STE. GENEVIEVE — This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education’s March 16, 2026, 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 You Tube channel at https://youtu.be/sYlWbspfqmA?si=ibCiJt_w5xLvdQdR
MSBA MONTHLY REPORT
The MSBA March Board Report takes a look at where we are with AI in schools in 2026 and the ways that school leaders can learn more about this rapidly evolving technology. The report also includes a quick look at the key issues as we reach the midpoint of the 2026 Missouri legislative session, and a celebration of school board members as we observe 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.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Annual School Board Election.
The Ste. Genevieve County 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. The following candidates will be sworn into office at the School Board’s reorganization meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026: Eric Basler, James Kirchner and Martha Resinger.
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 2026-2027 school year will take place on the following dates and times.
- Genevieve Elementary – Held this past weekend – Saturday, March 14
- Bloomsdale Elementary – Next weekend – Saturday, March 21, starting at 8 a.m.
Parents may contact the elementary offices to schedule appointments.
MAP Grade Level Assessments.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lance McClard reviewed the testing window for the MAP Grade Level Assessments:
- Bloomsdale Elementary: April 13 – 30, 2026
- Genevieve Elementary: April 21 – May 7, 2026
- Genevieve Middle School: April 7 – 30, 2026
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 22, 2026
- English I – 9th Grade
- English II – 10th Grade
- ACT & Accuplacer – 11th Grade
April 23-30, 2026
- Algebra I
- Algebra II
- Biology
- Government
2025-2026 Retirement & Recognition Banquet.
The 2025-2026 SG R-II Recognition & Retirement Banquet will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Ste. Genevieve Elks Lodge #2674.
Principal Reports.
Each building principal reported on a variety of teacher and student accomplishments
2025-2026 MAESP Distinguished Principal Award.
We are excited to share some wonderful news— Dr. Nanya Gegg has been recognized as one of Missouri’s distinguished school principals! She was honored as the 2026 Distinguished Principal for the Southeast Region by the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals (MAESP). This recognition highlights her outstanding leadership, dedication and impact on students, staff and families, as well as reflects the strong, supportive school community you all build together every day. Congratulations again to Dr. Gegg on this amazing accomplishment!
Transportation Department — Fleet Excellence Award.
Our Transportation Department has once again received top honors for its commitment to safety and excellence. The department earned the 2026 Fleet Excellence Award from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and achieved a perfect 100 percent pass rate on the Patrol’s annual bus inspection!
Transportation Director Mr. Ken Jones credits the department’s success to the dedication of the entire team. He praised mechanics James and Corey, as well as Buck, Mary Ellen and Debbie, and all district bus drivers for their hard work in keeping buses running safely and looking their best.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Instructional Program Presentation — High School Business.
The team of business teachers from Ste. Genevieve High School presented an overview of our business programming.
- Areas of study include Finance, Marketing, Management and Digital Technology. Some of the courses offered include: Personnel Finance, Accounting, Introduction to Business, various Multimedia courses that focus on video production, web design and Photoshop.
- Kaitlyn Crump leads Dragon Prints (Marketing Productions class), a hands-on, project-driven course where students learn the fundamentals of marketing by creating and selling merchandise for school groups and activities. Students develop collaboration, time management and problem-solving skills, all while building a strong sense of community.
- Jarrod Basler leads the Multimedia/Media Productions course, where student-created digital media augments school culture (including athletics posters, videos, presentations and more).
- Also included within business programming is Supervised Business Experience (SBE), a work study program designed for junior and senior students. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop and apply knowledge, skills and business competencies by combining supervised employment with in-school vocational instruction, such training to qualify students for entry level jobs.
- Students in the business program also participate in FBLA, which provides opportunities for leadership development, career exploration and competitive events. This year, nine of the program’s 15 FBLA members qualified for the state competition!
Prop SG Update. Superintendent Dr. Taylor provided an update on the ongoing Prop SG projects.
Wrestling:
- A new sinkhole opened about a week ago along the edge of the asphalt parking lot behind the Performing Arts Center. After inspecting the area, district administration worked with Brockmiller Construction and KRJ Architects to develop a repair plan. The plan is to excavate to the bottom of the sinkhole and then fill it with rock, starting with larger rock at the base and gradually using smaller rock closer to the surface.
- All exterior doors are completed.
- Crews are working on drywall, taping and painting.
- Wrestling mats shipped today.
Other Facilities Updates:
- The field lighting projects at all of the ball fields (football, baseball, softball) have been completed.
NEW BUSINESS
2025-2026 Calendar Adjustment.
The Board approved the revised (current school year) 2025-2026 District Calendar, adjusting the schedule to address the impact of snow days. The last day of school for pre-K through 11th grade will remain May 21, and May 22 will be the Teacher PD (Check-Out) Day.
Reason for the Adjustment: With two snow days and an Early Dismissal resulting in 16 lost hours, the original last day of school (May 21) would have been extended to Wednesday, May 27, requiring students and staff to return after Memorial Day. 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:
- No New Total Days Added to Calendar
- Updated Total Calendar Hours: 1,093.5 (Well over 1044 minimum hours and strikes a good balance while maintaining educational integrity)
- Same Last Day of School: May 21 (half day)
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.
Insurance Rates for the 2026-2027 School Year.
The Board approved health, dental, vision, and life insurance rates for the 2026-2027 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 again next year by contributing additional funds toward employee insurance.
Dental, vision and life insurance rates will remain the same. The district will offer four PPO plans and four high-deductible health plans. The Board-paid plan will remain the best high-deductible health 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 $120 per month. Employees will also have the option to move up to a PPO plan for an additional $18 per month.
Dr. Taylor noted that shifting to the best high-deductible plan as the Board-paid option represents an approximately $215,000 increase in health insurance costs compared to last year (last year’s increase was $417,000— that’s an approximate $632,000 increase in district-paid insurance in two years). 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:
- 2026-2027 OSBA Plan Options
- 2026-2027 OSBA Dental and Vision Renewal
Community Engagement Plan.
The Board approved the revised Community Engagement Plan. Dr. Taylor shared that each school district has both BDDH-1 and BDDH-2: Public Participation at Board Meetings. He explained that our district will be transitioning to utilizing the latter of the two policies in regards to public participation at Board meetings—rather than utilize a Public Comment portion, stakeholders would instead follow the process of requesting an item to be added to the agenda.
Dr. Taylor emphasized that the Board is not trying to discourage public participation. Instead, this transition is intended to ensure that when a topic is brought before the Board, it has already been addressed at the most appropriate level. He explained that this process includes several important steps. Stakeholders are expected to first work with building- or district-level administrators to address concerns. If the issue cannot be resolved at those levels, a meeting with the superintendent is required before requesting that an item be placed on the Board agenda. This approach often leads to more timely and effective solutions.
Dr. Taylor also noted that Board meetings are business meetings held in public to conduct district governance, not open forums for debate. This structure maintains transparency while providing a more organized and productive approach to public participation. In many cases, concerns raised during public comment involve operational matters that can be addressed more effectively by administrators. Additionally, the Missouri Sunshine Law limits discussion of certain topics—particularly those involving personnel or student matters—during open sessions.
The district has updated its community engagement plan to reflect the use of BDDH-2 moving forward, while continuing to encourage public involvement through appropriate channels. The plan will be linked on the Board of Education’s webpage on the district’s website, www.sgdragons.org.
Bid: Beverage Services and Products.
The Board of Education approved a five-year bid for beverage products from Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company beginning July 2026.
Systems Administrator Position.
The Board approved the reclassification of both the Assistant Director of Technology and Technology Aide positions to Systems Administrator. Dr. Taylor explained that, with upcoming changes to the Technology Department, this was an appropriate time to evaluate the current structure. The department is presently composed of a Technology Director, an Assistant Director of Technology and a Technology Aide.
As the district has evolved over the past 15 years—with a fully implemented 1:1 program, the additions of the Early Childhood Center and the Bus Depot, among other changes—the current structure no longer aligns as effectively with operational needs. The approved restructuring will transition the department to a Technology Director and two Systems Administrators, both of whom will report to the Director. All three team members will be cross-trained across systems to support flexibility, continuity and efficiency.
Amended Budget.
The Board of Education approved the Amended Budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The March Amended Budget reflects updated estimates for expenditures and revenues. It also contains revised projections for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. The overall projected fund balance reflects a positive adjustment compared to the revised budget adopted earlier in the fiscal year.
“I am confident that the budget maintains sufficient contingency funds within the operating budget, and I do not anticipate fully expending all appropriated funds,,” he said. “The amendment continues the fiscally conservative approach we have maintained throughout the year; ensures financial stability while supporting the district’s operational and educational needs; and provides a more accurate projection of our year-end financial position.”
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Regular Session Meeting on Tuesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the Early Childhood Center’s Multipurpose Room (1200 Maple Drive, Ste. Genevieve).