READING PROGRAMS GET REVIEW AT JACKSON

JACKSON -- The Jackson school board got a comprehensive report Monday on remedial reading programs now in use in the district.

Board members also heard about a new first-grade reading program from New Zealand that is attracting a lot of attention in the United States.

The district's remedial reading program began in 1966 as part of the Chapter One program of the federal government. Today, the three remedial reading teachers each have a case load of about 65-70 children, with the emphasis on the lower grades 4-6.

Reading teacher Linda Thompson reported on the Reading Recovery Program, which was instituted this year by the Cape Girardeau School District.

Thompson said the program was developed in New Zealand and is now in use in Ohio. Locally, Southeast Missouri State University is training teachers to become Reading Recovery teachers.

Thompson said the program is for first graders who are having problems in learning reading skills. During the 15-20 week program, one teacher works with one child for about 30 minutes each day to help the child develop the reading skills needed to build on after leaving first grade.

Thompson said she and other teachers who are involved in the program are very excited about it. Assistant School Superintendent Fred Jones said implementing the program would be a board decision.

After listening to Thompson's report, board President Jack Knowlan Jr. remarked, "It's a really exciting, creative program. I would like to see us involved in it."

In other business, the board authorized an increase in textbook fund spending of $45,481. Business Manager Howard Alexander explained $200,000 was budgeted for books this year, but the district received additional money from protested taxes that were released by the state. The taxes are from out-of-state insurance companies that do business in Missouri.

Alexander said the extra money will be used to purchase new social studies textbooks. "We had to hold up on the purchase earlier because there wasn't enough money. Now we can go ahead and buy them," he said.

The board accepted the notice of retirement from second grade teacher Mary Morton, effective at the end of the school year. Morton has taught in the district for 30 years.

The board will start its March 24 meeting a half-hour earlier than usual in order to conduct a special closed meeting after the open session. The regular meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

During the closed session the board will discuss re-employment of teachers for the 1992-92 school year.