SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEM

Following an impassioned pitch from Cape Girardeau Athletic Director Terry Kitchen, Cape Girardeau's Board of Education gave its approval to a new support system for students.

The program, called Total Cape Student, is designed to encourage academic success among student athletes and others involved in extracurricular activities.

Kitchen told board members his goal, as athletic director, is to ensure that students graduate from Central High School prepared to pursue whatever avenue they choose.

"I don't want any of our kids to come back and say, `Gee coach, I wish you would have mentioned something about grades,'" he said.

The board voted to proceed with implementation of the project.

"I do not think no pass-no play is for our school," Kitchen said. "I don't think all our students have the same opportunities. Some drive to school in better cars than we drive and mom and dad are supporting and encouraging them. We have some that don't know where mom and dad are at.

"Plus, for some students, sports and extracurricular activities offer the only opportunity they have to achieve any recognition," Kitchen said.

"Rather than set a minimum standard, we want a program that encourages students to do their best," Kitchen said.

Statistics show that students who participate in activities have higher grades and better attendance at school.

Kitchen has been studying eligibility standards for the past 18 months. Of the 540 schools in Missouri's High School Activities Association, 253 have some type of additional academic standards they are using, he reported.

Kitchen contacted 19 high schools of similar size to Cape Central and asked about their standards. Only one, Hazelwood Central High School, had a strict no pass-no play policy.

In Texas, state law prescribes that any student who fails any class is suspended from participation for six weeks.

Kitchen talked with an official in Texas. "He said, `It's working down here.' I asked, `Have you noticed students staying away from tougher academic courses?' `Yes,' he said. `Did you notice students, rather than working harder, did they just quit?' He said yes."

About 50 percent of high school students participate in athletics. When other clubs and organizations are included, 65 to 70 percent of students are involved in extracurricular activities.

Superintendent Neyland Clark described the Total Cape Student Program as a safety net.

"Before we allow a kid to fail -- whatever level that might be -- a whole army of people is in line to catch that kid and get him or her back on track," Clark said.

"We are rewarding kids for raising their hands and saying, `Coach Kitchen I need help,' rather than `Here's my report card, guess I can't play.'"

The program would include classroom teachers, coaches and sponsors, counselors, and parents all working with students to encourage academic achievement and to spot problems.

"Coaches and other sponsors are willing to put in the extra time -- and it's going to take a little extra time," Kitchen said.

The board also discussed formation of the Cape Girardeau Public School Foundation for Educational Excellence. The school district is in the process of developing a non-profit organization to spearhead private fund-raising efforts for the district. Attorney Joe Russell gave board members an outline for formation of the association.

In other agenda items, the board approved a Sunday, Dec. 19, performance of the Central High School Chamber Orchestra; re-adopted a district ethics resolution; approved tuition rates for 1993-94, which are kindergarten, $1,635; grades 1-8, $3,269; grades 9-12, $3,956.