SCHOOL BOARD GIVES NOD TO A-PLUS GRANT APPLICATION

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education gave the go-ahead to apply for a new grant program that could bring $150,000 to the district.

At its meeting Monday board members and administrators also revisited the issue of public school indebtedness addressed at its Dec. 29 study session.

The board also scheduled another study session for Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. to continue its discussion of facility needs in the district.

Missouri's Outstanding School Act, better known as Senate Bill 380, provides money in the form of grants for A-Plus schools. The competitive program will award 30 grants each in the amount of $150,000. Local districts will have to chip in about $60,000 in matching funds.

Schools must demonstrate a commitment to ensure that all students graduate from school, complete high school studies that are challenging, and proceed from graduation to a college or post-secondary vocational, technical program or a high-wage job.

The program also offers scholarships to students who graduate from A-Plus schools.

James Englehart, director of secondary education, said, "This is really enticing to us because we're in a cooperative program with Mineral Area College called Tech Prep."

The Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School is one of four regional vocational schools participating in the Tech Prep program with Mineral Area College. The grant objectives are similar to those of Tech Prep.

"Because these grants are funded through the vocational portion of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, there is a feeling that vocational schools will have more impact because they involve six to eight area schools."

Englehart said grant money could be used to purchase equipment for science labs and other supplies needed for applied academic courses. The grant money could also be used to fund training for staff members in outcomes-based evaluation.

Superintendent Neyland Clark said an editorial in the Southeast Missourian concerning the district's lack of debt missed the point. "Indebtedness is the only legal way we could go about improving our district," Clark said.

A chart published Dec. 31 was handed out again.

"That's not to pick on people who have debt," Clark said. "What we have said is that they have all been very wise to borrow money at this time with historically low interest rates."

"I'm concerned that people who read the editorial think we recklessly want to go into debt," Clark said. "We want to take advantage of a marketplace when rates are extremely low and save taxpayers some money."

In other business:

-- The board approved job descriptions and performance evaluation outlines for support staff in the district. The job descriptions call for all employees to hold high school diplomas or the equivalent. Current employees will be "grandfathered in," but Clark said newly hired employees will need to have their diploma or a GED.

-- A 1993 school district progress report is available at the board of education office.

-- Break-ins and vandalism have occurred at three different schools during the past two weeks. Board member Lyle Davis said repairs necessitated by the break-ins have cut into the district's already skimpy maintenance budget.

-- The school calendar being considered now is for two academic years instead of a single-year calendar.

-- Clark said a delayed start of school, which was used once last year during bad weather, will likely be used again this winter if weather warrants. Students would begin classes two hours late.

-- The superintendent said plans are beginning for a surplus auction to perhaps be held in the summer to sell old, broken or surplus items.