Board members provide list of goals for school district

Southeast Missourian

Cape Girardeau school board members and administrators continued a discussion of the district's objectives for the 2003-04 school year Thursday evening in the second of two meetings scheduled this week.

This year's list of goals is expected to be finalized for a vote of approval at the next board meeting, set for Monday at 6 p.m., said superintendent Mark Bowles.

Each member was asked to propose goals in nine topic areas, including student achievement, curriculum, personnel, finances, facilities, technology, public relations, communications and the roles of the board officers.

The board wants to focus goals on student achievement by developing the district as a professional learning community, emphasizing professional development among teachers, who will share career experiences among their peers. Curriculum will be tailored to each building's particular makeup of students. The framework for this is adaptable and not based on a packaged reform idea, Bowles said.

Sharon Mueller, board president, agreed and stressed that this reform has worked for many successful school districts, organizations and businesses.

"Traditionally, teachers are talkers, but this will be more of a planned approach," Mueller said. "It will be more by design. We're customizing more than we ever have."

In this area, there was some discussion of teacher accountability and evaluations of their methods, but an open-minded approach was encouraged.

"The makeup of our students varies building by building," said assistant superintendent Dr. Betty Chong. "So, in professional development, we have to provide some latitude for the evaluator."

Under the topic of personnel, board members discussed hiring more minorities and improving diversity, but in doing so to hire the best qualified applicants.

"By addressing the needs of our minority staff members, we will be better addressing the needs of our minority students," said board member Dr. Steve Trautwein.

Board members agreed that finances will be a tough issue in the coming year, and they expect to take a hard look at where programs or personnel may need to be cut back. They also discussed the value of lobbying state representatives and senators to protect educational dollars.

Trautwein suggested the district create a public relations position, and the members discussed what type of duties that person would have to alleviate some of the workload from administrators.

mwells@semissourian.com

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