Three Rivers Community College wants to open an educational
center in Cape Girardeau County in 2008, moving onto the home turf of Southeast
Missouri State University.
The plan comes about two years after the schools parted ways
on three higher education centers they used to run together. When state funding
changed, Southeast Missouri State said it was losing money on the arrangement.
When the schools couldn’t agree on finances, control and rent, Southeast
evicted Three Rivers from centers in Sikeston, Malden and Kennett in 2005.
A lawsuit Three Rivers filed against Southeast Missouri for
breach of contract remains unresolved, scheduled to be heard next year. And
both schools have opened separate regional educational centers in southeast
Missouri.
The executive vice president at the Poplar Bluff-based
community college, Larry Kimbrow, said Monday the work to open an educational
center in Cape Girardeau County is “totally unrelated” to the
educational center dispute with Cape Girardeau-based Southeast Missouri.
Outside observers don’t agree: “Let’s get ready to
rumble!” wrote one person, who did not give a full name when posting an
Internet comment on the latest development.
And even those with a more measured take on the matter say
the dispute between the schools must be a factor.
