Cape board to purchase 800 more computers for students, teachers

As part of the Cape Girardeau School District's continuing program to provide laptop devices to students, the school board Monday approved purchasing 800 ASUS T100TA computers for an estimated $311,200.

The computers, which can act as a laptop or tablet, will be distributed at Central Junior High School and Central High School. The devices are the same type as the roughly 1,200 that were rolled out in January at Central High School.

Superintendent James Welker said the devices will be obtained through a lease-purchase agreement with US Bank. Plans are to roll out the computers to students in August, with teachers receiving them before summer break.

Technology coordinator Brian Hall said sleeves for the devices will be bid out separately and be more rugged than the ones purchased previously.

Other business

• Welker said the district will conduct an online survey of students, parents, teachers, community members and board members on perceptions of the school district.

Welker said if people do not have a computer, they may use one in the lobby of the administration building, or a survey will be printed out for them, Welker said.

• The board approved a contract for 2014-2015 with the First Student Inc. to continue providing bus transportation to students.
• Approved applying for a Vocational-Technical Education Enhancement Grant through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The grant program helps provide equipment and furnishings for classrooms at the Career and Technology Center. It funds 75 percent of the total cost of equipment and 50 percent of furniture and software expenses. Total cost of the upgrades is estimated at $620,369. If approved, the grants would fund $410,601 of the projects, according to agenda backup material.

Career and Technology Center director Rich Payne said he'll get word on the grant in late May or June. Depending on state funding, adjustments may have to be made for items purchased.

• The board approved offering an honors conceptual physics course. No new teachers will be needed, officials said.
• Ken Jackson, a supervisor with the state Education Department, presented plaques to Welker, assistant superintendent for academic services Sherry Copeland and Libby Guilliams, Career and Technology Center assistant director-post secondary education, for their participation in MoLEAD training. MoLEAD stands for Missouri Leadership for Excellence, Achievement and Development.
• The board recognized Dan Todt, owner of Southeast Fabricating Inc., and his wife, Dianna, for work Todt's company has done for the district. Southeast Fabricating recently installed a press box and foul poles at the baseball field. Cape Tigers baseball caps also were presented to Todt.
• The board heard the Community Teachers Association has awarded two $250 scholarships this year. Sydney Messerli, who will graduate from Central High School, is continuing her education in the field of education, association president Robin McKinley said.

And a new scholarship for members, their spouses or children, was awarded to Bailey Kralemann, also at Central High School, whose mother is a teacher at Clippard Elementary School and an association member.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.