School board hears suggestions from new district superintendent

Dr. David Scala attended his first Cape Girardeau district school board meeting Monday night as the new superintendent.

At the meeting, the board approved several action items, including the 2005-2006 district budget and changes to board policy allowing staff members to take a maximum of three personal leave days instead of two. State Sen. Jason Crowell also addressed the board on the new public school funding formula that he said will increase annual state funding to the district by about $3.3 million over the next eight years.

"Education has been and will remain our No. 1 budget priority," Crowell said of the most recent legislative session.

The board also voted to approve a list of goals that Scala presented for his first six months on the job. Some of the goals included meeting with staff members, parents, business people and political leaders. Scala said he has already met with some community members, and he plans to have evening neighborhood meetings at each school building starting in the fall.

"I want to get out, get to know people in the community and get them to know me, so they can share with me their interests and concerns for the district," he said.

Other goals included presenting a new administrator evaluation process and making recommendations for a the district's comprehensive educational plan. Scala said every district is required to have a comprehensive plan that looks at all aspects of education, and over the next six months, he will go over the plan already in place to see if changes should be made.

Scala said he will report the progress he makes back to the board at regular monthly meetings. Scala officially took the office of superintendent July 1, replacing former superintendent Mark Bowles.

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At Monday night's board meeting, the Cape Girardeau School Board took the following actions:

* Approval of minutes from the June 20 meeting

* Approval of payment of bills

* Approval of district testing schedule

* Approval of Assurance Statement regarding the implementation of IDEA and Local Plan for Compliance with state regulations implementing IDEA

* Approval of contract for physical therapy

* Appointment of J.B. McClard as the districts AHERA designated person

* Designated Deena Ring as the Title IX, Section 504 and ADA coordinator and as the coordinator of assessment (testing) and education for the Homeless Children, Youth and Migrants and ESL

* Approval of the 2004-2005 graduation list

* Approval of 2005-2006 school board meeting schedule

* Approval of bread products bid

* Approval of dairy products bid

* Approval of fund transfers

* Approval of budget 2005 to 2006

* Approval of changes to board policy regarding staff leaves and absences

* Approval of superintendent's goals

* Approval of discontinuing the practice of Board members serving as regular members of district committees