Cape schools seeking state technology grant

The Cape Girardeau School District is hoping to land a state grant to help upgrade computer technology.

On Monday, the Cape Girardeau School Board approved a Business Technology Program Enhancement Grant.

The proposal calls for the purchase of 70 desktop computers for students, another six for teachers, scores of monitors and business software, at a cost topping $103,000. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would pick up 75 percent of the equipment costs, and 50 percent of the costs of software, for a total of $72,549. Grant awards are expected to be announced in late spring.

Also Monday, the board, with a minimum quorum of four members, approved a district cell phone contract with Verizon Wireless. The total cost to the district will be $11,015.80 per year, after a federal E-Rate discount of 76 percent. Verizon's bid was the lowest and it provided the best coverage and reliability in district tests, according to administrators. There is no cost for the phones, and plans check in at $16 a month per standard phone, and $59.99 per month for the Blackberry voice/data plan.

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau MO