CAPE SCHOOL BOARD SEES PROGRESS, MORE TO DO

Progress has been made, but more work lies ahead for the Cape Girardeau Board of Education in the next year.

Administrators and staff have substantially completed or made progress towards goals established in the district's master plan, a document established in 1996 to address programming, facilities and financial needs of the district over the next five years. Superintendent Dan Steska detailed progress on the master plan during a study session Monday night.

Steska also reviewed progress on short-term goals developed at the beginning of his tenure last summer and outlined several points he would like to work towards over the next three years.

"I think this past year we have made some real strides, and I hope the staff and community recognize that and are cognizant of it," said Steska. "I'd say we've still got some work to do but we've made some real progress."

Work has progressed on nearly 88 percent of more than 80 specific goals included in 13 broad programming areas. Steska said opportunities for students and families in the district are expanding as more emphasis has been placed on upgrading technology, revising the curricula to meet state standards, refining disciplinary policies and emphasizing basic skill development.

The district also has benefited from increased public awareness about activities in schools and the work of the Board of Education. Steska said enhancing "relationship building between the district and the community" has been a priority this year.

The school board has had some discussion in recent months of employing a person to handle the district's public relations needs. Board member Dr. Bob Fox spoke against that move because it would mean less funding on hand for salaries and other costs. Besides, Steska and other administrators and staff should be able to fill that role.

"In my mind, Dan Steska has been the best thing that's happened to this school district in a long time," Fox said. "There are lots of ways you can do public relations without hiring a staff person to do it."

Plans for new construction and building upgrades and renovations are ahead of schedule, and renovation projects at Franklin Elementary School are scheduled for completion in December. Electrical upgrades in preparation for new cooling systems also are under way at Central High School.

The board indicated several areas they would like to see emphasized in the coming year. Little work has been completed to update staff evaluation plans, and board members said they also want to develop an annual self-evaluation strategy to ensure they are creating and meeting goals. Another area that should be prioritized in the coming year is increased parental involvement.

"We really haven't seemed to have tackled this so there's a coordinated plan for training people who volunteer in our schools," said board president Dr. Ferrell Ervin.

The school board also expressed interest in getting community input about existing dress codes and the possibility of establishing school uniforms. Members said policies are vague and inconsistently enforced from building to building.

"I really think we need to tighten up our dress code, even to the point of saying shirts shouldn't be hanging out or belts need to be worn," said Sharon Mueller.