Food service, finances also part of plan's third goal

There is more to third goal in the Cape Girardeau School District's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan than buildings.

The facilities, instructional programs and support portion of the plan addresses technology needs, mandating that technology be integrated into all areas of the curriculum. Part of the tech initiative is to increase bandwidth capabilities and acquire an off-site secondary data storage location. All buildings will be wireless as part of the campaign to maintain a "21st century" classroom where every teacher has a projector, sound system and computer.

And, like all other elements of the improvement plan, monitoring and assessing strategies is a key part of the technology initiative.

Food service also is on the menu. The plan calls for the district to implement the 2010 USDA Reauthorization regulations for the National School Breakfast, Lunch and After School Snack program. The changes are long overdue and could be a long time in coming.

"Congress was supposed to reauthorize those the year before last and we were supposed to put those in place for this school year, but the bill is not even out of committee yet," said Lisa Elfrink, the district's nutrition services coordinator. "We're hearing that we might see something voted on in next couple of weeks, but it's not likely until January." She doesn't expect any changes to take place at the school level until at least July, based on the current timeline.

The final initiative in the support services portion of the school improvement plan involves the financials, including developing and maintaining a balanced budget and implementing a long-term financial plan, part of which would strive to improve certified salaries to attract and retain highly qualified teachers.

mkittle@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO