Cape schools in new era with new buildings

Classes in the Cape Girardeau School District began Tuesday.

If only construction on the road leading up to the new Central High School had gone as smoothly as construction on the school itself.

But it didn't, so on the first day of classes an unfinished Silver Springs Road was off limits to cars, and parents and students sat in vehicles backed up more than a mile from the school. Students still poured into the parking lot a half-hour after the first bell.

As rough as that situation will be for the next four weeks until the street work is done, it should not detract from the otherwise successful first day. The district reconfigured all school levels to make better use of buildings, group grades together more effectively and address curriculum issues. So far, all of that has been a success.

It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the district's administrators, faculty, staff and students.