Cape school board asks staff to research possibility of going to year-round school

The Cape Girardeau school board wants the district's administrators to look at the possibility of having year-round school.

Board members asked that the idea be investigated as part of a new, five-year comprehensive plan. A steering committee reviewed the strategic plan with the school board and school administrators for three hours Tuesday night.

A steering committee and five subcommittees crafted a strategic plan which included a recommendation that calls for more instructional time. The proposed plan suggests longer school days or an extended school. But it didn't specifically call for year-round school.

Board member Laura Sparkman said year-round school would eliminate months of reviewing the previous year's course work at the beginning of each new school year.

"Why not look at it?" questioned board president Sharon Mueller. "It may be the right thing."

School board members voiced support for a recommendation that the school administration look every three years at whether the boundaries of the five elementary schools need to be changed to keep desirable class sizes.

The strategic plan also recommends that school officials research the effectiveness of attendance centers that would serve all students in certain grades versus neighborhood elementary schools in districts of similar size and demographics

"We do a lot of talking about it," said Pat Fanger, who served as curriculum director this past school year and has been promoted to assistant superintendent. "Let's research it."

She told the board that attendance centers could be one way to improve diversity in the elementary grades.

Sparkman cautioned that the school board hasn't abandoned the concept of neighborhood schools. She said the plan only calls for studying that possibility. "It doesn't mean it will be done," she said.

But school board members said the district should look at whether sending students to neighborhood elementary schools provides an effective learning environment.

While it's not specifically mentioned in the tentative plan, board member Tom Reinagel raised the possibility that the district at some point might have to look at building a new elementary school west of Interstate 55 where the district is seeing residential growth.

Board member Steve Trautwein said the board needs time to fully discuss all the recommendations before adopting the plan.

"Now is not the time to do it. We're all brain dead," he said at the conclusion of Tuesday night's lengthy meeting.

Board members said they plan to scrutinize the proposed comprehensive plan at a retreat next month.

Among other things, the plan calls for the district to complete the high school athletic complex and establish a preschool program but doesn't spell out how they will be funded.

The plan deals with five main areas: facilities and finance, academic achievement, at-risk students, parental involvement and school climate.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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