BLOOMFIELD TEACHER IS MCAULIFFE FELLOW

BLOOMFIELD - Another one of Sheila Perry's dreams to bring space exploration and its assorted technology to her third-grade classroom here is a little closer as she has been named a Christa McAu~liffe Fellow and will receive $34,800 in federal funds to implement her OSCAR's project.

OSCAR stands for Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio, Perry explained. She said the funding will allow her to set up an amateur "ham' radio project in her classroom.

"This project grant will allow me to buy the equipment necessary to teach students how to earn their ham operator licenses, so they can communicate around the world," Perry said. "The radio system will also be able to be used as an emergency communications center in the event of an earthquake, since we're so close to the New Madrid Fault."

Some of the money will be used to buy equipment and materials necessary to set up a mini-Mission Control station at the elementary school here. The mini-system will be able to follow shuttle missions in outer space as astronauts circle the globe. That should enhance the students' ability to understand geography and bring the meaning of space technology closer to home, Perry said.

In addition, the project will allow Perry's third graders to become amateur radio operators so they contact others across the nation and around the world. During the next school year, Perry hopes to have her whole third grade class licensed with the first classification for a ham operator. She said she wants to give those who want to advance further that opportunity.

Perry said she hopes to offer ham radio classes this summer for any adult or child who wants to receive their first license; no Morse code is required for this. The second ham license does require mastery of Morse code at five words per minute and another written test.

Helping Perry on the project as a consultant on ham radio and equipment is Orin Lindman of Dexter, an advanced class operator. He's the terminal manager of the LP gas facility owned by Texon Terminals Corp. on Hwy 114, about two miles east of Dexter.

Lindman has a satellite tracking computer system in the basement of his home. Perry and her students visited his home last year during a space shuttle mission. The students were able to see the mark of the shuttle on a computer screen as it moved around the globe.

From that visit, Perry said her interest grew in making that type of experience and technology available to her students. She said it seemed a perfect match for the type of goals sought by the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship program.

Perry and Lindman plan to spend about $21,000 of the funding on equipment, which will include a ham radio system, necessary antennas and at least two computers - one to handle the satellite tracking and another to serve as a file handler. An electrical generator will also be part of the system so that it can be operated independently during emergency situations.

Several thousand more dollars will be available for the materials and supplies necessary for the project, Perry said. She said maps and clocks will be purchased so students can locate the places with which they are communicating and also know that area's time.

Several computer software programs will have to be purchased, Perry continued. In addition, she plans to provide the textbooks necessary for the student's training and to give them identification cards to send to their contacts. She said some money should also be available for those students who cannot afford to purchase the ham radio license by themselves.

"There will be a lot of little supplies that we'll have to get to make everything work," Perry said. She noted that she and Lindman had to put together a supply list for the grant application. She also said a newsletter will be developed to detail the project's activities.

Perry said the funding will also provide some fees for herself as project manager and Lindman as a consultant. She said her portion is only scheduled at $1,000, but she knew that she would be spending a lot more time on the project than that. Lindman is scheduled to receive about $2,000 for his help.

In announcing the award of the fellowship last week, Congressman Bill Emerson noted that Perry is the only person from Missouri to be named a Christa McAuliffe Fellow by the U.S. Department of Education. There were 68 fellowships named nationwide this year.

"I am very proud of Sheila's accomplishment and look forward to the finished results of her OSCAR's project," Emerson said. "I am personally gratified that the only teacher awarded with this honor from Missouri is from the Eighth Congressional District.

"A quality education is so important for all of our youth," Emerson continued in the announcement. "As I have said before, they are our future, and a proper, well-rounded education is at the root of it all."

Emerson said the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program provides fellowships for outstanding teachers to engage in activities to improve their knowledge, skills and, most of all, the education of their students.

Perry said today that she was in the process of completing the parperwork to receive the funding. She said she hopes to have the funds by late April or early May. She said she will start to buy the necessary equipment as soon as the money is received.