Cape Girardeau School Board awards more bids for performing arts center

A new performing arts center for Cape Girardeau Central High School came a step closer Monday night with the school board approving bids for roofing, an elevator and fire protection.

Bidding approval for seating, sound systems and other equipment for the center's theater still remains.

RSS Roofing Services and Solutions of St. Louis was awarded a $348,000 bid to construct the center's roof. The company was the lowest of two bidders. Century Fire Sprinklers Inc. of St. Louis, was awarded the bid for fire protection at $97,444, the lowest of three bids. Otis Elevator Co. of Brentwood, Mo., was awarded the bid for elevator material and installation at $50,150, the lowest of three bids.

Bids for the $6.8 million performing arts center were originally received in July but were over budget. Adjustments were made to plans to reduce costs.

The board approved school improvement plans for Alma Schrader and Clippard elementary schools, which are required to be developed or revised within three months after a school has been identified as not meeting proficiency standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act. Neither school met the required proficiency targets set by No Child Left Behind in communication arts or math on 2011 Missouri Assessment Program tests. Both are receiving sanctions requiring a school improvement plan.

The plans have three goals: developing and enhancing educational and instructional programs to improve performance; recruiting, developing and retaining highly qualified staff; and promotion of parent, student and community involvement.

Dr. Sydney Herbst, principal of Clippard Elementary School, said in order to reach the goals, the school will continue to use one-on-one instruction methods to increase students' test scores in communication arts and using positive behavior reinforcement to reduce time spent on discipline rather than teaching.

New methods to meet the goals will be to look closely at a reading program called "My Sidewalks," in use at Blanchard Elementary, which has evidently improved test scores, according to Herbst. The school will also examine improving professional development for staff in order to make sure all students are being reached, she said.

Parent involvement is an area where the school is seeing success, Herbst said, with around 98 percent of parents attending parent-teacher conferences.

At Alma Schrader, principal Ruth Ann Orr said two trends that have occurred over the past several years need to be taken into account when planning the school's improvement.

The first, she said, is that the school's population has grown by 130 students to 421 since 2007. Second, she said, is that there is now a higher number of students attending the school who are receiving free or reduced-price lunches. Groups receiving free or reduced lunch are targets for academic improvement under the school's plan.

To meet the goals, the school will focus on improving writing and reading skills by giving students remediation in small group settings and having a literacy coach review curriculum and develop additional curriculum as necessary.

To improve the development of highly qualified staff, new staff will be mentored or educated on professional development, teachers will attend conferences on math teaching techniques, teachers will observe the use of instructional strategies and all staff will participate in a day devoted to positive behavior reinforcement.

To improve parent involvement, a parent night or series of nights will be held to educate parents on technology available to supplement curriculum and the guidance counselor will hold an event for parents of third- and fourth-grade students to familiarize parents with MAP testing and test-taking skills.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO