SCHOOL PLANNING PROCESS ENTERS NEW PHASE

When David Hahs kicked off the Cape Girardeau Vision Planning Committee meetings Oct. 2, one of his goals was to get people in Cape Girardeau talking about the public schools.

Tuesday night the committee reported on what it has heard and what the group plans to do with the information gathered.

Since Oct. 2, 18 meetings have been held to collect ideas, suggestions and concerns from Cape Girardeau residents. At each meeting participants generated ideas and then ranked their top five issues on cards.

Those cards were passed on to Dr. Pauline Fox, an economics professor and associate provost at Southeast Missouri State University, who compiled the ideas and computed the ratings.

The 18 meetings were designed to look at educational directions, facilities and finances. But Fox found that a fourth category emerged: concerns about personnel and school leadership.

Board of Education president Bob Fox said the committee and the board will have to investigate specifically what these concerns are and what steps need to be taken.

Through the ranking system, suggestions earned votes. When all the ideas were computed, the top two items were new and upgraded facilities and new and upgraded technology and equipment.

But Kim McDowell, who presented information about facilities, pointed out that upgrading facilities ranked higher among teachers and school staff than among the public.

Of the 632 people who participated by filling out cards, 291 were from the public and 341 were employees of the school district or students.

Keith Russell, who reported on finances, saw two themes: regain the public trust then seek alternate funding.

Russell said people want better stewardship of the school district's money and more information on how money is being spent.

Until the public trust is gained, he said, the next step would be difficult. The next step is seeking alternative methods of new funding for the school district like endowments or new state money.

Jim Biundo said the educational directions fell into three themes: solid academic performance, quality instruction and the best context for learning.

The next step for the Vision Planning Committee is to expand its membership. New members were announced Tuesday.

The expanded committee will meet Nov. 15 to review the data and decide on a course of action. Hahs said one possibility would be publishing top ideas and asking for input on whether the committee is headed in the right direction.

Eventually, the Vision Planning Committee will present a report to the Board of Education for use in developing a five-year strategic plan for the school district.

Members of the expanded Vision Planning Committee:

PTA representatives -- John Freeze, Alma Schrader; Ann Fowler, Clippard; Kim Hagler, Franklin; Pat Hodge, Jefferson; Marian Walker, May Greene; Sharon Sibley, Washington; Becky Ledbetter, L.J. Schultz; Brenda Dohogne, Central Junior High; Dan Todt, Central High School.

Community members -- Bob Komorech, Amy Randol, Louis Haynes, Leola Twiggs, Keith Russell, Ken Schaefer, Tracy Blattner, Kim McDowell, Victor Mitchell, Steve Trautwein, Ken Scheer.

Support staff -- Lisa Burns, secretary; Kay Azuma, teacher aide.

Administrators -- Dr. Dan Tallent, Dr. Barbara Kohlfeld.

Teachers -- Laura Green, Nancy Haertling, Helen Gibbar.

Students -- Angie Fornkohl, Central High Student Council president; Travis Kaufman, Central Junior High Student Council, vice president.

They join the eight members of the Vision Planning Committee -- Hahs, Robert Foster, Judy Wilferth, Kevin Ford, John Jenkins, Bryn McDougall and Richard Bollwerk.

RESULTS FROM CAPE SCHOOLS' VISITON PLANNING MEETINGS

Top 20 ideas

1. New/upgraded facilities

2. Technology/equipment

3. Smaller class sizes

4. Alternative schools/programs

5. Air conditioning

6. Communication/community trust

7. Discipline

8. Alternative/additional financial support

9. Vocational education/work ethic

10. Schools more family centered/parental involvement

11. More support: staff and training

12. Emphasize basics

13. change in leadership and public confidence

14. Salary/compensation issues

15. Emphasis on academic standards

16. Public relations/awareness

17. Middle school

18. Professional facilities master plan

19. Information about money/finances

20. Redistricting