SpeakOut 5/20

Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Call 471-6636

I would like for the Sikeston Public Schools to reply to this comment and question if they would. There seems to be two different scales of the grade point average. There is a 4.0 scale and a 4.5 scale. Why are there two different scales and what do they mean? Overall? Also, do grade point averages have influence on scholarship awards compared to ACT or SAT scores? I understand that there are a lot of criteria for many of these scholarships such as citizenship and all school activities. Please explain the process that the foundations and the school might go through in choosing the most deserving person. Please do not take this as a complaint. Each and every one of the students who received these awards are deserving and I applaud all of the foundations for their choices. I would just like a chance to understand to process and to better prepare the students of the future to do all they can do, be all they can be, and receive all the help they can get to make it through college.

We contacted Sikeston Superintendent of Schools Steve Borgsmiller with your concern. "There are two different grade point scales which were implemented in the 1999-2000 freshman class, which is graduating this year. The weighted grades between the college preparatory program and the applied academics referred to as the technology program is a system to give greater grade points for those who take a more rigorous academic course of study. The answer to the second part of your question concerning ACT and SAT scores is 'maybe.' There are so many scholarships now available and each one literally has different requirements. The only way to know what all those different requirements are for the various scholarships available to the students is to get an application from the high school counselor's office and then speak with the counselor about the scholarships he or she is interested in, and what each one requires. The criteria for scholarships is set up by the trust agreement or granting entities. The student needs to make an appointment with the guidance counselor to have his or her questions answered concerning the individual scholarship he or she is interested in obtaining."

In response to the special on DPS on May 13, about children being out on the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of East Gladys Street, my children are some who play on this block and we watch them very well. If the cars would do the speed limit on this street, there would be no problem. So instead of the police watching the children, why don't they watch the speeders who drive the cars that travel down this road? There is no sign that says children can't play out here. But if I'm not mistaken, there is a speed limit of 30, not 50, on this street. Also, pedestrians do have legal right of four feet of the roadway. I should know this, because I am married to a cop.

Dr. Roberts and Dr. Poole deserve some recognition. These doctors saved the life of my daughter. They are wonderful doctors and we are so lucky to have them here in Sikeston. Our hats are off to you. We love you and thank you. I thank you Dr. Poole for saving my daughter's life.

Identification

This is to the lady who called about driving to Wal-Mart to get medicine for headaches and they asked for her ID. She said she drove 18 miles. Wouldn't her driver's license be a good photo ID? Just wondering.