When the school bell rings this afternoon, it marks the beginning of summer vacation for students in Cape Girardeau Public Schools.

It also means good-bye for some students, teachers and staff; 19 employees of the district are retiring. A number of others will not be returning. Students are graduating or passing from one grade to the next.

Although people leave each year, this year is a little different because of budget cuts and reallocations in the district. The retirements and transfers are higher this year than most years, said Richard Bollwerk, director of elementary education. "This year, a lot of people will be leaving or moving around."

Among those moving is Washington School Principal James Watkins. Next year he will be principal at Franklin Elementary.

"I won't be their principal any more, but I will see lot of them in the community. I will be saying `so long' not `good-bye' to the students and staff. I'll miss them. When you are with them four years, there is some attachment. Some of them are very hard to leave.

"The last day of school definitely has a different meaning this year," Watkins said.

The last day of school at Washington will be a chance to recognize students for their good work during the year. In the morning, teachers will present awards in their classrooms. A school-wide assembly is planned at 10:30 a.m. to recognize students for perfect attendance, honor roll and other honors.

"We had a ceremony Tuesday for the sixth-graders who are `graduating.' That makes them alumni," Watkins said.

"It's a time to say good-bye and don't forget to read over the summer," Watkins said. "We never miss an opportunity to say that. We will encourage students to visit the library."

Jo Peukert, sixth grade teacher at May Greene Elementary School and past president of the Cape Girardeau teachers association, said, "In years past, we kind of knew what we were looking at when we returned.

"This year, when we say good-bye, it is a little different. It's a little more of emotional roller coaster, but it's been one of those years."

At May Greene, a musical talent show, honors program and sixth-grade graduation are planned today.

Peukert said sixth-graders have been invited to write comments about the school and what May Greene has done for them. "They have looked back and thanked teachers back to the first and second grades not only for the knowledge but also for being supportive."

Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School Principal Lanny Barnes said the last day of school means final exams for eighth and ninth grade students.

"We have testing right up to the last hour," Barnes said.

Barnes said, "If we don't have some structured activities for them, young people have a tendency to do some things we would prefer they not do, like not come to school or pull a lot of pranks.

"We've been doing this a number of years. It's a very productive day, a day in which students are actively involved in the educational process."

On Wednesday afternoon students at the junior high had an opportunity to take a break from testing. Yearbooks were distributed. "Students were signing them and drinking sodas and eating candy," Barnes said. "They had a chance to tell all their friends good-bye."

The 19 retiring employees of the Cape Girardeau Public Schools were honored at a banquet May 28 at the Country Club.

Retirees and the year they began working for the district are:

Instructional staff Vernon Compas, 1960; Wayne Eakins, 1965; Peggy Fee, 1970; Rosalie Francis, 1971; Gary Gilbert, 1965; Iverne Glass, 1967; Jack Grisham, 1977; Weldon Hager, 1954; William Haman, 1958; Helen Hammond, 1976; Elroy Kinder, 1966; Robert King, 1968; Patricia Long, 1971; Charles Myers, 1968; Gene Peterman, 1969; Jack Russell, 1954; Ron Haggard, 1987.

Support staff Frances Toole, 1984; J. Weldon McBride, 1974.