Board votes on acquisition of Fallert Bus
From a news release
STE GENEVIEVE — The Ste. Genevieve County School District No. 32 has released its “Board Briefs” report of the June 18, 2024, Public Input Session and Regular Meeting.
This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education’s June 18, 2024, Public Input Session & Regular meeting. This is an unofficial record. The official Board Minutes are posted on the district website and are located on BoardDocs, linked here. The video of the meeting can be found on the district’s Youtube Channel, SGDragonsTV.
LEASE PURCHASE PUBLIC HEARING
Members from L.J. Hart & Company presented the details regarding the process of securing the five-year lease purchase for the purchase of property—including the bus fleet, building, contents and radio tower—from Fallert Bus Service, Inc. and the Shirley A. Meyer Trust. Senior Vice President Mrs. Courtney Wegman provided an overview of the capital facilities financing, which included financing $1,225,000 over the span of five years at an interest rate of 4.25 percent. She answered questions from Board members and welcomed questions from patrons and community members. No community patrons chose to participate in the Public Hearing. A Lease Purchase Public Hearing is a requirement that must be completed before the Board can issue the lease purchase during its Regular Meeting.
MSBA MONTHLY REPORT
The MSBA June Board Report features a look at the recently concluded legislative session with MSBA’s Director of Outreach Caitlin Whaley, as well as provides information on Advocacy Positions, the upcoming MSBA Annual Conference, and the Paul Morris Community Service Award.
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
Fallert Bus Inspection.
Fallert Bus Service underwent its annual inspection from the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, receiving a pass rate of 88.6%. Out of the fleet of 44 buses, the rejections included a broken exhaust hanger, a bolt missing on an exhaust hanger, a loose ball joint, a tail light out, and a slight fuel leak. Dr. Taylor pointed out that this past school year, Fallert Bus Service continued to do a great job making sure that our students arrive to and from school safely. Fallert Bus Service holds a pass rate right on par with Missouri’s average, which is 88.5%.
Backpacks for Friday Programming.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard presented an overview of the Backpacks for Friday program for the 2023-2024 school year, an initiative that provides basic food staples to 50 needy families. SG R-II would like to thank our supporters who made a donation to the Backpacks for Friday program during this past school year. These donations will fund the program for the upcoming school year, as funds are raised a year in advance.
The District partners with the Southeast Missouri Food Bank to organize the program, which is funded through donations from community organizations, local businesses and residents. These donations are a vital contribution, as these partnerships assist us in the fight against hunger here in our community. This year, the district maintained 55 backpacks at $350 apiece (with $70 each covered by the Food Bank). One backpack provides 36 weeks of healthy, nutritious food.
We have also partnered with the nonprofit organization Care to Learn to maximize the impact of your donation. Care to Learn (bit.ly/dragongiving) amplifies donations by securing matching grants for the needs of students in the areas of health, hunger, and hygiene. With your support, we bring hope and help to students who desperately need it.
Dr. McClard shared a special thanks to: the counselors, Mrs. Jesika Greminger, Mrs. Amy Rowland and Mrs. Audra Kingery, who help to determine the number of backpacks needed at their buildings and who help coordinate the program; the students in the STARS program, as well as Mr. Jon Robinson, Mr. Joseph Hull, and Mrs. Joann Grein, who help organize and transport the monthly shipments; and our Maintenance Department who help to coordinate delivery. This year, 21 backpacks were placed at Bloomsdale Elementary, which has an enrollment of 320 students, and 34 backpacks were placed at Ste. Genevieve Elementary, which has an enrollment of 535 students.
SG R-II would like to share a heartfelt thank you to the following 2023-2024 donors whose donations funded the backpacks for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year:
● Ability Network, Inc.
● Alumni Group of 24th Judicial Circuit Treatment Court
● Basler Funeral Home
● Ms. Elaine Belovich
● Beta Rho
● Bloomsdale Excavating
● Brockmiller Construction Inc.
● CE Contracting Inc
● Citizens Electric Corporation
● Don Heil Oil Co., Inc
● Equipment Pro Inc.
● Fallert Bus Service
● First Baptist Church of Ste. Genevieve
● First State Community Bank
● Flieg’s Equipment Inc.
● Holcim
● Mr. & Mrs. Tom & Susan Keim
● Ms. Dona Kemper
● L. J. Hart & Company
● Mr. & Mrs. Bobby & Rebecca Latempt
● L’Hoist North America
● Lions Club of Ste. Genevieve
● Lost Acres Antique Tractor Club Inc.
● Ms. Donna Marler
● Mid-West Marketing
● MLC
● MRV Banks
● Presbyterian Women
● R & K Excavation Inc.
● Mr. Rick Rudloff & Ms. Carol Steiger
● River Hills Thunderin’ Longbeards
● Rotary Club of Ste. Genevieve
● S T Gear & Machine LLC
● SGCMH – Medical Staff
● SGNEA
● Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Teresa Slough
● Ste. Genevieve Eagles Aerie & Auxiliary 4336
● Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge 2674
● Ste. Genevieve Vision Care
● Tower Rock Stone Company
● University of Missouri Extension Council
● Weingarten Jaycees
● Women’s Club of Ste. Genevieve
● Women’s Horseshoe Legion Team #1
*Donations made during a school year actually fund the following school year’s backpacks for students. The group of donors listed above made donations from July 2023 – June 2024.
Anyone who would like more information about the Backpacks for Friday program or learn how to make a contribution, please contact:
Dr. Lance McClard
SG R-II Assistant Superintendent
573-883-4500 ext. 2006
Care To Learn Program: End of Year Summary.
School Social Worker Stephanie Gegg, Chapter Liaison for Care to Learn Ste. Genevieve, presented an overview of the program’s highlights.
Each year, approximately 1,800 students attend SG R-II. While most of our families are able to stock up on the necessities, some have a much harder time making ends meet. That is why this past school year, SG R-II launched a Care to Learn Chapter in our community! Care to Learn Ste. Genevieve is now one of more than 40 school districts across the state of Missouri meeting student needs through this innovative model.
The mission of the Care to Learn Ste. Genevieve Chapter is to provide immediate funding to meet students’ emergent health, hunger, and hygiene needs so they can be successful in school. Our Care to Learn team helps to empower our staff to identify and respond to student needs efficiently and discreetly, while we partner with the community to provide those students with the resources they need.
● Care to Learn is built to fill the gaps. Our Care to Learn Chapter joins alongside our existing fundraising and sponsorship programs in the community to ensure that our students have their basic needs met. (Care to Learn does not duplicate services.)
● We keep it local. All funds will be used to meet the needs of our district’s students.
● This program supports all students. There are no qualifiers for a student to receive Care to Learn support, making it a wonderful solution when other resources aren’t available.
If a student’s need involves health, hunger, or hygiene, Care to Learn can help. Some of these needs are included below:
● Health: medical and dental health care; vision care and glasses; transportation to/from medical appointments; prescriptions; assistive devices; pest control; and more.
● Hunger: supplemental food for students at home; emergency snacks at school; grocery vouchers, etc.
● Hygiene: personal hygiene items; clothing; shoes; coats and jackets; and haircuts, to name a few.
Mrs. Gegg shared some of the ways our newly established Care to Learn Chapter has helped students and families in just the first three months of our chapter being established:
● more than 3,000 food needs were met, whether it was a snack given to a student who did not have one to bring from home, a couple of items if they missed breakfast or were still hungry after lunch, or to help provide enough to eat in the evening or over a weekend.
● six seniors’ negative lunch balances were paid so they were able to receive their diplomas at graduation;
● 25 students were provided with a drawstring bag filled with food items for Spring Break, and another 38 students were provided a bag of food items for Summer Break;
● 425 clothing or hygiene items provided to students;
● two anonymous donors who have agreed to match up to $35,000 our district fundraises by the end of 2024; and more!
Mrs. Gegg shared that we are incredibly excited with all the ways we have been able to help our students and school families, and look forward to how we can meet even more needs going forward. Anyone interested in learning more can find information on our Care to Learn webpage on the district website: https://caretolearn.org/stegenevieve/
Anyone who would like to make a donation to our local Care to Learn chapter can do so either online at bit.ly/dragongiving, or can make a donation via a tax-deductible check payable to “Care to Learn Ste. Genevieve” and mailed to:
Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District
Attn: Erin Jokerst
375 North Fifth Street
Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670
2023-2024 End-of-Year Summary Reports.
● Bloomsdale Elementary
● Ste. Genevieve Elementary
● Ste. Genevieve Middle School
● Ste. Genevieve High School
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Prop SG Updates.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Paul Taylor presented an update on the Prop SG projects.
Ste. Genevieve Middle School Addition:
● The elevator will undergo a follow-up inspection this summer after a ventilation item has been addressed.
● The transition from the nurse’s office to the elevator on the bottom level was on hold until asbestos remediation could be completed over the summer. Crews will then step in to complete that transition once the old tiles have been removed and the remediation is complete.
Early Childhood:
● Work continues on schedule for the Early Childhood building— roof units are being installed!
● The City of Ste. Genevieve might not be able to move forward with the detention basin, a project the district had planned to partner on, so we will need to return to our original plans of addressing the runoff associated with the Center on the district-owned property.
● District administration will be meeting with companies who design and construct playgrounds to determine which style of playground equipment will work best for the Center, with accessibility a priority
.
● When launching this project, challenges associated with water pressure were identified. SG R-II requested that the City of Ste. Genevieve move up a portion of its water line upgrade to be done in conjunction with the Early Childhood Center. The City’s plan to upgrade to a larger-diameter pipe in that area was originally scheduled for 2025. With the current water main in that area, there is a significant pressure and volume issue, which would make it impossible to install a sprinkler system in the new Center. The City agreed to accelerate its timeline for implementing upgrades to the water main in the area adjacent to our new Early Childhood Center construction, and we appreciate the City’s willingness to partner to take on these upgrades earlier than originally planned.
● The district has received many questions regarding the possibility of extending Maple Drive out to intersect with Highway 61 and installing a stoplight at the junction. The field is owned by MLC (previously Mississippi Lime), and this conversation would necessitate a partnership that included Mississippi Lime, the county, the city, the school district, the Special Road District, Citizens Electric and MoDOT. Dr. Taylor shared that the district is onboard with this project and would love to sit down with all of the entities involved to discuss this possibility, as it would benefit so many in the area.
Ste. Genevieve Elementary Addition:
● After the total bids came in at approximately $4.75 million for the SGE addition project, the district and our CMAR, Brockmiller Construction, were able to identify a savings of approximately $96,500 through the value engineering process.
● Construction will start soon on this addition. Construction crews have begun moving equipment to the front parking lot, as well as installing a fence in that area pursuant to safety requirements and to be utilized for staging areas.
● At this time, construction is anticipated to take approximately 13 months to complete.
● We know that our families have many questions about parking, entering, exiting, drop-off and pick-up when school starts again in the fall. Visitors will now enter the building through the kindergarten entrance located at the corner of Eighth Street and Washington Street. Look for the green and white flags and the welcome sign that marks the entrance.
● We will share more information about these logistics with families this summer.
Parking:
● The district is hoping to address parking issues in conjunction with the launch of the Ste. Genevieve Elementary project construction. The district has worked to identify parking opportunities to undergo this summer prior to the SGE project construction beginning. This would include an addition of between 35 and 40 spots and a retaining wall between the front parking lot and entrance near the Maintenance Department. (more on this later)
● Other plans include creating additional parking spots along the back parking lot leading to the football field.
● Once complete, the new footprint of the Ste. Genevieve Elementary project will have a significant impact on the facade of the front of the school, as well as the processes and layout of the parking lot. Taylor Engineering is working on options to restructure the parking lot with the bus lane and parking space alignment and layout. This restructuring would occur after SGE construction is complete. We will have more information on these plans moving forward.
Wrestling / Athletic Facility:
● The last Prop SG project to be designed and constructed will be a wrestling / athletic facility. At this point (barring unforeseen costs arising with the two current projects), the district is on target for saving enough funds in the first four projects to be able to create a quality wrestling and athletic facility that can be utilized by multiple programs. Please rest assured: at the minimum, a wrestling facility will be completed.
● The district hopes to build an athletic facility that includes a 100 x 120-foot wrestling space with restrooms, storage and an office space, with an additional finished space with turf to be utilized by multiple SG R-II programs. This project is estimated to cost about $5.1 million. If for some reason, funds are unable to cover this design, the district plans to build the wrestling facility with restrooms, storage and an office space, with an additional unfinished shell to be finished with turf at a later date.
● A timeline is not yet set for this project, as crews are currently focused on two ongoing projects (the Early Childhood Center and Ste. Genevieve Elementary). We will have more information on timing as we move forward.
Transportation.
After extensive deliberation and careful consideration, the Board of Education approved the contracts with Fallert Bus Service Inc. and the Shirley A. Meyer Trust and approved financing as presented in the Lease Purchase Public Hearing prior to the Regular Meeting, for the purposes of purchasing the property, including the bus fleet, building, contents and radio tower.
During the 2023-2024 year, SG R-II and Fallert Bus Service were in the second year of a five-year contract for transportation services. Last fall, Fallert Bus Service representatives expressed their desire to retire before the current contract expires, preferably at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. This was an unanticipated situation for this school year, and the district needed time to investigate options, enlist experts, and identify the best path forward.
Making the Decision
After months of careful consideration, it was determined that the best course of action for the district would be to self manage transportation services. The following highlight the reasoning behind this recommendation:
1. The district will be able to efficiently and effectively transition operations while maintaining the high-quality service our families rely on.
2. This enables us to retain valuable Fallert Bus Service employees with extensive knowledge and experience in transportation.
3. It provides us with financial stability and control over future transportation costs, safeguarding against potential increases from unaffiliated external providers who are not local.
4. The majority of rural school districts today manage their own transportation services. Within the MAAA schools of which the district is a member, all of the districts manage their own transportation.
Current Fallert Bus Service Employees
District administration met with Fallert Bus Service employees prior to the information being made public in order to share the news, answer as many of their questions as possible, and hopefully minimize any anxiety related to the transition.
A Director of Transportation will be in place by July 1 and will spend the first year learning the ropes.
Our focus is to learn how things are currently managed. Any changes the first year would be requirements either from DESE or state statute— a public school district running its own transportation has requirements that private companies contracting transportation services do not.
Taking on Transportation Financially
District administration spent months investigating the following items: working with Fallert Bus Service to determine property value and fleet value; surveying surrounding districts to develop appropriate operational cost analyses; enlisting the help of DESE to determine anticipated transportation reimbursements and funding; consulting our law firm to ensure the district is operating within the proper parameters; and working with LJ Hart, the district’s financial advisor, to determine if taking on this service is possible, and how to ensure that this move creates the least financial burden possible going forward.
A five-year lease-purchase agreement to purchase the property, the Bus Barn and the fleet softens the financial impact by spreading out the payments in order to absorb the expenditure over a period of time.
Over the last several years, prior district administrators worked to increase our fund balances in anticipation of future financial challenges (including ongoing tax protests by LafargeHolcim, MLC (previously Mississippi Lime) and Lhoist, where a large portion of tax monies are being held in escrow rather than disbursed to the district and other taxing entities). Dr. Taylor has shared that while we need to be prepared to support our assessor and the other taxing entities in those legal battles, there are some reserve funds that we can utilize for annual operational costs and to address the aging fleet if need be.
The district is estimating a roughly $500,000 deficit the first year, which includes that high estimate of $1.7 million for operational expenses. This budget is also dependent on funds reimbursed through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for transportation (this was fully funded at 75% this past year, but is not set going forward.)
What about nonpublic transportation?
Dr. Taylor has stressed that the decision to recommend the integration of transportation was not made lightly. He has shared that he did everything he could to identify a better option, because one of the consequences of Missouri public school districts running in-house transportation is not being able to transport nonpublic students. This would be a violation of the Missouri Constitution, and the decision has also been upheld in subsequent court cases.
“This was not something that we were looking to do,” he has said. “It was absolutely not our choice. Our nonpublic school districts have been good partners with us for many, many years. If we had the choice, we would partner with them and continue to transport their students.”
Dr. Taylor shared with our nonpublic partners that we are committed to assisting in any other way possible. The district will include our nonpublic partners in any conversations regarding surplus buses, and will also check into whether it would be possible for the district to offer space and maintenance for transportation vehicles owned by other entities.
A Better Position for the Future
By integrating transportation services into district operations, we can ensure that the district has control over transportation costs down the line, which in turn will save our taxpayers money.
There is value in owning the property, as well as the Bus Barn. This purchase offers the district options in the future— If later on, the district were to decide to publish an RFP and utilize an external company for transportation services, we could do so, while continuing to own the property and Bus Barn. This would ensure that the district retains some control over any future contract, as an external service would be utilizing our spaces and property.
Next Steps
A Director of Transportation will be in place by July 1, 2024. Moving forward through the summer and approaching the next school year, we will keep transportation employees and families updated on any developments and address any questions or concerns that may arise.
NEW BUSINESS
Adult Food Service Prices.
The Board tabled the approval of the Adult Food Service Prices for the 2024-25 school year until the July Regular meeting. Student prices were approved at the May 21, 2024 Regular Meeting.
2024-2025 Food Service Bid – Bread.
The Board of Education approved a one-year bid for bread products from Holloway Distribution for the 2024-2025 school year.
2024-2025 Food Service Bid – Milk.
The Board of Education approved a one-year bid for milk from Prairie Farms for the 2024-2025 school year.
Waste Management Services Bid.
The Board of Education approved a one-year bid for waste management bid from Republic Services for the 2024-2025 school year.
Turf & Non-Turf Grass Management Services Bid.
The Board of Education approved the bid of Mid-West Lawns to provide turf and non-turf grass maintenance at Yanks North, Yanks South and Leon’s Fields, for the 2024-25 school year, with the option to renew the contract annually.
Photography Services Bid.
The Board of Education approved a three-year bid for photography services from Wagner Portrait Group.
Parking Lot Updates.
The Board approved the proposal from Vern Bauman Excavating for additional parking at the high school main entrance parking lot as presented. As mentioned earlier, the District has been looking for more opportunities to create parking. Construction on the SGE addition is anticipated to take approximately 20 current parking spots for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.
Vern Bauman Excavating just completed one new parking space in front of the high school, and we have identified another adjacent space that could be utilized with the addition of a retaining wall. Between the two new parking areas, an additional 35-40 spaces could be included. The second phase for additional parking is anticipated to be completed prior to school starting in August.
Fiscal Year 2024 Budget – 2024-2025 School Year.
The Board of Education approved the following budget items for the 2024-2025 school year:
● increases in insurance, benefits, and utility costs;
● adjustments to Transportation Expenditures (Contracted to District Operated);
● addition of a Librarian at Bloomsdale Elementary School;
● addition of a Tier II Teacher at Bloomsdale Elementary;
● addition of a Tier II Teacher at Ste. Genevieve Elementary;
● addition of a Tier III Teacher at Ste. Genevieve Elementary;
● increase the base teacher salary by $750 and allow regular step (years of service) and lane (total college hours) movements, along with additional degree stipends for certified staff;
○ This would increase the district’s beginning teacher salary to $43,250;
● increase hourly pay rates by 50 cents to the beginning salaries in each lane and allow regular step (years of service) movements on the salary schedule for support staff;
○ This would increase the lowest beginning salary to $15.31. Minimum wage in Missouri is $12 an hour.
○ Dr. Taylor pointed out that it is important that the district continue to raise the lowest beginning salary in order to remain competitive with statewide minimum wage increases.
● increase extra duty stipends due to the increase of $750 to the base teacher salary; and
● increase the substitute pay rate at $100 per day, as well as an increase of $10 to daily pay for long-term substitute teachers and the implementation of a set of benchmarks: more than 25 days a year, a pay increase of $5 a day; more than 50 days a year, an increase of $10 a day; and more than 75 days a year, an increase of $15 a year.
The First Amended to the FY25 Budget will be presented on Oct. 15, 2024. This provides the district more time to work with setting the tax rate and to obtain a more complete picture of our local, state and federal revenue totals by this time.
Audit Engagement Letters.
Beussink, Hey, Roe & Stroder, L.L.C., the audit firm for the District, is scheduled to be onsite in September.
Bus Driver Salary Schedule
Dr. Taylor provided an overview of the bus driver salary schedule, as well as the benefits and the discussions leading up to these decisions. District administration and office personnel met with Fallert Bus Service employees once as a large group, again in small groups of five and six, and then met with two representatives. Through these discussions, the district delved into the pros and cons of the transition for these employees, as well as explored possible options moving forward. Some of the positive outcomes include a raise, expanded benefits, retirement, health insurance, integrated processes, leave / virtual instruction days, and an attendance stipend. Some of the challenges include no longer being able to apply for unemployment benefits during breaks, and route times / overtime for drivers.
Dr. Taylor explained that there were some challenges to this transition, as public school districts are held to different rules and regulations than privately-owned companies. For example, overtime will have to be managed differently, as more than 40 hours worked per week necessitates pay of time and a half. In addition, transportation employees will no longer be able to apply for unemployment benefits during breaks, as breaks for a public school district are considered scheduled breaks that are not entitled to unemployment compensation. (Less than 12-month employees have “reasonable assurance” that they will come back to a job in August, so unemployment doesn’t attach to those breaks.)
Dr. Taylor shared that the district strived to make as many positive outcomes as possible for these employees to not only lessen the strain of some of these challenges but to hopefully ensure a positive transition for these employees. For example, through placement on the new salary schedule, each employee will receive a raise somewhere between $1.20 an hour and $1.52 an hour. The district is also increasing the daily three-hour minimum route time to a daily four-hour minimum route time for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.
A summary of the benefits are included below:
● Salary schedule will begin at $18 an hour. Hourly employees were placed on the schedule to where each person will receive no less than $1.20 raise depending on where they transition to the new salary schedule.
● Drivers can expect a minimum of 4 hours per route for the 2024-2025 school year.
● Hourly employees will receive four personal/sick days per year. These days accrue and can be rolled over.
● Hourly employees will be provided with five Longevity Days that can be applied to AMI Days, to ensure that these employees are paid for AMI Days. These days do not accrue or roll over, and unused Longevity Days are paid out at the employee rate in June.
● Health insurance is available to employees working 30 hours or more per week.
● The district plans to offer an attendance incentive.
● The district will cover the cost of required physical and CDL renewals.
● PEERS Retirement: For employees working a minimum of 20 regular hours per week, they contribute 6.86% into this retirement system, and the district matches this amount. Employees are vested after five years.
● Existing 401(k) plans may roll over into a 403(b) account.
● Hourly employees will have the choice to be paid over a period of 10 months or 12 months.
“It takes a village to raise our students and provide them with what they need,” Dr. Taylor said. “Whether it’s bus drivers, cooks, paraprofessionals, custodians, teachers—any staff—it takes all of us to make it happen. That starts with bus drivers getting the kids here in the morning.”
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The Board of Education will hold its Regularly Scheduled Meeting on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the R.W. Thomas Library. The Tax Rate Hearing and the August Regularly Scheduled Meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. in the R.W. Thomas Library