Editor’s Note: This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education’s Sept. 19, 2023, 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 September Board Report features a brief summary of the latest state assessment data, as well as insights from MSBA President Ruth Johnson regarding advocacy as we head into the new school year. The Report also includes a look ahead to the MSBA Annual Conference, Fall Regional Meetings, and more. 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 2023-2024 Enrollment Count. For combined preschool and Early Childhood Special Education, there was an increase of one student; there was an increase of 24 students K – 5th, a decrease of 21 students 6th – 8th, and a decrease of four students 9th – 12th from the first day of school last year. Overall, K-12 enrollment was one less student than the first day of school for 2023-2024. Dr. Taylor shared that the district is looking forward to the September enrollment count, which is a more concrete enrollment number that is reported to the state.
Technology Report.
Technology Director Nancy Toombs presented the annual Technology Report, where she gave an overview of the district’s technology goals, tools, resources and professional development.
Principal Reports.
Each building principal reported on a variety of teacher and student accomplishments.
Safety Reports.
Safety drills from each building were reviewed.
MSBA Advanced Board Member Certification Achievement.
Board of Education Member Josh Gettinger was recently recognized by the Missouri School Boards’ Association with an Advanced Board Member Certification. This is earned by completing 31.5 certified Board member credits and other professional development requirements. Dr. Taylor shared a congratulations to Mr. Gettinger on earning this achievement, and the District is fortunate to have a Board that values continued learning in order to best meet the needs of our district and community as a whole.
Special Notes: Commissioner’s Principal Advisory Council
Ste. Genevieve High School Principal Dr. John Boyd, Jr. was chosen to serve as a member of the Commissioner’s Principal Advisory Council for the 2023-2024 school year. His expertise and leadership in school leadership, as well as his dedication to enhancing the educational experience for students in our high school, makes him an invaluable addition to this council. This council will play a vital role in fostering collaboration and communication between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and school principals throughout Missouri. This council will serve as a platform for principals to share their insights, concerns, and suggestions regarding various aspects of Missouri’s educational system. “We want to recognize Dr. Boyd and all of his work— not only at our school, but also through investing in future administrators in surrounding areas as well, and want to congratulate him on being recognized as a leader in education in Missouri,” Dr. Taylor said.
Special Notes: Prop SG Update.
Dr. Taylor provided the Board with an update on the Prop SG projects.
SGMS: Construction on the SGMS elevator addition is expected to take about nine months. Crews poured concrete for the elevator walls on Monday, and then basement wall formwork is to follow before the main level foundation. Taylor Engineering tested the elevator footings, and the City Inspector visited Monday.
Early Childhood: The site work for the Early Childhood Center is currently out to bid, and the Bid Opening will be held on Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. There are challenges associated with water pressure, and Taylor Engineering and KRJ Architects are working through those plans. The updated site plan can be viewed here. Dr. Taylor also shared an updated timeline for the construction of the Prop SG projects.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Instructional Program Presentation — Middle School Social Studies.
The team of social studies teachers from Ste. Genevieve Middle School presented an overview of all of the learning activities offered to students throughout the social studies programming. This included an emphasis on the department’s main focuses: technology, community outreach, making connections and having fun.
Emergency Operations Plan.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard presented, and the Board approved, the updates to the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District Emergency Operations Plan for the 2023-2024 school year.
- District and building level emergency procedures for fire, tornado, earthquake and acts of violence have been updated to align with the most current information available.
- All plans maintain a consistent format and are updated with current faculty and staff information.
- All plans are consistently reviewed and updated in accordance with updated guidance.
- Implementation procedures have also been reviewed.
- Effective plans with suitable techniques to address a variety of emergency situations are an ongoing process. Emergency procedures are subject to change as more efficient and effective techniques are developed.
- A separate document related to COVID-19 planning and procedures is updated as new information is provided by the Center for Disease Control.
- The safety of our students and staff is of the utmost importance to the District, therefore, this Emergency Operations Plan will not be made available for public viewing.
- The District is in the process of implementing a new app, CrisisGo, to assist with safety and security measures and response. The transition is in-depth, and faculty and staff will undergo more training on how to utilize the app once the set-up has been finalized.
- School Resource Officer Christy Clark will organize a meeting this fall with local emergency responders and personnel to discuss the plan, visit our campuses, and provide some insight into any adjustments that might need to be made.
Bus Routes.
Superintendent Dr. Taylor presented, and the Board approved, the bus routes for the 2023-2024 school year. Maps of the 30 bus routes were available prior to the meeting for the Board of Education members to review. This year, two routes were discontinued, due to a shortage of bus drivers. Fallert Bus Service buses travel approximately 2,132 miles per day. In an effort to protect student privacy and safety, route information will not be shared for public viewing.
NEW BUSINESS
Assessment Plan and Updated Assessment Schedule.
Dr. McClard presented, and the Board approved, the Assessment Plan and Updated Testing Schedule for the 2023-24 year. Per Section 167.645 RSMo, “each school district and charter school shall assess all students enrolled in kindergarten through grade three at the beginning and end of each school year for their level of reading or reading readiness on state-approved reading assessments.” In order to comply with the requirements, NWEA K-3 assessments were added.The district did remove some assessments when the areas they are testing overlap, including the DRA test for grades 1 – 5.
Ste. Genevieve Elementary Cafeteria HVAC Replacement.
The Board approved the bid from Burns Mechanical Co. to replace the HVAC unit in the Ste. Genevieve Elementary cafeteria. The bids submitted were as follows:
- Associated Sheet Metal, Inc.: $72,986
- Burns Mechanical Co.: $59,315
- Sheet Metal Contractors, Inc.: $73,863
ESports Coach.
The Board approved the addition of an ESports Coach position at the high school for the 2023-24 school year. For the past few years, SGHS Chemistry and Physics teacher Ian Diamond has sponsored Gaming Club at the high school, and presented an overview on the new SGHS Esports team. Mr. Diamond explained the proliferation of high schools, colleges and universities that have recognized the benefits of students being able to represent their schools through this activity. The Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation (MOSEF) was founded as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2019. By the spring season of 2023, more than 100 schools enrolled in the organization, and in the current fall 2023 season, there are now more than 200 schools enrolled, representing over 4,000 scholastic gamers. Mr. Diamond shared that while Gaming Club has offered students a place where they feel they can be themselves, expanding into Esports provides them with an avenue to not only fit in, but to represent their school and compete under the Dragon banner.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The Board of Education will hold its next Regularly Scheduled Meeting on Oct. 17, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the R.W. Thomas Library.