Ste. Genevieve School District R-II releases Board Briefs

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STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve School District R-II has released the Board Briefs from the Feb. 21, 2023, Regular Meeting.

 

This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education’s Feb. 21, 2023, 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. The video of the meeting can be found on the district’s Youtube Channel, SGDragonsTV.

 

MSBA MONTHLY REPORT

The MSBA February Report (https://www.mosba.org/board-report/) takes a look back at some of the highlights from the past year. The February Board Report takes a look at the Governor’s State of the State address as well as a preview of MSBA’s spring legislative events and a behind-the-scenes look at St. Louis and Kansas City parents advocating for their schools.

 

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 Last Wednesday in January.

 

The official count day is the last Wednesday in January. For the K- 12 grade levels, the January enrollment count was 1,764 (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CNZRUV6ECD3D/$file/January%202023%20Count%20Date.pdf), which was 15 fewer students than last year’s January count, but only one student fewer than the September count from this school year. The first day Pre-K enrollment count is an estimate, and throughout the school year, our Parents As Teachers staff are finding children who qualify for the Early Childhood Special Education program, so we typically see growth in our preschool enrollment numbers. For this school year, the first day of school Pre-K enrollment count was 70 students, and the January count increased to 85 students.

 

MSBA – School Board Recognition Week.

Dr. Flieg shared that March is Missouri School Board Recognition Month (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CNZMLG5BC25E/$file/Governors%20Proclamation%20-%20School%20Board%20Recognition%20Month.pdf), and she thanked the Board for all that they do for our district, our students and staff.

 

Kindergarten Registration.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2023-2024 school year will take place the following dates and times:

  • Genevieve Elementary: Saturday, March 25, 2023, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Bloomsdale Elementary: Saturday, April 1, 2023, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parents may contact the elementary offices beginning Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, to schedule appointments.

 

Principal Reports.

Each building principal reported on a variety of teacher and student accomplishments (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TACeq7O9y2hbq2iguOjIE6ihk1BKQSHnaNI3ZGNnBfo/edit?usp=sharing).

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Instructional Program Presentation — SGMS English-Language Arts.

 

The team of Ste. Genevieve Middle School English-Language Arts teachers presented the educational programming and learning opportunities for 6th through 8th graders (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hKXIQaEhvdC_TrEzxhSH7WCee5dxXlkpoyWS8XoEsXc/edit?usp=sharing)! Some of these included: department goals, such as fostering a love and passion for reading, building capable writers to thrive in the 21st Century, and developing and promoting critical thinking skills; reading, writing and grammar skills that are taught in each grade level and class; the various types of literature that are read and discussed; projects that cultivate interest in their units; and the accomplishments and growth of all students.

 

Prop SG Update.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Paul Taylor provided an overview of the construction progress with the new addition Bloomsdale Elementary. The district held a groundbreaking on Feb. 9 to celebrate the start of construction, the first of several Prop SG groundbreaking events. In attendance were students, families, faculty and staff, facility committee members, Prop SG Campaign Committee members, campaign donors, Board of Education members, community leaders, business owners, elected representatives, Brockmiller Construction, Inc., and KRJ Architects. Students led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance before helping the Board of Education members count down to turn a shovel of dirt! Students then had the opportunity to pick up a shovel and move some dirt themselves.

 

A rendering of the new addition can be seen here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wxhtd9Fe2GGybPP7Wr62DTqc3obSGN2Z/view). This project is a new secure main entrance that will be composed of an approximately 1500 sq. foot addition (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JW0D4wmlRfvXf5CKpIlk-NaP4UjJoeN_/view). This would allow the school office to securely welcome visitors and route them either into the office space or into the building. This space will include the double-gated entry, offices, a work space and a restroom. The existing spaces where the offices are currently located will be renovated. Bloomsdale Elementary’s project is the first of the Prop SG projects to undergo construction, with the hope of being completed before school begins in the fall. Dr. Taylor shared that the construction work is moving along, with a crew creating forms for concrete walls that day.

 

Dr. Taylor mentioned that district administration meets at least every two weeks for updates with the construction manager at-risk and architects to discuss progress. In between meetings, he pointed out that communication with both groups has been fantastic.

 

The Early Childhood Committee will meet at the end of February to determine specifics related to the Center’s development, including building plan and design, reorganization of current early childhood programs, before and after school childcare, transportation services, extended school year, and more. Geotech has been out to the site where the Center will be built, which will determine where the building will be positioned.

 

“This is all really exciting,” he said. “Partnering with the community and providing this service to the community has been our goal all along, and it seems like every time we reach a hurdle, we’re able to get across it, and we’re one step closer.”

 

School Calendar for 2023-2024.

Board members approved the 2023-2024 District Calendar (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CP4TZS782281/$file/Calendar%202023-24%20-%20Final%20Draft%20for%20BOE%20Approval%20-%20Sheet1.pdf). Annually, faculty and staff are encouraged to provide input on the calendar via a survey. Comments and suggestions from the survey are taken to the SG R-II Calendar Committee for consideration as they work to create a final draft. A recommendation is sent to the Board for review and approval. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Taylor shared an overview of the calendar:

 

  • Dead Period: July 29 – Aug. 6, 2023 (Board Approved Aug. 30, 2022)
  • New Teacher PD Days: Aug. 7- 9, 2023
  • First Day of School: Monday, Aug. 21, 2023
  • Teacher & Para PD Day: Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 (The PD day traditionally held the Friday prior to the Labor Day Holiday has been moved to October.)
  • Parent Teacher Conference: Early Dismissal at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023
  • Veterans Day: No School on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023
  • Thanksgiving Break: Early Dismissal at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023
  • Class Resume: Monday, Nov. 27, 2023
  • End of First Semester: Early Dismissal at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023 (Moving the half-day to Friday gives us the two full weeks for Winter Break and also encompasses three full weekends in that time.)
  • Winter Break: Two Full Weeks
  • Classes Resume and Second Semester Begins: Monday, Jan. 8, 2024
  • River PD Event: Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 (SG R-II hosts Herculaneum, Jefferson R-VII and Windsor.)
  • Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 19, 2024
  • All Employees PD Day: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024
  • Spring Break: First week-long Spring Break beginning Friday, March 29, 2024
  • Eclipse: No classes on Monday, April 8, 2024
  • Classes Resume: Tuesday, April 9, 2024
  • Last Day of School: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
  • Last Teacher PD Day: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
  • Graduation: Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 8 p.m.
  • Scheduled Make-Up Days: May 22 – 29, 2024. This year, the first two inclement weather days will be snow days and the next five inclement weather days will be AMI days before returning to snow days.
  • Students’ Last Potential Make-Up Day: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
  • Employee Make-Up Days: There are also potential make-up contracted days for employees added at the end of the year, due to inclement weather.
  • Semester Balance: There is a balance of 84 days first semester / 86 days second semester.
  • Student Hours: 1,097.0 total hours of student attendance. The state minimum is 1,044.

 

Dr. Taylor went into detail on a few of the larger conversations surrounding changes to this year’s calendar:

 

  • Adjustment for Inclement Weather Days: On the survey, there were multiple comments suggesting to utilize AMI (Alternate Methods of Instruction) days before snow days. Traditionally, the district used five snow days before implementing the five days of AMI. The committee believes the use of snow days is extremely important to the mental health and well-being of both our students and staff members. As a comfortable compromise, the committee decided to make the first two inclement weather days traditional snow days, then transition to five AMI days, before returning to complete any additional inclement weather days as traditional snow days. This change is noted on the approved Calendar.

 

  • Implementation of a Spring Break: A comparison of total contracted days within the MAAA conference highlighted that SG R-II was well above the average (With 190 contracted days for certified staff, SG R-II has 11 more contracted days than the lowest school district, and has five more contracted days above the next highest school district.) Including a week-long Spring Break is possible by reducing the total number of contracted days from 190 to 188. This reduction still leaves SG R-II three days over the next-highest school district in our conference, and well over the state requirement of student hours. Dr. Taylor pointed out that this change shows our employees that we are listening, that we care about their mental health and their physical well-being, and allows them more time to spend with their families. This change will not reduce the current base salary or reduce the salary of any certified staff member. By decreasing the number of contracted days while not reducing salaries, in essence, provides a raise to certified staff without adding money to the base. This change means that hourly employees would also have these two days added to their break. Dr. Taylor shared that district administration hopes to be able to address the two less days of pay for hourly employees by incorporating some type of pay increase. As we approach the end of the school year, the district will have a more solid foundation on making budget decisions for the upcoming school year.

 

Dr. Taylor also thanked the Calendar Committee for their work in reviewing comments and putting together a calendar that remains focused on maintaining educational integrity.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Amended Budget.

 

The Board of Education approved the Amended Budget for the 2022-2023 school year. The February Amended Budget reflects updated estimates for expenditures and revenues.  It also contains revised projections for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year.

  • Flieg shared that the district’s approach to budget is to be aggressive with expenses and conservative with projections.
  • Total estimated expenses are projected to be $36.3 million, and total estimated revenues are approximately $36.9 million. Dr. Flieg explained that while there are significant changes to the budget, the district is still anticipated to come out in the black, with an estimated growth in fund balances of approximately $658,495. This growth is directly related to the district’s placement of its remaining ESSER Ill funds in the expenses and revenues for this fiscal year. The district used the majority of its ESSER funds to cover salary and benefits for employees who were paid with local funds. Those local funds that have been made available were then placed in the district’s balances to help cover litigation fees for two local tax protests. There is also approximately $220,000 in contingency funds built into the expenses in this budget.
  • Some areas where revenues have had to be updated include:
    • reducing the local tax collection rate from 64 to 63 percent, and reducing the projecting of delinquent taxes, as local taxes are not coming in as projected; increasing the funds anticipated from the state for transportation, while maintaining a conservative approach in the case that the legislature does not fully fund transportation; and reducing the premium on the bonds, as the Prop SG timeline has adjusted and the district will not utilize the full $10 million this fiscal year, which will mean that the earning and bond amount would be reduced for this budget.
  • Some areas where spending have had to be updated include:
    • reducing the amount that is actually being spent on CTE programs; increasing the high-need funding for special education; increasing expenses at the elementary and high school levels due to needing additional supplies and increases in salaries; increasing expenses for Early Childhood Special Education due to having to open a third classroom this year; decreasing the contracted amount paid to Perryville Area Career and Technology Center, as fewer students are attending than anticipated this year; increasing speech language pathology needs, as there is an increased need in interventional behavior services; decreasing the election funds, as the district did not have to hold a Board of Education election; purchasing a van for the district as Enterprise increased their rates to a level that was unsustainable; increasing food preparation amounts, as inflation has made it increasingly difficult to obtain food items; increasing architectural fees due to Prop SG; and decreasing Prop SG expenses to about $5.4 million, as the district will not spent the full $10 million in that account before the close of the fiscal year.

 

CSIP – Comprehensive School Improvement Plan.

 

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard provided the Board with an update on the district’s plan to revamp the CSIP. He shared that the goal is to craft a document that will guide the district through the next five years. The new framework would include main “pillars” that build the foundation of our district, with objectives nestled beneath these that guide our work. These objectives answer the question, “What do we need to do in the next five years to graduate students who are college-, career-, and life-ready, and who have the knowledge, skills and disposition to be successful in whatever path they choose?” So far, we have our pillars and feedback from faculty about potential objectives, such as literacy, long-range facility planning, and behavior/mental health/social-emotional learning. The next step is to share a survey or launch a committee to solidify these objectives and then build out specific strategies beneath each to guide our planning and implementation. Dr. McClard shared that the goal for completing this process is the end of the school year.

 

Board Resolution – Oppose Open Enrollment in Missouri.

 

The Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District adopted a resolution to oppose any legislation providing for open enrollment in Missouri public schools of non-resident students (https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/stegen/Board.nsf/files/CP5N3E5DEE90/$file/02212023%20SG%20R-II%20Board%20Resolution%20-%20Open%20Enrollment.pdf). Currently, the Missouri Senate and Missouri House each have a bill regarding Open Enrollment. (MAER) crafted a resolution and requested that school districts put this document to their boards of education for consideration.

 

The resolution points out: 1) the Board of Education has resolved  to  focus  resident  taxpayer  resources  upon the education of students who reside in the District; 2) no  credible  research  shows  that  open  enrollment  improves  student achievement; and 3) open  enrollment  will  result  in  a  significant  adverse  financial  impact  on  public schools.

 

District administration and Board of Education pointed out just a few of the negative consequences of open enrollment on public school districts:

  • Districts can pick and choose which students to accept, which leads to inequities. For example, districts do not have to accept students with special needs. Some students from lower socio-economic families would not have access, as travel without provided transportation could be impossible.
  • With state funds following the students, the allocation of resources for districts would leave smaller school districts struggling to survive, while leaving larger districts with continual unexpected budgetary guesswork and fluctuations.
  • Communities who have a history of supporting their schools lose some incentive to support and vote for their local public schools’ bonds and elections if families are sending their children to another school district outside of their communities.
  • The collaboration between school districts would change, as there would be a level of competition for students. There would result in a shift in culture, where initiatives and programming that best benefits students are no longer shared.
  • Funds that would normally be spent for students will be spent on marketing to attract families.

 

District administration and Board members plan to visit the Capitol in March to oppose Open Enrollment and other bills that could negatively affect our schools. The Board strongly urges families and community members to reach out to our local legislators to share our concerns about these bills:

 

Representative Rick Francis

201 West Capitol Avenue

Room 306-A

Jefferson City MO 65101

573-751-5912

Rick.Francis@house.mo.gov

 

Senator Elaine Gannon (R-115)

201 W. Capitol Ave.

Room 426

Jefferson City, Missouri 65101

573-751-4008

Elaine.Gannon@senate.mo.gov

 

 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

 

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Regularly Scheduled Meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 7 p.m.