CAPE GIRARDEAU SCHOOLS GET GRANTS

Grants have been around for a long time, and educators have long taken advantage of these earmarked endowments. Typically, a grant is awarded for specific project, oftentimes with a number of bureaucratic strings firmly attached.

Cape Girardeau's public schools have been pretty successful in obtaining grants this year -- nearly a half-million dollars for about a dozen projects. The success is even more remarkable considering the district doesn't have a full-time grant writer. The grants range from $151,878 from the state for the district's new alternative school to $2,533 from a business foundation to show students practical applications for algebra skills.

Grants are fine if the projects are needed, and school districts keep a proper perspective on the importance of these additional funds. Confusion occurs when general education is crying for more funds, but plenty of grant money remains.