The Jefferson City School District Board of Education heard an update on the upcoming STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) academy and an incentive program for students to bring up their grade-point averages.
Thursday marked the first day of awards for the Academic Commitment to Excellence Project, a pilot program that offers students incentives of up to $500 if they increase their GPA while meeting attendance and behavior requirements. The program, sponsored by Central Bank and Jefferson Bank, provided gift cards ranging in value from $25 to $500 for 519 students Thursday. In total, more than $100,000 was distributed to students.
"I think this will cause some positive momentum, because when one friend gets it and tells another friend, 'Hey, I can do that to improve,' you're going to get even more, hopefully, improvements next semester," said Superintendent Bryan McGraw during his report.
Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Troy Hogg said he had just finished looking at renderings for lab furniture for the new STEM Academy at Thorpe Gordon and that staff were still looking at curriculum resource and professional development opportunities.
Hogg also said there could be a lottery process in place in the fall for any extra students to join the academy beyond those that are already in the Thorpe Gordon attendance area if there is space.
The board also amended the budget to reflect a preschool start-up grant and increased expected Proposition C tax revenue. There were also adjusted costs associated with the early childhood professions program at Nichols Career Center.