Cape school lands $65,100 grant for high-tech gear

A wireless computer could help close the achievement gap separating low-income students from their classmates, educators in at least one local school believe. They soon will have the equipment to test that theory.

Franklin Elementary School is one of 120 schools nationwide to receive a grant this year from Beaumont Foundation of America, a nonprofit charity that provides technology to low-income schools in hopes of leveling the field for disadvantaged children.

The Cape Girardeau elementary school will receive $65,100 worth of wireless laptops, digital cameras, a projector, a document camera, a laser printer and mobile cart next September.

"Integrating technology into curriculum is a big issue many schools are facing now," said Franklin principal Rhonda Dunham. "We're pretty sure this will help bring up test scores. The students will be more into the work."

The Beaumont technology will be used to extend Franklin's current enhance-Missouri's Instructional Networked Teaching Strategies program, which provides resources such as high-speed Internet access to third- and fourth-graders across the state.

'Can't get that in books'

Judy Gau, an e-MINTS teacher at Franklin, said technology adds a new dimension to the classroom.

Gau has a laptop for every two students in her fourth-grade class. The benefits of that, she said, include students sharing their work with each other and looking at PowerPoint presentations for test reviews instead of going over a worksheet.

"Instead of just looking in a set of encyclopedias that may be five or 10 years old, we have Web sites with colorful pictures, copies of speeches and things like that," Gau said. "You just can't get that in books and can't keep it updated as with technology."

The computers and related equipment also allow teachers to provide more individualized learning for students, who can log on to special Internet programs for math and reading lessons and work at their own level. Educators hope that will eventually translate into improved scores on annual state tests.

The Beaumont grant process includes an initial nomination, lengthy application and an interview. To qualify for the award, a school must have at least 50 percent of the student body eligible for the free and reduced lunch program, a yardstick the federal government uses to measure poverty.

Franklin is one of four schools in Missouri to receive the technology grant this year. The others are in Kansas City, St. Louis and Jefferson City.

"There's no way we could have gotten these things with the current budget. I think everyone is in a financial crisis, but the grant has allowed us to be up to speed on technology here," Dunham said. "We've worked very hard for this."

cclark@semissourian.com

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