R-II Board of Education briefs from June 21, 2022 Regular Meeting

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STE. GENEVIEVE — This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve R-II Board of Education’s June 21, 2022 Regular Meeting. This is an unofficial record. The official Board Minutes are posted on the district website and are located on BoardDocs, linked here (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/Public). The video of the meeting can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUXKnSSyt_VykERuEroZmLw

MSBA MONTHLY REPORT

The MSBA June Board Report (https://www.mosba.org/board-report/)  features a look at the 2022 session of the Missouri General Assembly and a report on the continuing effort to improve teacher salaries in Missouri. 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 (https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=426&revid=Noui4BWyZ7slshKslsh9TNwnDp9Q==&ptid=amIgTZiB9plushNjl6WXhfiOQ==&secid=zxfvZYmcKkpluslhKHzD4ftFA==&PG=6&IRP=0)for guidelines and procedures. 

 

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

 

Annual Communications Report. Communications Director Bailey Otto presented the Communications Department’s annual report, which included an overview of the department’s duties, a review of the 2021-2022 department accomplishments, and a preview of the 2022-2023 department initiatives. The presentation can be seen here (https://www.canva.com/design/DAFEQ5YEKSk/w4-ybL7AjqTSF07Zyo_zXA/view?utm_content=DAFEQ5YEKSk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink).

 

Fallert Bus Inspection. Fallert Bus Service underwent its annual inspection from the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Feb. 25, 2022, receiving a pass rate of 95.5% (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CF7MFQ5B10A5/$file/Fallert%20Bus%20Service%20Inspection.pdf). Only two buses were identified as rejections out of a fleet of 43 buses, as one had an inoperative defroster, and the other a slightly loose shock. Dr. Flieg pointed out that Fallert Bus Service continues to do a great job of making sure that our students arrive to and from school safely. Fallert Bus Service holds a pass rate higher than that of Missouri’s average, which is 88.7%.

 

2021-2022 End-of-Year Summary Reports.

  • Bloomsdale Elementary (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFCNQ85AF931/$file/BLE%20Principal’s%20End-of-Year%20Report%202021-2022.pdf)
  • Genevieve Elementary (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFCNQC5AFD99/$file/SGE%20Principal’s%20End-of-Year%20Report%202021-2022.pdf)
  • Genevieve Middle School (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFCNQN5B0E92/$file/SGMS%20Principal’s%20End-of-Year%20Report%202021-2022.pdf)
  • Genevieve High School (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFCNT65B151B/$file/HS%20Principal’s%20End-of-Year%20Report%202021-%202022.pdf)
  • Special Education (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFCNX75B7B4D/$file/SPED_504%20Budget%20Report%20FY22.pdf)
  • Early Childhood (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFKLAA55948C/$file/Early%20Childhood%20Budget%20Report%20FY22.pdf)
  • Health Services (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFCNXB5B8065/$file/Health%20Budget%20Report%20FY22.pdf)
  • Counseling (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFCNXN5BA329/$file/Counselor’s%20Budget%20Report%20FY22.pdf)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Rescind the Defeasance of the General Obligation Refunding Bonds – Series 2020. The Board approved a resolution rescinding the authorization made by the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education on July 20, 2021 to defease and prepay a $2.1 million principal amount of general obligation refunding bonds, Series 2020. The original resolution in July 2021 was approved in order to have a plan in place for bond payments in the event that LafargeHolcim paid its taxes. Since LafargeHolcim is protesting its taxes, Courtney Wegman with LJ Hart, the district’s financial firm, recommended that the Board approve a resolution to rescind the defeasance.

NEW BUSINESS

Food Service Prices. The Board of Education approved the food service prices for the 2022-2023 school year. The federal free meals program expires June 30, 2022. Congress has not extended federal waivers that made it possible for schools to provide free meals year-round under the USDA’s Seamless Summer Option. This means that meal charges will begin again this upcoming school year. We understand that this change may cause some of our families concern. However, here are important steps for families:

 

  1. If families completed the 2021-2022 Free & Reduced Lunch application before the end of the school year, there is a 30-day grace period at the start of the upcoming school year to complete the 2022-2023 application.
  2. Families should complete the 2022-2023 Free & Reduced Lunch application, which will be available on the district’s website and in the Power School Parent portal after July 1, 2022, and will also be shared with families in the district’s summer mailer. All families are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if they are able. The online application will be available under Forms, 22-23 Free/Reduced Lunch Application. We will share several reminders with families over the summer. For assistance or questions, please call 573-883-4500 ext. 2008.

 

Due to federal pricing requirements, the district is required to increase the full-pay student breakfast and lunch prices by $0.10 for the 2022-2023 school year. However, reduced breakfast and lunch prices did not increase from the 2019-2020 rate. The prices for the 2022-2023 school year are (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CF7MCQ5A72BB/$file/Food%20Service%20Prices%202022-2023.pdf):

  • Elementary: Reduced Breakfast: $0.30; Full Pay Breakfast: $1.70; Reduced Lunch: $0.40; Full Pay Lunch: $3.00.
  • MS/HS: Reduced Breakfast: $0.30; Full Pay Breakfast: $1.70; Reduced Lunch: $0.40; Full Pay Lunch: $3.10.
  • The adult prices for breakfast and lunch will be determined and shared soon.

 

Food Service Bids — Bread. The Board of Education approved a one-year bid for bread products from Holloway Distribution (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFLKAN4FBF58/$file/Bread%20Bid%20Summary%2022-23.pdf) for the 2022-2023 school year.

 

Pest Control Service Bid. The Board of Education approved a one-year bid for pest control services from Bug Guy Pest Services, LLC (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CFLKBK500AD5/$file/Pest%20Control%20Bid%20Summary%2022-23.pdf) for the 2022-23 school year.

 

Budget for 2021-2022. The Board of Education approved the following budget items for the 2022-2023 school year:

 

Dr. Flieg also made a point to discuss grant funding mentioned in the MSBA Monthly Report video shown at the start of the meeting. At the state level, grant funding is available to school districts to help them increase their beginning teacher salaries to $38,000. As our district’s beginning teacher salary for the 2021-2022 school year was $41,000, our district is not eligible to receive any of that funding. She pointed out that our district will reap the benefits of the fully funded transportation monies, and that we are excited to receive that state funding.

 

Audit Engagement Letters – CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. The Board approved the engagement letters for CliftonLarsonAllen LLP to audit the financial statements of the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District for the year ending on June 30, 2022. The district will undergo its annual audit with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) beginning in July 2022. The preliminary on-site audit dates are: July 11 – 12, and Aug. 29 – 31.

 

Card Access Control Update for Door Lock System. The Board approved a proposal from Securix (a Division of American Digital Security) to update the card access control software and hardware for the door lock system used throughout the district. Originally, the district’s cost estimates for updating these door locks included having to replace many doors in the process, and the lowest estimate was approximately $100,000. Replacing this door lock system was then included on the Prop SG bond issue projects. However, our Assistant Director of Technology, Jason Bauman, has researched various companies and systems over the past few years, and recently found Securix, a company that we are confident has a quality solution to replace the system without having to also replace doors. This proposal is approximately $68,610.74, and we are anticipating that the full system be replaced before the start of school in the fall. Due to this lower total cost, the district will be able to pull the door lock system from the bond issue, allowing for a redistribution of those funds to other Prop SG projects.

 

This purchase will be made through TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System). TIPS is a national purchasing cooperative that offers access to competitively procured purchasing contracts to its membership. For government agencies such as public education organizations, higher education entities and city or county governments, membership in a purchasing cooperative offers the following benefits:

  • Access to competitively procured contracts with quality vendors;
  • Savings of time and financial resources necessary to fulfill bid requirements;
  • Assistance with purchasing process by qualified TIPS staff; and
  • Access to pricing based on a “national” high-profile contract.

 

 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

 

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Regular Session Meeting on Tuesday, July 19, at 7 p.m.