Cape Girardeau Central High School students took a break from regularly scheduled classes Friday morning to listen to Gov. Jay Nixon talk about the future of the state's public schools.

In his State of the State address Tuesday, Nixon called for a $278 million increase in funding for K-12 public schools. The governor said the state "tightened its belt" over the past five years of economic hardship, and now the economy has seen some improvement, it's important to determine the best use of taxpayer

dollars.

According to Nixon, the "most impactful" use is for public education.

Before delivering his speech, Nixon dropped in on a couple of classes. He was visiting the school, he said to students, for three reasons: to thank the teachers for their hard work, to talk about the benefits of increased funding for public schools and to talk directly to the students about the importance of working hard today to compete in a global economy tomorrow.

"The best economic development tool is education," Nixon said.

When businesses and industries look for a place to open a new facility, the governor said, the first question is not about taxes and incentives, but about the skills and education of the local workforce. The competition for jobs is no longer local, but on a worldwide scale, he told the students.

As he delivered his speech in Kinder Hall before the student body, staff and school board, Nixon said he believes it is the responsibility of the state's leaders to provide students with better opportunities in education but it's the students' responsibility to make the most of those resources.

"More funding means higher expectations," he said. "We're working to increase standards and increase rigor so we can say to taxpayers and to parents that we're getting increased productivity from this. ... So our challenge to you is to broaden your vision. There are no limits to what you can do."

Nixon also said he was "excited" about the school's 1:1 initiative that gives laptop computers to each student that was implemented earlier this month, and commended the school for preparing students to enter a world where understanding technology was vital.

He told students and educators at Central he believes each school should be allowed to tailor resources to fit personal needs, but hopes to see every high school across the state give students the option to earn college credits before graduation. Through dual enrollment, Nixon said students could earn up to one semester of credits which could save thousands of dollars in college tuition.

Nixon said at each school he's visited since delivering his State of the State address, educators seem to be most excited about the state fully living up to its promise to fund the foundation formula, passed in 2005.

Jim Welker, superintendent of the Cape Girardeau School District, said he was "very pleased" to see the state coming through on its promise.

"It's very important that the state hold up their end of the bargain on the foundation formula," he said.

Although some legislators have called Nixon's budgetary plans unrealistic, the governor said "it's a process," and he looks forward to working with both parties in the future.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

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1000 S. Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo.