Gov. Matt Blunt isn't looking to shut down Parkview State School in Cape Girardeau and other state schools for severely handicapped students, officials said Tuesday.

Rumors that the governor planned to shut down at least some of the state schools have circulated for several weeks and were relayed to the Southeast Missourian's Speak Out.

Melba Board, principal at Parkview State School, said she and other staff members have heard the rumor.

But both Jessica Robinson, a spokeswoman for the governor, and Charlie Taylor, superintendent of the state schools, said Blunt hasn't proposed shutting down any of the schools.

"There is not any proposal at this time to make any changes," said Taylor.

The governor's office received calls this fall from concerned Missourians, he said. In response, Blunt sent a message to state lawmakers explaining the situation.

The governor last school year directed that the state study how it provides educational services to students with severe disabilities and look at best practices in other states, Taylor said.

He and Robinson said the goal is for the state to make the best use of its tax money in providing needed services to handicapped students.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education hired a St. Joseph, Mo., firm to research the issue.

The report should be completed and sent to the governor within the next few weeks, Taylor said.

"We don't expect this report to contain any recommendations," he said. "But it will serve as a resource book for any future policy decisions that are made to improve services that we offer."

Taylor said Blunt doesn't have the authority to shut down any of the state schools for the handicapped on his own.

"State schools were created in 1957 by action of the state legislature," he said. "The only way state schools could be eliminated would be through legislative action."

Taylor said he understands that the rumor of schools closing is upsetting to parents whose children are being served by those facilities.

He said parents and the public at large need to wait until the study comes out. "Let's see what it has to say," he said.

Taylor said he can't envision the state would cut back on the services it provides to handicapped students. "The services that kids are receiving now are services that kids really need," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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