Poverty primary cause of slowing Cape Girardeau graduation rates, group says

Poverty emerged as the primary cause for slowing graduation rates at Cape Girardeau public schools during a Tuesday meeting of community leaders.

In a community-wide effort to improve graduation rates in the district, about 45 city and school leaders met at the Cape Girardeau School Board office before the start of their workday.

"Many of you approached me and said you'd be the sleepy one at the meeting," said Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri.

The meeting was the first of several sponsored by the United Way aimed at finding a solution to the problem. The group's first task was to digest statistics on the issue.

Jernigan presented several charts analyzing the effect of poverty, race and gender on ACT scores, graduation rates and MAP scores, among others. The group, which included mayors, superintendents, deans and pastors, broke into small groups and milled around the charts to discuss the implications of the statistics. Together they concluded that the most prominent challenge to students is poverty.

"Poverty families are in flux now more than ever," said Mike Cowan, principal of Cape Girardeau Central High School. He said the high school adds or drops three students per day because families are moving and splitting up due to job loss. Students who are continually changing schools have a harder time catching up with the new curriculum, he said.

Jay Knudtson, mayor of Cape Girardeau, said families are an important part of solving the problem.

"It's one of those things money can't fix," he said. When parents do not take an active interest in their children's education, the students suffer, he said.

Rev. Samuel Roethemeyer, president of the Jackson Ministerial Alliance, said students should pursue vocational schools and the military to stay active in school and the community.

"Even if we get you through high school, there's always the opportunity to find something later in life," he said.