BLANCHARD SCHOOL FINALLY OPENS

The Cape Girardeau School District took formal control of its newest elementary school Monday afternoon.

Members of the Board of Education and business community were on hand as Superintendent Dan Steska signed the occupancy permit which allows the district to move into Barbara Blanchard Elementary School.

"I feel like a proud father," said Steska. "Even though I wasn't here from the beginning of this project, I spent enough time that I feel a little identity with this building."

The new elementary school building features 18 classrooms, all with exterior windows, marker boards, a sink and ample storage space, and three kindergarten classrooms, each with its own restroom.

The interior of the building includes a library, a computer lab, music and art rooms and special-service classrooms. Hallways are designed so much of the building could be closed off if the gymnasium and cafeteria area were used in the evening or on weekends.

The school also features a cafeteria and a gymnasium with a movable wall between the two so that the area could be opened to accommodate large PTA meetings or other assemblies.

A playground area has been planned south of the new school, but Steska said he was unsure when the equipment would be installed.

"I'm hoping we'll get to that soon after the first of the year," he said.

Although board members said they liked the building's state-of-the-art technology and teacher-friendly design, some said their primary feeling was one of relief that the $3.4 million project was finally completed.

"Better late than never," said board member Mark Carver, who has repeatedly voiced his concern over the construction delays that have plagued the project. "I'm very glad that it's finally finished."

Site work for the project began in October 1997, and the building was scheduled to be ready the following summer. However, planning delays pushed the project behind schedule, and school officials decided to defer the opening until fall 1999.

Delays in receiving proper building materials pushed the building even further behind schedule, and the June 1999 completion deadline came and went. When school officials realized the building would not be ready in time for the first day of school, Blanchard classrooms were divided between May Greene and Washington schools, which were scheduled for closure.

Steska said the usage of the two buildings was the one bright spot amidst the delays.

"One of the good things that did happen was we got a chance to see how a K-through-four and fifth- and sixth-grade center would work," he said. "It's worked out wonderfully and we've seen some good things come out of that."

Fifth- and sixth-grade classes were housed at May Greene, while kindergarten through fourth-grade classes were based at Washington. Classes were arranged so students would already be with their classroom unit when they moved into the new school.

If voters approve a $14 million bond issue to build a new high school, administrators will be able to shift enrollment throughout the district so that all elementary buildings will house kindergarten through fourth grades. The current Central Junior High would be converted to a fifth-and-sixth grade center, and the existing high school would be converted to a seventh- and eighth-grade junior high.

Ninth-graders would be moved into the new high school, along with 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students.