Ste. Genevieve School District R-II board meeting report

STE. GENEVIEVE – This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education’s June 24, 2025, Regular meeting. This is an unofficial record. The official Board Minutes are posted on the district website and are located on Simbli, linked here. The video of the meeting can be found on the district’s Youtube Channel, SGDragonsTV.

MSBA MONTHLY REPORT

The June Board Report highlights the impact of the latest legislative session on public education funding, statewide cell phone policy, and standardized testing updates, while also offering a preview of the MSBA Annual Conference, details on nominating board members for the Paul Morris Community Service Award, and a celebration of outstanding students.

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. 

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Annual Transportation Report.

Background

The district has wrapped up its first school year of managing its own transportation services. Last fall, Fallert Bus Service representatives expressed their desire to retire before their contract expired, preferably at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. After months of careful consideration, it was determined that the best course of action for the district would be to self manage transportation services to ensure that the district has control over transportation costs down the line, which in turn save our taxpayers money.

The Board of Education approved 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. At the time, the district estimated a roughly $500,000 deficit the first school year, including a high estimate of $1.7 million for operational expenses.

The district hired Mr. Ken Jones as the Director of Transportation, effective July 1, 2025. Mr. Jones spent the first six months learning the ropes, with a focus on understanding how processes were managed prior to the district taking on transportation.

Annual Report

Director Ken Jones presented the new Transportation Department’s first annual report, wrapping up the district’s first year of managing its own transportation services.

The annual report included an overview of the transition of services from a privately-owned company to a district-owned operation, a review of the first year’s challenges and successes, a look at the anticipated and actual budget for the department, and the various initiatives undertaken during the 2024-2025 school year, some of which included:

• collaborating with Valle Catholic Schools to provide two buses for their transportation services;
• addressing route efficiency;
• diversifying fuel suppliers and taking advantage of significant savings through joining the WEX program;
• managing rentals of our (now) five vans;
• purchasing a 10-passenger van;
• hosting Come Drive a Bus Day;
• hosting bus evacuation drills; and more!

Mr. Jones shared the exciting news that the Transportation Department earned a 97.6% pass rate from the Missouri State Highway Patrol (the state average is 82.96%). He gave a shout-out to our mechanics, James and Corey, as well as Debbie and Buck, as well as all of our drivers, for their hard work in keeping our buses running smoothly and looking great!

He also shared plans to purchase four new Thomas Saf-T-Liner school buses from Midwest Bus Sales for the 2025-2026 school year (to replace four older models). These buses would be equipped with the SafetyVision camera system to align with the current system used in the fleet.

In terms of the budget, Mr. Jones began with an overview of the purchase of the transportation services and the costs district administrators anticipated for the first year; he then provided the actual costs, sharing that the district spent a significant amount less than anticipated— even less than paid to Fallert Bus Service the previous year.

Purchase:

• $1.205 million for acreage, bus barn, contents of building, radio tower and fleet of 44 buses (paid through a five-year lease purchase agreement to soften the financial impact by spreading the payments out over time)

First Year Estimate Total: $2,175,000

• $1.7 million estimated in Operational Expenses
• $300,000 lease purchase for five years for the business
• $175,000 estimated lease purchase for five years for first round of buses

First Year Actual Total: $1,485,000

• $1,185,931 in Operational Expenses
• $300,000 lease purchase for five years for the business
• (The district did not purchase the first round of buses this past school year but plans to in the upcoming 2025-2026 school year)

= $690,000 less than expected

***

Paid to Fallert Bus Service in the 2023-2024 School Year: $1,879,880

First Year Actual Total: $1,485,000

= $394,880 less spent than paid to Fallert Bus Service in 2023-2024

“From my perspective, this first year couldn’t have gone any better,” Mr. Jones said. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be here and truly appreciate the opportunity to be part of this district. We’ve got a lot of good people out there making this work every day, and I’m grateful to be working alongside them. Thank you for bringing me on board.”

Care to Learn and Backpacks for Friday

Care to Learn:

• 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. 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 respond to student needs efficiently and discreetly, while we partner with the community to provide those students with the resources they need.
• The District launched its partnership with the Care to Learn program in March 2024, and we have completed the first full school year of being able to provide these services. Last year, Care to Learn set up two anonymous donors who agreed to match up to $35,000 of donations raised by the District. Mrs. Gegg shared that the district’s goal was met by this past December, in large part by incorporating the Backpacks for Friday program.
• If a student’s need involves health, hunger, or hygiene, Care to Learn can help. Mrs. Gegg shared some of the ways our Care to Learn Chapter has helped students and families this past school year:
  • Health: Crutch tips for safety, medication co-pays so students don’t have lapses in their medications, glasses, pest control (pet flea and tick medication)
  • Hunger: Grocery vouchers (through collaboration with Save a Lot), holiday (year-round) food bags and maintaining food drawers, negative lunch balance payoffs so that students could receive their diplomas at graduation
  • Hygiene: Toilet paper, laundry detergent/fabric softener, pull-ups, wipes, hygiene products
  • Emergent Needs: Shoes, clothing, home extermination, hotel room, sensory supportive tools
• Funding for many of these services has also been supported by a DESE reimbursement grant, which covered health, hunger, and hygiene-related expenses from July through March. While the grant funds were exhausted in March, there is hope the program will be renewed for the upcoming school year. In the meantime, this reimbursement has allowed the district to preserve its donation-based funding for future needs—an encouraging step for the program’s sustainability moving forward.
• By the Numbers
• Student Needs Met (July 2024–March 2025): 13,267
• Care to Learn Central Office Contributions (July 2024–April 2025): $36,500
• State Funding Reimbursements via DESE Grant (July 2024–March 2025): $27,749.79
• The impact has been both practical and deeply meaningful. “It has been really amazing. We were working off of a very small budget before and meeting needs, but now it’s just kind of opened the doors,” Mrs. Gegg said. “It’s for every student, and I’ve hardly had to turn anyone away. The students and families have all been so grateful—it’s never overused, never expected. They’re just so thankful.”
• 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 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

• SG R-II would like to share a heartfelt thank you to the following 2024-2025 donors whose donations funded our Care to Learn Chapter this past school year:

Backpacks for Friday:

• In tandem with the presentation on the Care to Learn Program, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard presented an overview of the Backpacks for Friday program for the 2024-2025 school year, an initiative that provides basic food staples to 55 needy families. Backpacks for Friday was incorporated under the Care to Learn framework this past school year, in order to take advantage of Care to Learn’s matching grant program.
• 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 $60 each covered by the Food Bank). One backpack provides 36 weeks of healthy, nutritious food.
• This year, 21 backpacks were utilized at Bloomsdale Elementary, which has an enrollment of 288 students, and 34 backpacks were utilized at Ste. Genevieve Elementary, which has an enrollment of 568 students.
• McClard shared a special thanks to our elementary counselors, 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 Jon Robinson, Joseph Hull, and Susan Flieg, who help organize and transport the monthly shipments; and our Maintenance Department who help to coordinate delivery.
• SG R-II would like to share a heartfelt thank you to the following 2024-2025 donors whose donations funded the backpacks for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year:
  • American Legion Post 150
  • Beta Rho
  • Janna LeClere
  • Lhoist North America
  • New Offenburg First Baptist Church
  • Presbyterian Women
  • River Hills Thunderin’ Longbeards
  • Tyson Roth
  • SGCMH – Medical Staff
  • SGNEA
  • Richard & Teresa Slough
  • Genevieve Elks Lodge 2674
  • Zell Area Jaycees
• To donate specifically to the Backpacks for Friday program, you can make a tax-deductible check payable to “Care to Learn Ste. Genevieve” with “Backpacks for Friday Program” on the memo line and send it to:

Dr. Lance McClard

SG R-II Assistant Superintendent

375 North Fifth Street

Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670

2024-2025 End-of-Year Summary Reports.

• Bloomsdale Elementary
• Genevieve Elementary
• Genevieve Middle School
• Genevieve High School

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Prop SG Update.

Superintendent Dr. Taylor provided an update on the ongoing Prop SG projects.

Early Childhood:

• We’re thrilled to announce that our new Early Childhood Center is substantially complete and on track to open for the 2025–2026 school year!
• Check out the floor plan of 10 classrooms, as well as a kitchen, multipurpose room, and more.
• See some recent construction progress photos here.

• Crews are working on eradicating weeds, seeding and adding straw to the landscaping.
• Playground equipment is now installed, and the pour-in-place is complete.
• The new furniture is arriving, with areas being furnished throughout the building.
• The new center is scheduled to open for the 2025-2026 school year, and continues to accept preschool applications for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Click here to apply.
• SAVE THE DATE: The July 22, 2025 Board of Education Regular meeting will be the first meeting to be held at the Early Childhood Center. Prior to the meeting, we will hold a ribbon-cutting event and tours through the facility. More details will be shared as the date nears.

Ste. Genevieve Elementary:

• We’re looking forward to the main entrance being open for the return to school in August!
• The design of Ste. Genevieve Elementary’s new gym and on-grade, ADA-accessible entrance with offices can be seen here.
• A rendering of the exterior of the new addition can be seen here.
• See some recent construction progress photos here.
• The green metal panels have been installed on the exterior of the new entrance.
• The elevator has passed inspection.
• The new gym is nearly complete! The flooring is in, and bleachers will be installed on July 10.
• Sidewalks and handicapped parking have been installed out front of the new addition.
• Renovation of the old gymnasium continues, and this area will become two classrooms for the upcoming school year. We anticipate that these rooms will be ready for the start of school, as well.
• Kenzie Wolk will be designing and installing a mural in this space! More info to come.
• This project is anticipated to be completed sometime mid-summer.
• We have reached out to the City of Ste. Genevieve to request they check out the junction of Maple Drive and Virginia Avenue and determine where a stop sign could be placed.

Wrestling:

• The floor plan includes a practice wrestling area, office and storage space, locker rooms and restrooms, and a golf simulation room. The building will be situated behind the PAC.
• Plans are underway, with a bid opening set for July 8.
• Once the Ste. Genevieve Elementary addition is complete mid-summer, crews will hit the ground running on the wrestling facility.
• In addition, the district still plans to renovate the current wrestling room and weight room to provide additional space and updated equipment to better support our student-athletes.

NEW BUSINESS

Food Service Prices for 2025-2026.

The Board of Education approved the food service prices for the 2024-2025 school year. The presented food service prices do not include a confirmed update on adult prices.

1. If families completed the 2024-2025 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 2025-2026 application.
2. Families should complete the 2025-2026 Free & Reduced Lunch application, which will be available on the district’s website and in the Power School Parent portal after July 1, 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, 25-26 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 2025-2026 school year. However, reduced breakfast and lunch prices did not increase from the 2019-2020 rate. The prices for the 2025-2026 school year are:

• Elementary: Reduced Breakfast: $0.30; Full Pay Breakfast: $2.00; Reduced Lunch: $0.40; Full Pay Lunch: $3.30.
• MS/HS: Reduced Breakfast: $0.30; Full Pay Breakfast: $2.00; Reduced Lunch: $0.40; Full Pay Lunch: $3.40.

Bread Bid for 2025-2026.

The Board of Education approved a one-year bid for bread products from Bimbo Bakeries for the 2025-2026 school year.

Milk Bid for 2025-2026.

The Board of Education approved a one-year bid for milk from Prairie Farms for the 2025-2026 school year.

Waste Management Services Bid for 2025-2026.

The Board of Education approved a three-year waste management bid from Republic Services for the 2025-2026 school year.

Elevator Full Maintenance Service Bid.

The Board of Education approved a one-year bid for elevator full maintenance bid from Cardinal Elevator for the 2025-2026 school year.

HVAC Replacement at Middle School.

The Board approved a bid from Burns Mechanical Co. to replace the HVAC unit at Ste. Genevieve Middle School with a new 30-ton Daikin condensing unit.

New Bus Purchases.

The Board of Education approved the purchase of four Thomas Saf-T-Liner school buses from Midwest Bus Sales for the 2025-2026 school year. Currently, the newest model buses in the fleet are 2014 models. Our mechanics and drivers keep our buses in wonderful condition, but it is time to begin cycling out the older models for new.

To ensure long-term efficiency, the district is working toward a formal bus purchasing plan. Consistency in bus models is a key factor, as it simplifies maintenance and parts replacement. Since our fleet already uses Thomas buses, continuing with that brand helps keep operations streamlined. The plan calls for the purchase of four new buses this year.

Thanks to insurance reimbursements following recent hail damage to several building roofs—and the district’s quick response to complete those repairs—funds originally reserved in Fund 4 for future roof projects are now available. As a result, the district can purchase the buses outright, avoiding a lease purchase agreement and saving on interest costs.

Midwest Bus Sales has assured us the buses will arrive this summer, allowing us to retire four of the oldest models in the fleet. Midwest will purchase the outgoing buses for $1,500 each, effectively giving the district a trade-in value.

The four new buses will be assigned based on driver seniority. This will create a positive domino effect throughout the fleet, with several drivers receiving newer buses as a result. The district will also need to purchase onboard cameras and CB radios for the new units.

Addition of Position: rootEd Advisor

The district received $23,090 in grant funding from the state to support the addition of a rootEd Advisor for the 2024–2025 school year. This role is designed to help high school students navigate their post-secondary plans—whether that path leads to college, the workforce, or the military.

The Board of Education approved the position, which will be partially funded through this grant, with the district covering the remaining salary and benefits. The advisor will provide individualized support and guidance to ensure every student leaves SGHS with a clear plan and purpose. Responsibilities include:

• Building meaningful relationships with seniors
• Helping students complete their Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAPs)
• Supporting the development of four-year academic and career plans
• Assisting students in obtaining industry-recognized credentials
• Guiding students through college applications, job placement, or enlistment steps

This position also allows the senior counselor to shift focus toward responsive services, including credit recovery and graduation requirements.

The district is partnering with the rootEd Alliance to implement this framework, further strengthening college and career readiness support for all students.

Audit Engagement Letters.

The Board approved the engagement letters for Beussink, Hey, Roe & Stroder, L.L.C. to audit the financial statements of the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District for the year ending on June 30, 2026.

2026 Fiscal Year Budget.

The Board of Education approved the following budget items for the 2025-2026 school year:

• Increases in insurance, benefits, and utility costs;
• Early Childhood Center Additions;
  • Addition of three Early Childhood teachers
  • Addition of a Process Coordinator
  • Addition of a Nurse
  • Addition of a Building Secretary, PAT Educator, two Teachers Aides/Paraprofessionals, and a Head Cook
• Addition of a District Psychological Examiner / 504 Case Manager;
• Addition of a Third Grade Teacher at Ste. Genevieve Elementary;
• Addition of a Special Education Teacher split between Ste. Genevieve and Bloomsdale Elementary;
• Addition of a District Food Service Coordinator;
• Addition of a District Core Data / District Registrar;
• Adoption of resources necessary for student programs and services;
• The following salary and benefit adjustments:
  • Certified Staff: Increase the base salary by $1,500 (increasing the base salary to $45,500) and allow normal movement on the salary schedule
  • Support Staff: increase hourly pay rates by 54 cents to the beginning salaries in Lanes 1 – 13 (increasing the lowest beginning salary to $16.35), increase hourly pay rates by 25 cents to the beginning salary in Lane 14 (Bus Drivers), and allow normal movement on the salary schedule;
    • Minimum wage in Missouri is currently $13.75 an hour. 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.
  • Benefits:
    • Continuation of the Wellness Benefit initiative
    • Adjusting all benefits based on salary increases.

The First Amended to the FY26 Budget will be presented mid-year, in order to provide 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.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

• The next two Board of Education Monthly Regular Meetings will be held one week later than usual: Tuesday, July 22, 2025; and Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.
• The July meeting will be held at the Early Childhood Center in the Multipurpose Room (1200 Maple Drive in Ste. Genevieve).