School Bill Moves to House.

The Missouri Senate voted to advance a bill that allows for merit-based teacher salaries, year-round school schedules and multiple kindergarten start dates.

Senate Bill 815 expands eligibility for the Teacher Choice Compensation Package to teachers in all school districts upon a majority vote of the local school board. Current law provides that only teachers in the St. Louis City School District are eligible to participate in the package, which allows them to receive merit-based salaries.

The measure also allows a school district to adopt a year-round educational program by a majority vote of the school board. Districts that move to a year-round program must meet the minimum number of school days required and have no break, including summer, longer than four weeks.

Lastly, SB 815 permits a school district to offer, by majority vote of the school board, two start dates for kindergarten. One start date must occur on the district’s normal starting date and the other must occur approximately halfway through the year.

Senate Bill 815 now moves to the House for similar consideration.

Saw a blue bee floatin’ around as I sat on the back porch the other day. Not bein’ partial to bees gettin’ too near, I watched as the critter landed near a small cobweb in the corner. I figured the bee could escape the thin web, but thought it might be interestin’ to watch the surprised look on its face when the spider’s trap was sprung.

The bee lightly touched the web and began workin’ its way toward the middle. I could see the little feet stickin’ a little and figured it was just a matter of time.

To my surprise the bee grabbed what looked like a gnat out of the web and flew up to the porch rail. After a couple a quick pricks with the stinger, the bug disappeared in to the jaws of the bee. I bet the spider was really ticked off he wasn’t watchin’ his nest better.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Hardwood vs. Laminate

Q: I want to install a wood floor in my home, but like everyone else, my budget is tight. What presents a better value -- hardwood floors or that imitation flooring that looks like hardwood? -- Jesse L., Columbia, Md.

A: "Imitation" flooring that looks like hardwood is commonly called laminate flooring. Made up of paper layers pressed between a clear film and a high-density backing board, laminate is a durable alternative to traditional hardwood and can be significantly cheaper.

Laminate has a lot of up-front plusses that make it worth considering. It can cost as little as $2 a square foot, and it is relatively easier and faster to install than hardwood. It’s a "floating" floor, meaning it does not have to be fastened directly to the subfloor and can be installed over existing vinyl, tile or wood flooring. If you’re handy, you might even be able to install it yourself. Most brands of laminate can simply be snapped together.

As far as durability goes, laminate resists stains and scratches well enough that some brands carry warranties of 10 years or longer, making it a good option for high-traffic areas or homes with pets and kids.

As great as laminate sounds, it’s not without its problems. Moisture is chief among these. If the floor is installed in a place that’s humid or prone to water seepage (like a basement or kitchen), moisture can get under the laminate flooring and create a mold problem. Another issue is that laminate must be installed on an absolutely level floor to prevent the snap-together pieces from cracking along the seams. And laminate can chip or mar when a heavy object is dropped on it.

Hardwood floors, on the other hand, cost significantly more than laminate ($10 or higher per square foot) and usually must be installed by a professional, so you have labor costs on top of materials costs. Wood floors must be refinished every so often in order to maintain their look and durability, and are prone to staining, scratches and fading.

So, what’s the benefit to hardwood? The most notable is that the overall value of your home will increase -- sometimes significantly. Longevity is another plus: When properly cared for, hardwood floors can last a century or more.