Cape strategic plan calls for expanding preschool

The Cape Girardeau School District would look to increase the availability of preschool to mitigate the effect of poverty on student learning under a proposed strategic plan.

That is one of the proposals contained in a draft of the strategic plan presented to the school board Monday night by consultant Rhett Hendrickson.

Hendrickson of Hendrickson Business Advisors presented six goals and objectives with each goal.

The school-board meeting was held at Cape Girardeau Central Middle School because of a power outage earlier in the day that affected part of the district's administration building.

The plan also includes three other objectives to mitigate the effect of poverty and "learning barriers" on education in the district.

The plan calls for the district to study its five elementary schools and how students are "distributed" and the effect that distribution has on academic performance.

It proposes findings and recommendations be presented to the school board by July 1, 2019.

The plan calls for every school in the district to partner with at least one community group to address poverty issues by July 1, 2020.

It also advises "poverty education" remain a part of ongoing staff development.

Besides the goal of mitigating the effects of poverty on learning, the draft plan's goals include improving internal and external communication, cultivating and maintaining a positive and safe culture for students and staff, enhancing learning opportunities for students and staff, increasing engagement and interaction with parents and the community and enhancing the use of technology as a tool to improve teaching and learning.

To enhance learning opportunities, the plan proposes integrating "communication, interpersonal behavior and money management" into the curriculum by the 2021-2022 school year.

It also calls for increasing external professional development for staff over the coming years.

As for enhancing the use of technology, the strategic plan calls for researching ways to provide internet access to about 20 percent of students who do not have access to it outside of school and/or provide alternatives for them.

Hendrickson said the various goals and objectives are expected to be implemented over the next six years.

The draft plan was developed with the aid of a 33-member planning committee of parents, students, staff, board members and community members.

Superintendent Jim Welker said the district administration plans to involve "as many of the steering committee as we can" in determining an "action plan."

Welker added, "It may take some time to put the final plan together."

He said the final strategic plan probably would be brought to the board for approval in the spring.

Addressing threat of violence

In other business, Welker and board president Jeff Glenn talked about last week's threat of violence at the high school.

Glenn credited a "brave student" with reporting the threat.

"To the brave student who reported that, I want you to know how proud I am of you," he said.

Three juveniles were charged with making a terrorist threat. According to Cape Girardeau police, the juveniles planned to shoot students but had not set a date for their attack.

The students have been suspended from school and may face long-term suspension, according to school officials.

Glenn told parents, "We share your concerns."

He said school officials will review district procedures to see whether changes are needed to address such threats in the future.

Welker acknowledged "safety concerns created much anxiety" in the district.

He commended law enforcement for its assistance.

"We are confident that our school is safe," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

1900 Thilenius St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.