STE. GENEVIEVE — On Tuesday, July 22, the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly constructed Early Childhood Center, located at 1200 Maple Drive in Ste. Genevieve. Following the ceremony, attendees were invited to tour the facility.
The new center addresses a critical need identified by the district’s Long-Range Facilities Committee: expanding access to early childhood education and services across Ste. Genevieve County. It is one of several projects funded by Proposition SG, a no-tax-rate-increase $20 million bond issue passed by voters on April 6, 2022, with 70.51% approval. Prop SG supports facility upgrades across the district in areas such as early childhood education, accessibility, safety, and student activities. The Early Childhood Center was prioritized in the district’s 2020 long-range plan and reflects more than two years of planning and community input.
The center houses tuition-based preschool, Early Childhood Special Education, the Parents as Teachers program, and free developmental screenings. The facility includes ten classrooms for preschool and special education, as well as dedicated spaces for occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Additional features include a kitchen, multipurpose room, sensory room, nurse’s office, and an ADA-compliant, fully accessible playground.
From day one, the center is equipped to meet the unique needs of all learners. Highly qualified staff are prepared to support a wide range of learning levels, with built-in accommodations to help each child thrive. The district is also proud to partner with Parents as Teachers and other local organizations to connect families with valuable early childhood resources and support.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Taylor kicked off the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony by recognizing some of the guests in attendance, including students, families, faculty and staff, former district leaders, current and former Board of Education members, Facility Committee members, Prop SG Campaign Committee members, campaign donors, community leaders, business owners and elected representatives — who all provided valuable feedback and support through the facilities planning and bond election process.
Dr. Taylor also welcomed the district’s architectural firm and Construction Manager At-Risk, KRJ Architects and Brockmiller Construction, Inc. He pointed out that the design and construction process for this project has been both thoughtful and thorough, and the district is thankful to them for their expertise, patience and dedication.
Director of Student Services Dr. Jami Drury then provided an overview of the center’s services and features, sharing that this new Center not only meets a critical need in our community, but also provides the strongest possible foundation for lifelong learning.
“At SG R-II, we strive to provide our students with diverse educational opportunities to prepare them for whatever path they choose,” she said. “And while we work to help students make meaningful, positive impacts in the world, that journey begins right here—with our littlest learners.”
Dr. Bethany Koetting, Director of the Early Childhood Center welcomed attendees before helping the students count down to the ribbon-cutting. “This is such a meaningful day for our district, our staff, and especially for the families and little ones who will soon fill these classrooms with laughter and learning,” she said. “It’s more than a celebration—it’s a chance to thank all of those who helped turn this vision into a reality. We’re excited for the educational opportunities this space will offer and can’t wait to see our programming come to life in the upcoming school year.”
Board President Mr. David Bova closed the ceremony, sharing that this day would not have been possible without the hard work of all of those who donated their time, effort and patience into making these projects a reality.
“The four areas of focus encompassed within Prop SG are Early Childhood, safety and security, accessibility, and activities. The construction and renovations, once completed, will benefit not only our students and employees, but also our communities as a whole,” Mr. Bova said. “Thank you all for your support, and thank you to all of those who voted in favor of Prop SG in order to make these facilities projects and all of the opportunities that come with them, possible.”
Following the ribbon-cutting, the building was open to the community for guided tours or self-paced walk-throughs. Families explored the new learning spaces, while children enjoyed coloring and hands-on activities in the classrooms and multipurpose room. Before heading home, students received goodie bags, cookies, and a coloring page featuring the new Little Dragon logo—adding a fun and memorable touch to the day.
That evening, the Ste. Genevieve R-II Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting at the new facility for the first time, marking another milestone in the center’s official opening.
About the Early Childhood Center
Hours:
- Before Care: 7 – 7:45 a.m.
- School Day: 7:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
- After Care: 3:15 – 5:15 p.m.
*Additional fee for before/after care
Services:
- Preschool: Full-day program Monday through Friday 7:45 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. with part-time options available (MWF, TTH). Available at Ste. Genevieve Early Childhood Center, as well as one classroom located off campus, at Bloomsdale Elementary.
- ECSE: Five-day program, where students attend either the morning or afternoon sessions: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- The Early Childhood Center follows the school district’s school calendar year.
- Ages: Children ages 3 to 5 years old are eligible to attend, but must be 3 years old prior to Aug. 1. Those eligible to attend kindergarten are not eligible to attend preschool.
- Staff: We hold a low teacher-student ratio, fully certified early childhood teachers and a teacher assistant in each classroom.
- Curriculum: We follow the Missouri Early Learning Standards set forth by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) through the implementation of Project Construct curriculum.
- Transportation: Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from school. Transportation is provided on an as-needed basis for students receiving special education services.
Meeting the Needs of All Students
- The facility, including the playground, is ADA-compliant and fully accessible. Our highly-qualified teaching staff is prepared to support students at all levels of learning and accommodations are implemented to support learning for all children. We partner with Parents as Teachers and other local providers to offer supplemental services.
Safety & Security:
- The Early Childhood Center has a double-gated entryway, which remains locked at all times.
- All visitors check in at the entrance with the district’s visitor management system, Ident-A-Kid, prior to proceeding elsewhere in the building.
Learn More:
- If you want to learn more, check out our tuition rates or stay up-to-date on what’s going on at the Early Childhood Center, call 573-883-4500 ext. 2702, or visit our website at: https://www.sgdragons.org/o/ste-genevieve-early-childhood-center