STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve County School District R-II has released this summary of the proceedings for the October 20, 2025 Board of Education meeting.
The school district states: “This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education’s Oct. 20, 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 on the district’s You Tube channel at https://youtu.be/nzXc752a4Hk?si=8OQC4k68JOMc98WF
MSBA MONTHLY REPORT
The MSBA October Board Report takes a look at what districts can do between now and the start of school board election filing to prepare. In addition, the report introduces a book written by MSBA’s CES team for school leaders facing crisis situations.
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
Enrollment Count.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Taylor presented the enrollment count from the last Wednesday of September. This is the number submitted to the state in the district’s Core Data as its official enrollment count. He pointed out that the September count for K-12 was 1,848 on Sept. 24, an increase of 11 students from the first day of school. He also shared that the preschool and Early Childhood Special Education enrollment grew by 5 students since the first day of school, and that number is expected to rise throughout the year as more children are identified as qualifying for services through year-round developmental screenings.
Principal Reports.
- Each building principal reported on a variety of teacher and student accomplishments.
- Norine Kerber Parent of Gifted Award:
- Crystal Koenig, the district’s gifted teacher, presented Major Philip Kwan with the Norine Kerber Parent of Gifted Award from the Gifted Association of Missouri (GAM).
- Koenig, who has served on the GAM board for more than 12 years in a variety of roles, worked with Ste. Genevieve Middle School Principal Dr. Scott Mercer to nominate Maj. Kwan for this honor. Each year, the association recognizes a parent, a student, a veteran gifted teacher, and a new gifted teacher for their outstanding contributions to gifted education.
- The award is named in honor of Norine Kerber, a longtime volunteer celebrated for her service to both the Gifted Association of Missouri and the National Association for Gifted Children.
- Kwan was selected for his extraordinary dedication to gifted learners through mentorship, advocacy, and volunteerism. From supporting robotics and academic teams to securing classroom resources and contributing to district discussions on gifted education, he has consistently demonstrated enthusiasm, humility, and a deep commitment to student success.
Professional Development Day.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard presented a summary of the Professional Development Day for teachers, paraprofessionals and aides that was held on Sept. 29, 2025. He noted that this year’s sessions were shaped by feedback from past years, allowing for more building-led professional development while aligning with the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) goals and Portrait of a Graduate (POG) competencies.
Each level participated in sessions designed to support specific needs and goals. Preschool and Early Childhood Special Education staff focused on curriculum development, while elementary teachers (K–5) continued expanding standards-based grading practices and refining grading systems. At the middle school level (6–8), teachers explored competency-based education (CBE) practices, identifying areas where additional time and collaboration would be valuable. High school staff (9–12) engaged in a session on AI best practices, examining ways to effectively integrate artificial intelligence tools into classroom instruction.
Elementary teachers also reviewed benchmark assessments and data, connecting results to instructional planning and student growth. Paraprofessionals attended training sessions on the DIAL screening process to assist with kindergarten readiness assessments, ALICE safety training for preschool and ECSE settings, and required compliance videos.
Across all levels, the day emphasized the shared goal of ensuring students graduate with the knowledge, skills and competencies outlined in the district’s Portrait of a Graduate.
Safety Reports.
Safety drills from each building were reviewed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Prop SG Update. Superintendent Dr. Taylor provided an update on the ongoing Prop SG projects.
Wrestling:
- The foundation footings have been poured for the walls, and crews have begun working on the walls, as well.
- We are excited to share that approximately $190,000 in savings was identified through the value engineering process. Currently, this project is estimated to cost about $3.2 million, and is scheduled to be complete by August 2026.
- 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.
- 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.
Instructional Program Presentation — High School Art.
Art teacher Mrs. Jamie Bauman presented an overview of some of the coursework and skill-building opportunities offered to students through her curriculum. She shared how students in Fundamentals of Art are currently studying color theory and exploring various techniques such as hatching, cross-hatching, Pointillism, and stippling. In Drawing and Painting, students assess their current skill levels and focus on areas such as shading and composition to strengthen their foundational abilities. Those enrolled in Studio Art, an advanced course primarily for seniors, have the freedom to design their own projects while being encouraged to challenge themselves and apply advanced creative techniques.
NEW BUSINESS
No New Business items.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Regular Session Meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Early Childhood Center’s Multipurpose Room (1200 Maple Drive, Ste. Genevieve).