EXIT INTERVIEW SHOWS SCHOOLS NEED STRATEGIC PLAN

A team of visiting educators say Cape Girardeau can improve its public schools by developing long-range plans for buildings, maintenance, finances and classes.

The Board of Education is in the process of making those plans and received praise at Thursday's Missouri School Improvement Program exit interview for efforts under way.

However, since the plan isn't in place, the school district got low marks for planning.

But the team cited two programs as strengths in the school district: the Renaissance Program at Central High School and a transition program witnessed at Clippard Elementary School that helps sixth-graders prepare for the jump to seventh-grade at L.J. Schultz Middle School. Each Cape Girardeau elementary school has a similar transition program.

The Missouri School Improvement Program is the state's new method for accrediting school districts. For the past year, a committee of Cape Girardeau school employees has studied what the school district does.

This week, a team of educators spent three days looking at information gathered by that committee and comparing it to a set of standards for schools.

Wednesday's exit interview provided a general overview of what the team saw. A more specific, written report will be sent to the school in 30 to 60 days. School personnel have a chance to correct any errors; then the final report is submitted to the state board of education for accreditation. The school also uses the information to develop a school improvement plan, specific ways to address areas that need improvement.

Concerns listed included the lack of long-range plans for curriculum, identifying and helping students at risk of dropping out of school, comprehensive guidance programs, finances, building maintenance and renovation and new construction.