CAPE SCHOOLS GET ELECTRONIC ITEMS

A recent shopping spree by Chris Cook will mean more electronic technology being available to students in Cape Girardeau public schools.

Cook, technology coordinator for the school system, purchased nearly $100,000 worth of electronic equipment -- including televisions, VCRs, computers with CD-ROM applications, tape recorders, laser discs and overhead projectors -- to distribute to schools. Funding for the equipment was provided through grants, district money and donations from Parent-Teacher organizations and businesses.

She said the equipment was necessary because a language arts curriculum committee set up a districtwide educational plan last spring that requires interactive technology. Technology acquisition funding was available to the district to upgrade its media equipment, so the timing was right to make the purchases, she explained.

In addition, other core curricula committees will be able to include the technology when they design their educational plans this year.

"They knew this would be necessary to comply with the new Show Me Standards, which integrate technology into all curriculum areas," Cook said. "Unfortunately, we didn't have enough computers to go around. We still don't, but what I tried to do was purchase enough to be able to circulate the equipment through each grade level."

In addition to Cook's purchases, some schools have acquired equipment from outside sources. For example, Franklin Elementary School principal Jim Watkins said his school received several computers donated by Procter & Gamble. The school's PTO also purchased CD-RON units that will be used with the computers, he said.

"These computers will enhance the students' availability of different learning media," he said. "Instead of just pencil and paper, we'll have other options for the student who may not write as well but is able to type things out and turn them in."

Watkins said the computers and other equipment will enhance reading and other classes. Most teachers already are familiar with the equipment, so there shouldn't be a need for much in-service training, he said.

Central Junior High School principal Gerald Richards said the technology, while a great improvement to the district, is only a small part of what is needed. Interactive media is becoming increasingly more prevalent in classroom instruction, he said. Textbooks are being packaged with computer software and teachers are learning to use new instructional aids, he said.

"This new technology will be a real benefit to our district," he said. "We're still not where we need to be, and we're a long way from where we would like to be, but we are moving ahead in a positive direction."