Ste. Genevieve R-II releases Board Briefs from Feb. 17, 2026, regular meeting

STE, GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve County School District R-II has released this report of the proceedings of the February 17, 2026 school board meeting.

This information includes highlights from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education’s Feb. 17, 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 Youtube Channel, SGDragonsTV. At https://youtu.be/sgkD6xMXmI0?si=HeAanSwW3v9yWW0o

SPECIAL SESSION

In collaboration with MSBA, the Board of Education piloted a new Board Self-Evaluation (BSE) tool to assess its effectiveness in governance practices. This meeting was held virtually to review the results with MSBA.

NEW BOARD MEMBER OATH OF OFFICE

Mr. Philip Kwan took the Oath of Office and was sworn in as a member of the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District Board of Education. Mr. Kwan’s appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. David Bova in December. The Board approved Mr. Kwan’s appointment at the January Regular Meeting. In accordance with Missouri law, the Board appoints an eligible applicant to serve until the April 2027 school board election, at which time the position will be filled through the regular candidate filing process.

MSBA MONTHLY REPORT

The MSBA February Board Report takes a look at Senate Bill 3 and what these potential property tax reforms could mean for school districts. The report also includes information about MSBA’s upcoming events and details on 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.

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

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.

Kindergarten Registration.

Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year will take place on the following dates and times.

• Genevieve Elementary – Saturday, March 14, 2026, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Bloomsdale Elementary – Saturday, March 21, 2026, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Parents may contact the elementary offices to schedule appointments.

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 1,822—approximately 25 fewer students than last year’s January count. The first day of school preschool enrollment count was 99 students, and the January count was 121—an increase of 22 students from the beginning of the year. This number is always expected to rise throughout the year as more children are identified as qualifying for services through year-round developmental screenings. This school year was the launch of our new Early Childhood Center, and with a current enrollment of 121 students in preschool and ECSE overall, that is a total of 39 more students than were receiving services at this time last year:

Principal Reports.

Each building principal reported on a variety of teacher and student accomplishments.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Prop SG Update. Superintendent Dr. Taylor provided an update on the ongoing Prop SG projects.

Wrestling:

• Construction continues to move forward at the new wrestling facility.
• Iron workers are currently working on the roof, a phase expected to take approximately 10 days. Roof trim and downspouts will follow. BCI carpenters have begun laying out interior walls and door locations, with most walls already marked. Framing of walls at the bathroom end of the facility has begun.
• Work is also continuing with BT Electric on a new light pole near the shot-put area, with the goal of having power available in that area by March.
• Wrestling mats are currently scheduled to ship in April.

Instructional Program Presentation — High School Industrial Arts.

SGHS Industrial Technology teachers Mr. Chris Thompson and Mr. Kenny Rapp presented educational programming and learning opportunities for high school students. This included an overview of their courses, Introduction to Industrial Technology, Industrial Woods (& Advanced), Engineering Graphics, Drafting & Design Technology, and School & Community Project Development.

Mr. Thompson’s Course — In Introduction to Industrial Technology, students begin by learning foundational skills such as reading measuring tools and understanding shop safety. Students complete safety tests for each machine before use and gain experience operating all major woodworking equipment in the shop. Course units include board drafting, computer-aided drafting (CAD), 2D and 3D modeling, architectural design and mechanical part renderings using programs such as AutoCAD and TinkerCad. Students transfer 3D designs to 3D printers to produce finished products. Students also rotate through woodworking and metalworking units. Major projects include constructing a step stool with custom laser engraving and fabricating a sheet metal toolbox. Students are introduced to MIG and stick welding techniques and explore career pathways within industrial and technical fields.

Mr. Rapp’s Courses—

• Engineering Graphics is a mechanically-based drafting course for sophomores and upperclassmen. Students progress from foundational AutoCAD skills to advanced modeling using Inventor, an industry-standard program widely used in the private sector. A featured project includes designing and 3D printing a fully functional vise, assembling all individual components into a working final product.
• Drafting & Design Technology focuses on architectural design. Students develop full house plans, including detailed layouts such as kitchen designs, culminating in a complete set of professional-quality construction drawings.
• In Introduction to Woods and Advanced Woods, students learn shop safety protocols and machine operation. Early projects include building a tool tote that requires the use of multiple shop machines, helping students build confidence and precision.
• The School & Community Project Development course allows students to complete in-house projects that benefit the school and community. Examples include plaques, engraved signage and projects such as inclusive bench installations. These visible, real-world projects foster student pride, craftsmanship and a sense of ownership in contributing to Ste. Genevieve schools and community spaces.

2026-2027 Proposed School Calendar.

The Board approved the final copy of the 2026-2027 calendar from the SG R-II Calendar Committee. Below are a few bulleted highlights from the approved calendar:

• Dead Period: 1 – 9, 2026
• New Teacher Professional Development (PD) Days: 10-12, 2026
• All Employee PD Days: 17-18, 2026
• All Employee Work Day: Wednesday, 19, 2026
• Teacher PD Day: Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026
• First Day of School: Monday, Aug. 24, 2026 (Earliest start possible due to current Missouri legislation)
• Teacher and Para PD Day: NO SCHOOL — Monday, Sept. 28, 2026
• Parent-Teacher Conferences:
  • Thursday, Oct. 22: NO SCHOOL — All Employee Collaboration / Work Day until 1:15 p.m.; Parent Teacher Conferences 1:30 – 4 p.m. and 5 – 8 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 23: NO SCHOOL
• Veterans Day: NO SCHOOL — Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
• Thanksgiving Break: NO SCHOOL — Nov. 25 – 27, 2026
• Winter Break: Begins with an Early Dismissal at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2026
  • End of First Semester
• Teacher Work Day / PD Day: NO SCHOOL — Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027
• Classes Resume after Winter Break: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2027
• Teacher PD Day: NO SCHOOL — Friday, Feb. 12, 2027
• Spring Break: NO SCHOOL — Friday, March 26 – Friday, April 2, 2027
  • Includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday
• Classes Resume: Monday, April 5, 2027
• Early Dismissal for Afternoon Teacher PD / Work Day: Early Dismissal at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2027
• Graduation: Saturday, May 15, 2027 (7 p.m.)
• Last Day of School: Tuesday, May 25, 2027 (Early Dismissal – 1 p.m.)
• Teacher PD Day: Wednesday, May 26, 2027
• 6 Scheduled Make-Up Days: 5, Jan. 6, Feb. 15, May 26, May 27, May 28 (39 hours)
• Semester Balance: There is a balance of 79 days first semester / 90 days second semester.
• Student Hours: 1,109.25 total hours of student attendance. The state minimum is 1,044.

IMPORTANT NOTES & STRUCTURAL DECISIONS

Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI)

• Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the district will no longer utilize Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) as an instructional tool for inclement weather days. The decision is rooted in instructional quality, equity, and operational sustainability.
• As with many decisions that affect our instructional program, the administrative team approached this conversation by first applying our standard guiding question: What is best for students? That question serves as our primary litmus test before any other factors are considered.
• Last year, the district conducted a staff survey regarding AMI implementation. Of approximately 330 employees, 175 responded. Among the 175 respondents, roughly 73% indicated satisfaction with AMI, while about 14% expressed concerns and 14% were neutral. When viewed across our entire staff, this represents approximately 39% of all employees expressing support, with smaller percentages indicating concerns or neutrality and about 47% of employees not responding to the survey.
• This year, the full administrative team reviewed surrounding district practices, instructional outcomes, and operational impacts across our buildings. Based on this review, the administrative team concluded that—even though our district implemented AMI more effectively than many during and after COVID— AMI days are no longer the most beneficial academic or developmental option for student learning overall.

Weather Make-Up Hours (Compliance)

Missouri school districts are required to plan for 36 weather make-up hours and may make up a maximum of 60 hours for inclement weather.

• The 2026-2027 District Calendar fully plans for the maximum 60 hours.
• Approximately 39 hours are met through six identified make-up days during the second semester.
• The remaining required hours are embedded within the total instructional hours.
• Scheduled make-up days may not be taken in the listed order, depending on weather events.
• This structure provides greater clarity for employees, a more predictable end-of-year date, and improved planning for curriculum and summer work.
• The 2026-2027 District Calendar has a total of 1,109.25 total hours of student attendance (above the 1,044 required student hours, even if all 60 inclement weather hours were to be utilized).
• Taylor shared that this change will allow the Board of Education some latitude when determining make-up days for inclement weather.

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

NEW BUSINESS

Addition of Special Education Teachers.

The Board approved the addition of three special education teachers: one at Bloomsdale Elementary, one at Ste. Genevieve Elementary, and one split between the two elementary schools. Director of Student Services Dr. Jami Drury explained that staff (teachers, staff, process coordinators) begin monitoring possible caseloads for the upcoming school year as early as February. At this time, it has been determined that there will be staffing needs for the 2025-2026 school year looking at the number of students qualifying for services. These additions will help offer co-taught support at the middle school and high school levels.

Addition of Special Education Paraprofessionals.

In addition, the Board then also approved the addition of three special education paraprofessionals for the district.

Addition of Elementary Teacher.

The Board approved the addition of a fourth grade teacher at Ste. Genevieve Elementary for the 2026-2027 school year. Current numbers are at 28 students per teacher. Adding a fifth teacher reduces the ratio to 22 students per teacher.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Regular Session Meeting on Monday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the Early Childhood Center’s Multipurpose Room (1200 Maple Drive, Ste. Genevieve). Please Note: This meeting will be held a day earlier than is typically scheduled.