CAPE UPDATE: A FRIENDLY CONVERSATION WITH A RESPECTED COLLEAGUE

During the course of this past week I had the opportunity to have a telephone conversation with a fellow superintendent from a neighboring school district. As is the normal case, our conversation was predominately about real issues which immediately confront us as superintendents, and confront our boards.

Although our two communities are different in many ways, we share many of the same problems facing public education. We deal with various special interest groups who lobby their varying interests. We both must continue to receive further clarification from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and attempt to translate this information into meaningful action for our students, teachers and our communities.

After discussing specific issues which related to the purpose of our telephone conversation we began to discuss how the media has not recognized the differences in the two districts and how some wish to create divisions between the two communities. It is amazing how two different communities can be different in so many ways, while their educators continue to work on many of the same issues: program development, class size, balancing athletics and academics, staff morale, weapons, the contradictions of education reform, Senate Bill 380, and the political pressures of interest groups.

Despite the work schedules and various factors which impact our jobs on a daily basis, it was rewarding to have the opportunity to converse with my neighboring colleague.

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Board of Education Candidates: Those seeking re-election or election for the first time to the board of education in the April election are: Dr. Patrick Ruopp, Mr. Steve Naeter, Ms. Marie Walker, Dr. Robert Fox, Mr. Bill Hopkins, Dr. Jack Sterrett.

Regardless of the outcome of the election, all of these individuals should be commended for their willingness to give above and beyond for the children of our community.

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Next week a follow-up to the board of education's January 31 work session on the district's revised capital improvement plan.

This column, Cape Update, is made available through the cooperation of the Southeast Missourian staff and is being presented in an attempt to provide accurate information to the community on issues related to education.

Initially, the column will focus primarily on actual events occurring within the local schools. However, parents, grandparents, or others wishing answers to specific educational questions are encouraged to submit questions to Cape Update, c/o Cape Girardeau public schools, 61 N. Clark, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.

Neyland Clark is superintendent of Cape Girardeau public schools.