STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve School District R-II has released its report of the May 17 school board meeting.
MSBA MONTHLY REPORT
The MSBA May Board Report (https://www.mosba.org/board-report/) features a look at the issue of cybersecurity issues facing Missouri schools and a look at the education of military students in our state. The MSBA Board Report is a monthly five to seven-minute video program featuring the latest news from MSBA about public education in Missouri. The program is designed to be shown during local school board meetings.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Board members and administrators listen to concerns and respond when appropriate by mail or telephone at a later date. The Board does not respond within the meeting to those who come to offer public comment. In order to speak during public participation, a Public Comment Form must be filled out and submitted to the Board President prior to the beginning of the meeting. See Policy BDDH-1: Public Participation at Board Meetings for guidelines and procedures.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Last Day of School. The last day of school (for pre-k through grade 11) will be Friday, May 27, 2022, and will be an early dismissal, ending at 1 p.m.
Graduation. The Graduation Ceremony for Ste. Genevieve High School will be held at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, in the Ste. Genevieve High School Peggy J. Johnson Gymnasium. Doors open at 7 p.m. Overflow will be hosted in the SG R-II Performing Arts Center. The graduates will walk through the PAC before graduation begins.
Principal Reports. Each building principal reported on a variety of teacher and student accomplishments.
Safety Reports. Safety drills from each building were reviewed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
MSBA Full Maintenance Service Agreement. The Board approved the annual School Boards’ Association (MSBA) Full Maintenance Service Agreement (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CEDM2N5914B1/$file/MSBA%20Full%20Maintenance%20Service%20Agreement.pdf), effective May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023. This annual membership includes an online system for the Board’s policies and administrative procedures.
NEW BUSINESS
A+ Partnership Plan. The Board approved the A+ Partnership Plan (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CEDHVW4A0807/$file/A%2B%20PARTNERSHIP%20PLAN.pdf) as presented. Ste. Genevieve High School Assistant Principal Mrs. Jami Drury provided an overview of the A+ Partnership Program. Thanks to programs like Dragons Den and events like Kindergarten Registration, students work toward reaching their tutoring goals. This year, a supplementary afterschool program outside of Dragons Den was launched for A+ students to provide extra tutoring and support to elementary students who were at risk of retention. This year, 25 freshmen participated in the A+ program, which was 16 more freshmen than last year. There were 36 sophomores who participated this year, a gain of 25 participating students for this class. There were 54 juniors and 60 seniors participating.
Intent Resolution – General Obligation Bonds. The Board approved the Intent Resolution (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CEGJ8L4BA8FC/$file/Intent%20Resolution%20-%20Prop%20SG.pdf), as presented, which shall be in full force and effect on May 17, 2022. The district put forth this resolution in anticipation of upcoming expenditures in connection with the construction, equipping, furnishing, renovating and improvement of school buildings encompassed by Prop SG, the district’s voter-approved no-tax rate increase $20 million bond issue. This resolution allows the district to reimburse itself for any incurred expenses associated with the bond issue after obtaining the general obligation bonds.
The district is currently working with our financial firm, LJ Hart, on setting a timeline to receive portions of the $20 million as costs accrue related to updates identified in Prop SG. The district anticipates beginning construction projects sometime next year; there are various studies and surveys that must be performed first, including soil samples and procuring updated topographical maps. The district’s architectural firm, KRJ Architects, continues to update plans and schematics for various projects.
MOCAAT Resolution. The Board approved the Missouri Capital Asset Advantage Treasury (MOCAAT) Resolution (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CEDLJ355F73C/$file/MOCAAT%20Resolution.pdf), as presented, which shall be in full force and effect on May 17, 2022. The MOCAAT is new to Missouri and offers an investment opportunity for school districts. Currently, the district has the opportunity to invest with First State Community Bank, as FSCB provides banking depository services on a contractual basis, or the Missouri Securities Investment Program (MOSIP), of which the district is a member. Becoming a member of MOCAAT would allow the district to explore investment opportunities, such as bond proceeds management and investment. There is no fee to become a member.
Construction Manager At Risk – Request for Qualifications. The Board publicly disclosed: 1) its intent to use the construction management at risk (CMAR) method for construction of facility projects identified in Prop SG; and 2) the criteria the Board will use to select a CMAR. The District will begin to seek Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the construction manager at risk (CMAR) beginning on May 25, 2022. For additional information on this process, please see Policy FED: Selection of a Construction Manager At Risk (https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=426&revid=tNyNbLNgocMKplus3DadCIMsA==&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==&secid=9slshUHzTHxaaYMVf6zKpJz3Q==&PG=6&IRP=0).
A Construction Manager at Risk, or CMAR, assumes the risk for the construction, rehabilitation, alteration or repair of a project at a contracted price and provides consultation regarding construction during and after the design of the project. Once the design is complete, a CMAR will provide a “guaranteed maximum price” for completing the construction of the project. Typically, if the cost runs over the guaranteed maximum price, the CMAR will be responsible for the additional costs.
Benefits to utilizing a CMAR include:
The cost of using a CMAR is the same as hard-bid, but includes pre-construction services.
A CMAR offers another layer of quality control and works alongside the architectural firm in budgeting and design.
A CMAR acts as one point of contact for all projects and for all subcontractors.
Dr. Taylor explained that in the past, our district has traditionally used a Design, Plan, Build Option, but after consulting with area superintendents, many suggested utilizing a CMAR given the scope of projects encompassed by Prop SG. He pointed out that a CMAR would be able to act as an intermediary for the district, working with the architects on the implementation of designs, issuing bids as packages to best suit the district’s needs, acting as the manager of subcontractors, negotiating on prices with market fluctuations, and providing monthly progress reports to the Board of Education.
Selecting a CMAR is a two-step process. First, the Board announces its intention to use a CMAR, and the district publishes an RFQ (Request for Qualifications), which would include experience and past projects. Once the Board has selected a few candidates from the submitted RFQs, then those candidates will be asked to submit an RFP (Request for Proposals), which includes costs and plans for the project. Dr. Taylor mentioned that a CMAR could be selected by the July Regular Board of Education meeting, or shortly after.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Regularly Scheduled Meeting on June 21, 2022, at 7 p.m.
This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve R-II Board of Education’s May 17, 2022, Reorganizational and Regular meetings. This is an unofficial record. The official Board News is posted on the district website and is posted on the district’s website the week of the meeting.