat on the large stage in front of the Capitol with his colleagues on the court.

The inauguration ceremonies are actually held as a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly, presided over by Senate President Pro Tem James Mathewson. The inaugural committee of the legislature has 18 members from each house.

Among those representing the House were Kasten; Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett; and Rep. Gene Copeland, D-New Madrid, the senior member of the General Assembly. Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, was among the Senate members.

One of the responsibilities of the inaugural committee was to escort Carnahan and outgoing Gov. John Ashcroft from the governor's office to the front of the capitol.

Many of the Southeast Missouri residents attending the inauguration were there for the first time. Others - especially loyal Democrats - had not been to an inauguration for years. Carnahan became the first Democrat since Joe Teasdale in 1976 to take the oath. The last time this many Democrats took statewide office at the same time was 28 years ago.

All five newly elected officeholders sworn in Monday Carnahan, Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson, state Treasurer Bob Holden, Attorney General Jay Nixon, and Secretary of State Judi Moriarty are Democrats. The last time five Democrats were sworn in on inauguration day was 1964, when Hearnes began his first term as governor.

Hearnes, a native of Charleston, received a warm reception from the crowd as he was introduced as a former governor.

For Cape Girardeau resident Willie C. Jones, the inauguration was a new experience. Jones was invited as Carnahan made good on a campaign promise made last summer. Jones is one of seven state board members for the Prince Hall Masons. They met with Carnahan to discuss black issues at a convention in July.

"We talked about how important it was to use our right to vote and what we needed as an organization to get people out to vote," said Jones. "He said if he was elected governor he would invite us back for inauguration, so he followed up on his promise."

Jones and his wife, Ada, were invited to a special reception at the Governor's Mansion and also attended the Ball Monday night.

To emphasize his focus on education, the first event Carnahan had after inaugural ceremonies was to greet about 80 school children from around the state. Among the elementary students in attendance were four from Southeast Missouri - Brandon Heath of East Prairie; Hillary Ross of Clubb; and Robin Neal and Michelle Darby, both of Malden.

The students rode in the parade, had special seating at the inauguration, and had an opportunity to ask questions of Carnahan.

Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, said with the rebound of Democrats he found a lot of interest in the inaugural activities. He had more than 50 motel rooms reserved for constituents.

Rep. Joe Driskill, D-Poplar Bluff, said he too found a lot of interest. He said more than 40 people from Wayne County alone stopped by his office.

To avoid the cold, many people watched the ceremonies inside on television sets around the Capitol.