SCHOOL PLANNING

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education is working to create a five-year, long-range plan. Such a plan is essential, especially in the face of many pressing needs in the district. Without long-range planning, a school district -- like any other organization or business -- simply puts out the fires but fails to sidestep crises before they develop.

Several of the district's problems were outlined in a recent Missouri School Improvement Program report. Facility needs and discrepancies in guidance counselor-to-student ratios topped the list of concerns. The problems outlined by the report didn't develop yesterday. Long-range planning can help ensure they won't be around down the road.

The district has one year to develop a plan to solve these problems. The district began the long-range planning process last fall through Vision Planning meetings. Goals have been divided into three main categories: finances, educational programs and facilities.

Some of the improvements can be addressed without additional resources or finances, just time and energy. Other goals are much more costly and complex, such as creating a revised technology curriculum and the pressing facility needs. Despite three failed bond issues, the state of the district's aging buildings continues to deteriorate.

The board hopes to have a plan in place by 1997 or 1998 that will teach technology skills at all levels and train staff members to use new technology. Currently, none of the elementary schools has a classroom devoted solely to computers. The district would also like to beef up its vocational-technical career training. Another goal is to install multimedia equipment in all classrooms.

The planning is a welcomed. It is good to see the district's new superintendent, Dr. Dan Tallent, leading the charge. This long-range plan will help make a good school district even better.