Cape schools applies for grant for equipment upgrades

The Cape Girardeau School Board on Monday decided to apply for a state grant that partly would cover an estimated $333,739 in equipment upgrades.

The board voted unanimously -- minus absent board vice president Jeff Glenn -- to apply for the Voctional-Technical Education Enhancement Grant through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The grant will reimburse the district $250,304.

The money will be used for equipment for the digital media classroom and lab; licensed practical nursing classroom and library; medical office specialist classroom; respiratory therapy classroom and lab; and physical therapy assistant classroom and lab.

The board voted unanimously to raise 2015-2016 tuition rates for the Career and Technology Center and adopt a policy on invited speakers written by the Missouri School Boards' Association.

The new CTC rates include changes in the cost of secondary programs and co-enrolled programs. The rates will increase from $2,250 to $2,450 per student for high-school students attending the center; from $5,000 to $5,400 for postsecondary full-time students; and from $2,500 to $2,700 for postsecondary half-time students.

The School Boards' Association policy applies to all invited speakers and includes required provisions of House Bill 1303, which requires districts to adopt certain policies pertaining to speakers.

Other business:

• May 22 is the new last day of school for the Cape Girardeau School District. Superintendent Jim Welker announced the makeup dates for the district's recent snow days. One makeup date is April 2, originally part of spring break. The rest will be added to the end of the school year, on May 20, 21 and 22, the Friday before Memorial Day.
• School board president Kyle McDonald thanked the district's maintenance crews for their work clearing snow after the recent winter weather. He also congratulated the girls swim team and coaching staff on winning the conference championship and said it was the first time in school history for both the boys and girls teams to be conference champions the same year.
• The board heard a presentation from instructional technology specialist Ron Farrow on Skype in the Classroom. He described lesson plans that are available and how some classes have used Skype. For example, one geography class has taken part in two "mystery Skype" lessons in which the class Skypes with a class in another location. Based on clues, the classes try to determine each other's location.
• The Community Teacher Association will hold a trivia night at 6:30 p.m. March 13. Up to eight people are allowed per team; there will be prizes for the first- and second-place teams.
• The Missouri School Boards' Association spring regional meeting will be May 7 at Nell Holcomb.

kwebster@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

6547 Highway 177, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701