Enrollment grows at Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Enrollment continues to grow at the Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education (CGPHE).

The program is now entering its second year. It’s a partnership between Mineral Area College, Southeast Missouri State University and Three Rivers Community College.

CGPHE’s Tinea Ortega says enrollment has spiked sharply this semester.

"For fall when we started out, our first number was about 190," Ortega said. "In spring we actually increased, so were about 210 during Spring and summer, we had about 60 for summer and then this fall we have peaked at about 283 students."

CGPHE services ten school districts and provides the first two years of general education programs, mainly students who want to transfer to Southeast.

Its facilities are located at the Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center.

Lauren Campbell, KRCU

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Southeast biology professor receives NSF grant

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A Southeast Missouri State University biology professor was awarded a National Science Foundation grant totalling nearly 500 thousand dollars.

Dr. Margaret Waterman was given the grant dollars to create a collaborative network of faculty from multiple universities who use problem-based learning methods.

Waterman says problem-based learning is teaching that begins with a story.

"The power of it is it creates a real world context. It’s not just in school. It’s not just memorization," Waterman says. "It’s running on the track and having a conversation. It’s sitting over Chinese food and talking about soy sauce. It’s a wide variety of thing like that."

Waterman compares problem-based learning to exercises that are practiced in medical school.

Waterman is the lead researcher in a group of problem-based learning investigators from Southeast Missouri State University, State University of New York Buffalo, Emory University, Spelman College, University of Wisconsin River Falls, University of Delaware, Three Rivers Community College, EMBRLI Consulting and Michigan State University.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Cape Central football stadium nears completion

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Cape Central Tigers will have their own football stadium this September.

Construction of the $2.9 million project began this spring.

Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Neil Glass says the high school needed its own football field for a long time.

"Cape Central has never had a stadium," Glass says. "This is our centennial year, our 100th graduating class. Everything seems to be hitting at the same time. We’re very excited. A hundred years without having our own football field, and now we’ve got one. It is a state-of-the-art field. It is something the community can be proud of."

Cape Central previously played home games at Southeast Missouri State University’s Houck Stadium.

The new stadium will have 5,000 seats, VIP seating and a state-of-the-art sound system.

Glass says the the school district chose to install artificial turf because it requires less maintenance and is more versatile.

"With artificial turf, we can play our soccer games on it, we can play our football games on it - our freshman, JV and varsity. And have our band competitions if we so choose. Our physical education classes. It’s just that numerous events can be held on turf," Glass says.

The Cape Tigers will play their first home football game in the new stadium on September 2.

The football stadium is funded by a $40 million bond issue approved by voters in 2010. Other projects include the new Franklin Elementary School, a Performing Art Center and a new library at the Cape Central Junior High, among others.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Franklin School construction proceeding as planned

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Construction of the new Franklin Elementary School in Cape Girardeau is proceeding as planned. 

The $10 million facility is under construction next to the old Franklin School, which was built in 1927.

Franklin School principal Rhonda Dunham says the new school will solve many of the current facility’s space issues.

“With the gymnasium it will be around 50 thousand square feet. So we will have big-sized classrooms. We’ll even have three extra classrooms just in case they decide to put fifth grade back into the mix,” Dunham says.

The new building will house several additions, including an art room, a computer room, a parent-teacher conference room and a state-of-the-art library.

The new building is scheduled to be ready by the beginning of the 2012 school year. Dunham says the construction is projected to finish within its budget.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Nixon promises more funding for public education

COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - Governor Jay Nixon promised Missouri educators Tuesday he would devote his efforts toward developing quality public schooling. Speaking at a conference for public school teachers and administrators in Columbia, the Governor says he will “reign in tax credit programs” and put more funding into public education.

“If you continue on a 408 percent increase of credits and leave everything else flat and these tax credits get going even more, we’ll just have the same problem bigger in years to come. This is the time,” Nixon said.

Nixon says he wants to use additional funding to move Missouri into the top 10 states in the U.S. for public schooling. In particular, he stressed the need for the Missouri General Assembly to pass an education funding reform package in 2012.

Ryan Famuliner, KBIA

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Teachers brings nature into the classroom

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Educators spent two days at the Cape Girardeau Nature Center last week to learn about incorporating nature into the curriculum.

The program is part of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Discover Nature program.

Education Consultant Bridget Jackson says that one of the project’s goals is to teach students about Missouri’s different habitats.

“Another goal that is equally important is to get the kids outside. These curriculums are designed in such a way that teachers are taking kids outdoors to learn,” Jackson said.

The program is designed for elementary, junior high and high school classes. Ten teachers took part in last week’s workshop, coming from Southeast Missouri and the St. Louis area.

Jacob McCleland, KRCU

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Reimann named as finalist for National Teachers Hall of Fame

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The College of Education at Southeast Missouri State University announces that Carol Reimann was named one of five finalists for The National Teachers Hall of Fame.

Reimann, a literacy specialist in Southeast’s Regional Professional Development Center and former Missouri Teacher of the Year, spent 33 years as a first grade teacher.

Reimann identified students’ needs and tailored her instruction to meet them. Reimann also focused on parental involvement, visiting families at home and having families visit the classroom so they would know what their children were learning.

The National Teachers Hall of Fame noted that with the accomplishments and contributions of literally thousands of exemplary teachers throughout the country, being considered a finalist for this most prestigious professional honor is indicative of the influence Reimann has had on the lives of her students.

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Cape Chamber names Educators of the Year

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee has named Janet Brase, Kristin Gill, Julia Unnerstall, Dennis Wilson and Dr. Steven Hoffman the 2011 Educators of the Year.

The five outstanding educators will be honored at the Educator of the Year Awards Banquet this evening.

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McMullen to head Cape Alternative School

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Cape Central Middle School math and science teacher Scott McMullen will be the new director of the Cape Alternative Education Center. He will assume the position after the end of the current school year.

McMullen graduated from Cape Central and Southeast Missouri State University. He received his Masters degree from William Woods University.

McMullen is replacing Carla Fee, who was recently appointed principal of Cape Central Junior High School.

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Five Jackson teachers receive Educator of the Year awards

JACKSON, MO (KRCU) - Five Jackson teachers got a silver apple Thursday night from the Jackson Chamber of Commerce in the Knights of Columbus Hall as their reward for earning the 2011 Educator of the Year award.

The educators received stress balls in addition to resolutions from area politicians and a cash reward.

The teachers were Becky Loenneke, Andy Helle, Kay Vangilder, Scott Vangilder, who will be retiring this year, and Tina Sides.

Tina Sides has been teaching for 13 years. She was teaching her middle school language arts class when the committee members came in to tell her she had won Educator of the Year.

“I actually thought when they came in that they were parents that were touring our school. I was very surprised. It was overwhelming and humbling,” Sides said.

To select Educator of the Year, the Education Committee reviewed applications submitted by the instructors’ peers and selected ​the best of them.

Rachel Weatherford, KRCU

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Ex-teacher in the Mo. House argues to end teacher tenure

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - St. Charles County Representative Scott Dieckhaus (R) was a teacher for four years, one short of gaining tenure under Missouri's current system.

But now, four years later, he's a politician fighting to eliminate teacher tenure for K-12 education in Missouri.

Missouri State Teacher's Association spokesman Todd Fuller says the organization is fully against their former member's bill.

"As an association, we have been opposed to the bill in its form that focuses on teacher tenure since it's inception," Fuller said.

Fuller says currently teacher tenure is not a guarantee teachers will stay in their positions if they're not doing their job.

Dieckhaus' bill would also change the way teachers get paid: it would require yearly reviews based on the performance of their students on standardized tests.

Dieckhaus says the aim of this legislation is to ensure only the best teachers are in Missouri's classrooms.

Allison Blood, Missouri Digital News

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Jackson Chamber announces Educators of the Year

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce announced its 2011 Educators of the Year.

They are Kay Vanglider, Becky Loenneke, Andy Helle,, Scott Vanglider, and Tina Sides. 

The five educators will be honored at the annual “Educators of the Year” banquet on March 31.

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Cape Central students selected as National Merit Finalists

Three Cape Central High School seniors have been selected as National Merit Finalists.

Lessley Dennington, Blake Kidd, and Noor Wadi have all been honored with the distinction.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition for recognition and scholarships. It is open to all U.S. high school students who meet certain entry requirements and demonstrate exceptional ability and achievement in critical reading, mathematics and writing.

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