Five Ideas

Where, oh where?

First there was one. Then there was a public outcry, and the number ballooned to six. Then it dropped to five. Now it’s back at six — maybe.

Well, the committee appointed to review the proposed sites for Columbia’s third high school is certainly counting. Many Columbians are as well.

The committee, at minimum, has five choices for the new school. Columbia resident Tom Bass added a possible sixth site Wednesday. His parcel is located in north Columbia, east of Missouri 763 near Prathersville Road.

The 21-member committee will meet Tuesday to discuss the sites, and it is scheduled to deliver a recommendation to the school board, which has the final say.

The public is encouraged to e-mail individual committee members with their concerns. A list of those e-mail addresses, along with other stories about the subject, can be found online at: columbiamissourian.com/blogs/new-high-school/.

Where do you think the new high school should be located?

Hold the phone

Two Columbia high schools reversed their cell phone policies this year — in opposite directions. Rock Bridge High School now allows cell phones in designated zones. Douglass High School now only allows them during lunch.

Both schools say their new polices are meant to clarify what used to be a muddled situation. Hickman High School’s policy hasn’t changed: Cell phones are allowed in the commons before, during and after school.

Many teachers say cell phones can be a distraction in class, from students idly text messaging to potentially using the phones to swap answers on a test. Many teachers also said they are satisfied with the new policies so far.

Several Rock Bridge students said they no longer need to “hide” their cell phones during the day, but Tim Baker, the assistant principal at Douglass, said that administrators had become too “soft” about the rule in previous years.

Where should schools draw the line in regulating cell phones? Is student freedom more or less important than keeping order at school?

Reading is fun….

Professors across the country are trying new methods to make students read the required books for a class. A 2004 study published in the Journal of Instructional Psychology noted that an average student completes about a quarter of his or her assigned readings.

One teacher in Kentucky assigned “America the Book,” a spoof history text by comedian Jon Stewart, and had his students fact-check its information.

Several MU professors have also assigned uncommon books. History professor Michelle Morris assigned “chick-lit” novel “Citizen Girl” by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus because of its potential popularity among students in her U.S. Women’s History class.

Other nontraditional books include a “sort of” history book written by Dave Berry and a guide to optimizing the college experience for a 1000-level biochemistry class.

Several MU students said they appreciated professors’ attempts to use nontraditional books because they are often more interesting than normal textbooks.

Are students these days too pampered or are times simply changing?

Vision for Visioning

Official public input for Columbia’s visioning, or long-term community planning, process ended Thursday, when residents attended an open house to narrow down more than 100 goals to 13.

Those goals will now be finalized into one document and sent to the City Council.

The latest rankings can be found at the city’s Web site, gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Visioning.

Here were some of the top vote getters at Thursday’s open house:

- Develop infrastructure to develop emerging technology industries.

- Leverage Columbia’s natural advantages to foster economic development

- Create a Regional Science and Technology Network to develop entrepreneurial high-tech businesses.

- Add major hubs and additional airlines at Columbia Regional Airport.

The final vote might be over, but city officials probably wouldn’t mind hearing your input anyway. The final document is intended to direct public policy for several years to come. City Council members’ contact information can also be found on the city’s Web site.

With these broad strategies in mind, what specifically should city officials do to implement Columbia’s new vision?

Cash and carrier

City officials, in partnership with MU, Jefferson City and the Tri-County Lodging Association near Lake of the Ozarks, are trying to raise $2 million to lure a major carrier that could offer flights to Chicago.

Lorah Steiner, director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that jets to Chicago could bring conventions with roughly 200 to 300 people who will spend money on hotel rooms, food and shopping.

Local economic development folks say that improved air service might attract new businesses because many companies look for areas that can easily connect to large hubs.

The happy-talk about flights to either O’Hare or Midway, though, is dampened by talk about passenger numbers. In the past several years, the number of people flying out of Columbia Regional Airport has steadily declined. The airport restaurant, Tailwinds, pulled up shop, citing lack of business. A replacement, Skyline Café, is expected to open in October.

Is talk of flights to Chicago warranted, or do local officials have their heads in the clouds? What is the best strategy to revive the airport?