CAPE BOARD OF EDUCATION LOOKS AT MSIP REPORT

Even before the final Missouri School Improvement Program report was complete, the Cape Girardeau Board of Education knew what its problems were.

Facility needs, more administrators and a revamped guidance program were problem areas for the district, as listed in the MSIP report in April.

Now the school board is ready to find solutions. The board meet for six hours Saturday at the Victorian Inn to look at the report and its educational programs and district needs.

"It's not like any of these problems ballooned on us," said R. Ferrell Ervin. "We already knew they existed."

Despite some discrepancies in its guidance counselor-to-student ratio and facilities problems, the Cape Girardeau School District was accredited in April by the MSIP committee.

The board has one year to develop a plan to solve its MSIP problems.

Solutions to the guidance counselor-student ratio likely will be solved when the district adopts the Missouri Model program, said Betty Chong, special services director. Other dilemmas like building space will be addressed in the long-range goals.

Many of the district's problems can be immediately addressed without extra resources or finances, said Dr. Bob Fox, school board president. "It doesn't take a lot of money, just time and energy," he said.

The board reviewed its goals for the next five years during the study session. A timeline also was discussed.

Since there is no long-range plan currently in use in the district, the board wants to create one by October.

The district began its long-range planning process last fall with Vision Planning meetings designed to gather community input. By January, committees had been formed to review the material and incorporate it into three areas: finances, educational programs and facilities.

Many of the goals can be completed within the next two years, school officials say.

But some of the changes the district would like to make are costly and will take more work. Creating a revised technology curriculum, adding classes for younger students and multimedia teaching stations could be an expensive project, but the board wants to finish it by the year 2000.

By the 1997-1998 school year, the board hopes to have a plan that will teach technology skills at all levels and train staff members to use new technology.

Another goal for the district is to install multimedia equipment in all classrooms.

"Instead of a desk in each room, we need a teaching station," said Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent.

Some of the program changes could take up to five years while others are already happening, Tallent said.

One of the programs that could begin soon is dual-enrollment courses for high school students.

Through a partnership with Southeast Missouri State University, students can enroll in advanced level classes at the high school and earn college credit. The program, which had been limited just to seniors, will be expanded, Tallent said.

The board meets again Monday, June 17.