SEMO GETS $1.2 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT

Southeast Missouri State University, along with several Missouri Bootheel schools and other agencies, has received a $1.2 million federal grant to encourage and prepare students for post-secondary education.

The university will be working with Charleston, Caruthersville and North Pemiscot middle and high schools, the Susanna Wesley Family Learning Center at East Prairie, the Pemiscot County Initiative Network and the Missouri Student Assistance Resource Services.

The Bootheel Partnership GEAR-UP program is designed to boost the academic achievement of low-income, middle and secondary school students and help them graduate from high school, and enroll and succeed in college.

The grant is for a five-year period and is designed to serve 1,250 students in grades seven through 12.

The program will be based at Southeast, with offices for the program at the participating schools. Dr. Irene Ferguson, interim dean of students at Southeast, will oversee the program. Ferguson said a director and staff will be hired for the program.

A kick-off event is scheduled for Oct. 19 at Charleston Middle School, Oct. 23 at the North Pemiscot schools, and Oct. 24 in the Caruthersville School District.

Bootheel Partnership GEAR-UP will provide after-school programs, summer programs, academic skills development workshops, mentoring, parent skills and financial aid workshops, career development and summer internships.

Ferguson said Southeast's College of Education will be responsible for training participating teachers. In addition, the Charleston, Caruthersville and North Pemiscot schools will provide funding for professional development programs for their teachers.