SURVEY WILL BE A PART OF DISTRICT PLAN

As part of the Cape Girardeau School District's planning process, school officials want to know what you think.

The district is conducting a survey of residents about their attitudes on education.

The information collected will be used in developing a long-range plan for improvement of education, said Superintendent Neyland Clark.

Volunteers will be trained to conduct the interviews and will be on the streets next month. Clark said members of the Cape Girardeau Booster Club will be among surveyors.

The poll includes 77 questions designed to be conducted on a one-on-one basis. Between 60 and 70 volunteers are being solicited to serve as interviewers. They will be trained and asked to conduct at least 10 interviews.

The questionnaire includes questions on a wide range of topics relating to education, like, "How important is the school's educational program to one's future success?"

Individuals will be asked what they believe are the most important things schools should do: teach moral and ethical character, teach students how to think, prepare students for a job or career after graduation, prepare students for college, and others.

The survey asks what ingredients make up a successful school: well-educated teachers and principals, teacher and principals personally interested in student progress, high goals and expectation, a good parent-teacher relationship, discipline, class size, special programs, basic skills, extra-curricular activities.

The poll also asks respondents to grade the district at the elementary, middle- and high-school levels, and if they would support new taxes to support educational improvements respondents consider important.

Respondents have a chance to express their opinions about what is good, what problems the district must deal with, and to make suggestions about how to get the community to work together.

A teacher and staff survey, similar to the community survey, is also being conducted.

Anyone who is interested in responding to the survey may contact the school district at 335-6654.