Ste. Gen R-II releases ‘Board Briefs’ from March 18, 2025, Regular Meeting

/ News, Ste. Genevieve News
Editor’s note: This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education’s March 18, 2025, 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 at: https://youtu.be/aRxvTw6ofj0?si=jp8fJJyVgx9cR8qq

 

STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve County School District R-II has released this report of the proceedings of the March 18 Board of Education meeting.

MSBA MONTHLY REPORT

The MSBA March Report takes a look at the federal funding picture and what actions districts should be taking to claim federal dollars, as well as shares highlights from the Spring Virtual Meeting and ways to celebrate School Board Recognition Month. The MSBA Board Report is a short monthly video featuring the latest news from MSBA and 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.

 

 

ADVOCACY DAY AT THE CAPITOL

 

Board President Mr. David Bova shared that several Board of Education members attended Advocacy Day in Jefferson City last week, joined by senior Shay Coleman (a student working at City Hall through the SBE program). They met with state legislators, observed House and Senate proceedings, and participated in a discussion with State Commissioner of Education Karla Esslinger. Key topics included: communication challenges between federal and state governments, concerns over a bill that would move school board elections to November, the issue of whether the legislature and governor will uphold the funding that was promised to public education in last year’s Senate Bill 727, and discussions continue on private school voucher funding. Mr. Tyson Roth also chaperoned students in the cadet teaching program as they presented to attendees during the student showcase.

 

Mr. Bova also shared that our neighbors at Perry County School District 32 suffered significant damage to their campus during recent storms. As they work through the challenges ahead, he asked that we keep their students, staff, and families in our thoughts. Right now, their team is assessing needs, and once they have a clearer picture, we will share any donation opportunities with our community. We ask the community to stay tuned for ways to help, and thank them for supporting a neighboring district in this challenging time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

 

Annual School Board Election.

 

The Ste. Genevieve R-II School District has completed candidate filing for the district’s Board of Directors. In accordance with § 115.124, RSMo., the district will not hold an election because the number of candidates filing was equal to the number of open positions. Mrs. Jamie Ballew and Mr. Josh Gettinger will be sworn into office at the School Board’s reorganization meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

 

MSBA – School Board Recognition Month.

 

During the month of March, communities across the state honor the dedicated service of their local boards of education during Missouri School Board Recognition Month. The goal is to build awareness and understanding of the important function an elected board of education plays in communities and schools. All Missouri citizens are asked to recognize the important contributions of these men and women and focus attention on the vital role these public officials play in the education of Missouri’s children. Dr. Taylor thanked the Board for all that they do for our district, our students and staff.

 

Kindergarten Registration.

 

Kindergarten registration for the 2025-2026 school year took place on the following dates and times.

  • Genevieve Elementary – Saturday, March 1, 2025 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Bloomsdale Elementary – Saturday, March 15, 2025, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 

Families, if you missed the Kindergarten Registration & screening event for your child, please call 573-883-4500 and your elementary office extension to enroll your child for the 2025-2026 school year: SGE ext. 3, BLE ext. 4. Children age 5 prior to Aug. 1, 2025 are kindergarten eligible.

 

Dr. Paul Taylor shared preliminary enrollment numbers, with 40 students anticipated at Bloomsdale Elementary and 80 at Ste. Genevieve Elementary—though those numbers are expected to grow. He noted that the event was a success, and Early Childhood Director Dr. Bethany Koetting highlighted that preschoolers from district programs excelled in screenings. Dr. Taylor also expressed excitement for the district’s new Early Childhood Center, set to open for the 2025-2026 school year, which will house eight preschool classrooms and provide even more students with a strong start to their education.

 

MAP Grade Level Assessments.

 

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard reviewed the testing window for the MAP Grade Level Assessments:

 

  • Bloomsdale Elementary: April 22 – May 8, 2025
  • Genevieve Elementary: April 23 – May 8, 2025
  • Genevieve Middle School: April 15 – May 8, 2025

 

 

MAP End-of-Course Exams.

 

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard reviewed the testing window for the MAP End-of-Course Exams:

 

High School End of Course Exams:

April 25, 2025

  • English I – 9th Grade
  • English II – 10th Grade
  • ACT Test – 11th Grade

 

April 23 – 24; April 28 – May 1, 2025

  • Algebra
  • Biology
  • Government

 

2024-2025 Retirement & Recognition Banquet.

 

The 2024-2025 SG R-II Recognition & Retirement Banquet will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge #2674.

 

Principal Reports.

 

Principals and students reported on a variety of student and teacher accomplishments.

 

Safety Reports.

 

Safety drills from each building were reviewed.

 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

Instructional Program Presentation — SGHS Science.

 

The team of science teachers from Ste. Genevieve High School presented an overview of our science programming. This included an explanation of the core courses, as well as the electives offered, all of which include: Integrated Science, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Forensics, Earth Science, Advanced Biology, Advanced and Organic Chemistry, and Physics. They presented the various units of study and projects focused upon throughout the courses, some of which include molecular interactions, phase changes, DNA and protein synthesis, ecology, natural selection, anatomical systems, anthropology, blood typing, aquatic biomes, microorganism sampling in bodies of water, cell structure and function, chemical equilibria, kinematics, abstract problem solving, and more!

 

Prop SG Update.

 

Romy Uelk, President and Principal in Charge of Programming for KRJ Architecture, and Colin Rogers, President of Project Management for Brockmiller Construction & Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR), co-presented an update to the Board of Education regarding Prop SG. This included an overview of the facility projects, design plans and current timelines and cost estimates. The project areas discussed are below:

 

Bloomsdale Elementary:

 

            Ste. Genevieve Middle School:

 

Early Childhood Center:

 

 

Ste. Genevieve Elementary:

 

 

Wrestling Facility:

 

  • Over the past few months, district administration has shared updates on the upcoming wrestling and athletic facility. We did not have many options in terms of a location for this facility, and it had been decided that it could be located at the end of the football field. However, a review of the recent drilling reports and an onsite evaluation of the area revealed the presence of a sinkhole and cave or cave system located directly adjacent to or beneath this site. The location of the sinkhole can be seen here.
  • Brockmiller Construction, as well as KRJ Architects and Taylor Engineering, further investigated to determine how the sinkhole impacts the area around it and how much it might affect the decided-upon location of the facility. The decision was made to:
    1. pause the full athletic facility project until a large-enough alternative location could be identified for an indoor turf portion; and
    2. construct a wrestling facility behind the Performing Arts Center.
  • Taylor stressed that this was not where we had hoped to be at this stage, but we will have a wrestling facility constructed.
    1. The original plan was to build a high school practice gymnasium with a wrestling facility, which would be located adjacent to the current SGHS gym. However, the cost of this project kept climbing, as the gymnasium would have had a suspended concrete floor and presented some significant sitework challenges with increased costs (some of which include moving a water main which would require a permit from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), updating the location of electrical poles and associated lines, and the addition of a sewage injector).
    2. At that point, we transitioned to building a wrestling facility in another location on campus, with the possibility of upgrading this to an athletic facility that included an indoor turf area. With this plan, we had a location picked out, and the plans were on track— before the sinkhole was discovered. This plan is no longer feasible, as we are not comfortable building in that area. While an athletic facility is not off of the table, until we find a good site for it, we will have to put it on hold.
    3. However, the wrestling facility was originally identified as a priority of Prop SG, and we have what we believe is a good site plan behind the PAC for this facility. Taylor Engineering is working on surveying the site to identify the most optimal location. (With this shift in plans, the track areas will also be able to remain where they are.)
  • In addition, we still plan to renovate the current wrestling room and weight room, which will provide additional space and updated weight equipment to better support our student-athletes, as well as a locker room for visiting teams.

 

 

 

Preliminary Timeline:

  • Romy and Colin then presented the current project timeline schedule. It is important to note that these timeframes shift as the projects progress.
  • The Ste. Genevieve Elementary addition is slated to be finished in June, when crews will hit the ground running on breaking ground on the wrestling facility.

 

Current Cost Estimates:

  • Throughout the Prop SG process, the district’s priority has been to both invest and spend the bond monies wisely in order to gain the most from our taxpayer dollars for these building projects. To date, the district has earned more than $2,869,092.15 from the sale of the $20 million bonds, as well as interest on those monies, which can also be utilized for the Prop SG projects. In addition, through value engineering and cost-saving measures, along with the expertise of our Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) and architects, the district has identified approximately $368,884 in savings across the first four projects.
  • Change orders and value engineering have contributed to these savings, particularly on the Bloomsdale Elementary and Ste. Genevieve Middle School projects. The Bloomsdale Elementary project came in about $46,750 under budget, while the Ste. Genevieve Middle School project came in about $105,900 under budget.
  • The value engineering process allows contractors to identify areas where costs can be reduced without sacrificing quality. Additionally, contingency funds are built into project estimates to account for potential change orders due to unforeseen construction costs.
  • From a budget standpoint, Prop SG projects have run efficiently. A key factor in this success has been the ability to attract reputable local contractors through the CMAR process. This approach has provided significant benefits—working with local contractors has made collaboration easier and streamlined communication, ensuring a smoother construction process.
  • Shifting focus away from the athletic facility for now has also allowed the district to reallocate some funds to other important improvements. This includes investing in field lighting updates for both the downtown ball fields and the football field, as well as putting more funding toward converting existing wrestling space to an updated weight room and current weight room to another away location for away teams.
  • The current cost estimates include not only construction and design fees, but also ancillary costs such as soils investigation, furniture budgets, sewer work, asbestos abatement, land purchases, and more. To this point, there have not been any major unexpected costs.
  • Below is an overview of the current budget and approximate ongoing cost estimates for the Prop SG projects:
  • Bloomsdale Elementary Project: $836,794 (Completed)
  • Genevieve Middle School Project: $1,718,346 (Completed)
  • Early Childhood Center: $9,876,854 (Projected Cost)
  • Genevieve Elementary Project: $5,454,512 (Projected Cost)
  • Wrestling Facility: $3,471,982 (Projected Cost — Based On Design)
  • Field Lighting (Football Field & Ball Fields): $1,200,000
  • SGE Current Gymnasium Renovation: TBD
  • Current Wrestling & Weight Room Renovations: TBD

Projected Total of the Above Projects: $22,558,488

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Insurance Rates for the 2025-2026 School Year.

 

The Board approved health, dental, vision, and life insurance rates for the 2025-2026 school year. As a member of the Mineral Area Health Consortium, the district partners with Ozarks Schools Benefits Association (OSBA) to provide insurance options for employees. Dr. Paul Taylor presented an overview of the district’s health insurance plans, which were carefully reviewed by the SG R-II Insurance Committee. Based on ongoing discussions with the committee, the district is increasing its investment in employee health benefits by contributing additional funds toward employee insurance this year.

 

For 2025-2026, the district will offer four PPO plans and four high-deductible health plans. Last year, a ninth plan (gap insurance) was introduced to help lower deductibles. However, the Insurance Committee opted to remove the gap insurance and transition to the best high-deductible health plan as the Board-paid plan. Employees can still step down to a lower-cost plan, with the district depositing the difference into their HSA account—up to a maximum of $111 per month. Employees will also have the option to move up to a PPO plan for an additional $16 per month.

 

Dr. Taylor noted that shifting to the best high-deductible plan as the Board-paid option represents an approximately $380,000 increase in health insurance costs compared to last year. While this aligns with the district’s focus on employee wellness, it also impacts the overall budget. He emphasized that, much like a pie, each expenditure takes a portion of available funds, meaning this increase will need to be factored in when determining salary adjustments. The Board remains committed to maintaining a competitive salary schedule and benefits package. However, balancing insurance enhancements with potential raises will depend on the district’s financial outlook.

 

Dr. Taylor thanked the committee members for their different perspectives, insightful questions and comments and their commitment to providing employees with the best options possible.

 

See more information below:

 

2024-2025 Calendar Adjustment.

 

The Board approved the revised 2024-2025 District Calendar, adjusting the schedule to address the impact of missed snow days. The last day of school for pre-K through 11th grade will now be a half day on Friday, May 23.

 

Reason for the Adjustment: With seven snow days resulting in 45.5 lost hours, the original last day of school (May 20) would have been extended to May 29, requiring students and staff to return after Memorial Day for three additional days, including finals. To avoid this disruption, district leaders reviewed options that would keep the calendar instructionally sound while also considering the needs of students and staff. Since the district typically exceeds DESE’s required 1,044 student hours, administration adjusted the calendar to recover necessary time without extending the school year past the holiday.

 

Approved Calendar Change:

  • New Total Days Added to Calendar: 3 days (19.5 hours)
  • Updated Total Calendar Hours: 1066.5 (Well over 1044 minimum hours and strikes a good balance while maintaining educational integrity)
  • New Last Day of School: May 23 (half day)

 

District administration confirmed with DESE that this adjustment meets all statutory requirements. This change provides a more effective transition to summer break for students and staff, avoiding the challenge of returning after Memorial Day to complete finals.

 

Additionally, we recognize that the reduced number of instructional days may impact some support staff. We are working to address this by incorporating professional development opportunities (CPR, ALICE, MANDT trainings, etc.), and we will share details as those plans take shape.

 

Amended Budget.

 

The Board of Education approved the Amended Budget for the 2024-2025 school year. The February Amended Budget reflects updated estimates for expenditures and revenues. It also contains revised projections for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year.

 

“I feel confident that the budget maintains sufficient contingency funds, and I do not anticipate the full expenditure of all budgeted funds,” he said. “The amendment continues the fiscally conservative approach we have maintained throughout the year, ensuring financial stability while supporting the district’s operational and educational needs.”           

 

 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

 

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Reorganization Meeting with the Regularly Scheduled Meeting to follow on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, beginning at 6:30 p.m.