Chamois R-1 school board members decided at their meeting on Wednesday to not move forward with the construction project that they have been discussing. 

Estimates for the new addition range between $1.5 and $2 million and would close the covered walkways between the gym and the school buildings and add several new classrooms, a new commons area, a new bathroom for the gym, and new offices for the administration. Porter, Berendzen, and Associates, PC put together a facilities study that outlined the needs of the school district and prioritized large and small projects for the school. 

Chamois R-1 had hoped to use the estimated $500,000 from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund for the large project.

“I would like to see an addition, but to me, it’s not the right time with all of the maintenance issues we’re facing, salary issues, and the economy as a whole,” board member Nick Schollmeyer said. “I’m not supportive of moving forward. To me, it just doesn’t feel like the right time.”

The other school board members agreed and decided to consider smaller projects that they can pay for outright. 

“Just because we don’t do this now, doesn’t mean we can’t ever do it,” Board President Steve Cramer said. “If construction costs drop maybe we look at this again in a year.”

Superintendent Lyle Best will present a list of smaller projects that were put together as part of the facilities study at the next meeting. Cramer hopes some of the smaller projects can be scheduled for the summer.

In other business, the district has been plagued by issues with its aging boiler system all winter. 

“We finished the winter season with one boiler,” said Best, who asked four different Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractors to look at the system and offer solutions and bids. 

Integrated Facility Services, Inc., was the only contractor to offer a bid. Their solution to the uneven heating included replacing and reconfiguring the piping for the boiler room, relocating the pot feeder and expansion tank, and installing thermostats in each room. The price tag for all those repairs came in at $92,850. 

“I think it was pretty clear that people were not wanting to give us a bid without knowing exactly what we wanted,” Best said.

He was not comfortable with the single bid and consulted with Midwest Engineering and Design of Columbia, which would work with the school district to develop bidding documents with the heating system so the HVAC contractors could bid on specific projects. The consulting firm offered suggestions of areas of concern, including replacing and reconfiguring the piping in the basement boiler room. They also suggested replacing the radiators that are original to the building. Best suggested that there are things that could be done that would improve things in the short term, like adding electric baseboard heaters that could be turned on to supply supplemental heat. Best noted that this is a solution that does not cost a lot.

“These are things that we can do temporarily that may help in the long term,” Best said. “Sometimes short-term solutions turn into long term.”

“I’m sitting here thinking that we just paid how many thousands of dollars three to four years ago, thinking we had fixed the (heating) problem and we didn’t and here we are again,” Cramer said. “We’re going to put new piping in there and connect it to old boilers.”

“I feel like we’re putting band-aids on this,” said board member Rebecca Mehmert.

“When we have to do something with heating and cooling, let’s look at something more modern and quit throwing money at the boilers which we’ve already done time and time again,” Cramer suggested.

Best will look at finding solutions to some of the problems and present the ideas to board members.

In other issues with the HVAC system, the board approved maintenance for the school’s air conditioning units for $1,350 from Brandt Heating, Air Conditioning, and Fireplaces. The contact does not include the maintenance for any window air conditioning units.

Board members certified the election results and welcomed Scott Northway and Amanda Carter, who were sworn into their three-year terms. Both were write-in candidates with Northway receiving 26 votes and Carter receiving 16.

Best reminded the new members that their training would need to be completed in their first year of office and welcomed them to the board.

The board also unanimously elected Cramer as president, Angela Hagenhoff as VP, and Jennifer Keilholz as secretary/treasurer.

Board members voted on changes to the school district’s Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service (SRCSP). The new SRCSP policy is similar to the current school district’s policy but follows the newest recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

“The guidance that we are getting from the state level is to follow the recommendations of the CDC,” Best said.

Board member Kris Wuelling took issue with the guidelines, noting that he was tired of talking about COVID-19.

“I don’t think we should send kids home who aren’t sick,” Wuelling insisted.

Best noted that there had been very few cases of COVID-19 at the school in recent weeks.

Cramer noted that there were only 17 instructional days left in the school year.

“We’ve been following the recommendations for this long,” Schollmeyer said. “Let’s finish the year.”

The motion passed unanimously.

The board also accepted a bid from Charles Luebbert Hardwood Floors, Inc., for the annual cleaning and finishing of the gym floor for $2,590.

Members plan to vote on sanding the gym floor down to bare wood and then painting and refinishing it this fall.

“We know that it’s been a long time since it was done and that it is something that needs to be done,’ Best said.

He added that Luebbert will need to schedule the work this coming fall if the school district would like the floors finished in the summer of 2023. 

“They schedule it and then we start planning out the artwork and how it would look,” Best said.

“Our gym is 90 percent of what people see when they come to the school,” Cramer said.

Best noted that the last estimate that he had received on such a project from Charles Luebbert Hardwood Flooring, Inc., had been at least two years ago and was around $19,000 at that time.

Best updated the school board members on a proposal that is gaining support in the state legislature that would increase the base pay for all teachers to a minimum of $38,000. This proposal has the support of Gov. Mike Parson but will not be a statuary change. 

“It won’t be anything, if it does come to fruition, that will be a requirement, whatever is on the books, which is $25,000 being the minimum teacher’s salary,” Best explained. “This is something the governor has pushed and is still pushing based on where Missouri ranks on starting teacher pay.”

Best also explained that there is a push to add the career ladder program back into the equation. The base-pay increase will be partially funded by the state with 70% of the cost being paid for out of a grant program funded by state gaming funds. Best noted that the 70% appropriation from the state would only cover salary.

“It’s more like 60% from the state and 40% from the local district when benefits are included,” Best said. “There is a push to get more money into the program.”

Currently, the district has 15 certified teachers whose base salary is below $38,000. If Chamois R-1 participated in the program and the teaching staff remained the same, the total increase to the school district would be $56,400. The state would cover $39,480 of the amount, leaving the local district to pick up $25,916.

There is no guarantee that the funds will be appropriated every year. 

“There would be a disclaimer that the salary only applies when it’s appropriated by the state and the funds are available to operate the new salary schedule,” Best explained. “If the funding goes away, the teachers get a pay cut.”

“We can’t do that,” Cramer said.

“But that’s the thing, we can,” Best said.

“You can but it’s going to piss off the teachers,” Hagenhoff said.

Best noted that although the grant program will be voluntary, the state also made it clear that if a school district doesn’t participate, they may find themselves in a difficult position.

It will be hard to compete for teachers if other school districts are participating in the program and are offering higher pay rates. There is also concern that the increased salary will compress the salary schedule for all teachers. Teachers may start at a higher rate but will remain at that rate for most of their careers because the school district will not be able to offer raises. There is also a concern that teachers will have less incentive to increase their education and skills with the compressed wage scale.

Best believes that there will be ways to address these issues if the pay raise goes into effect.

Schollmeyer asked how Chamois R-1 can compete for good teachers if the school district is not able to offer increased incentives and pay raises.

“It’s difficult,” Best admitted. “But how do we compete if we don’t participate in the program?”

Schollmeyer recommended that the school district look into offering pay raises based on performance like a private business.

Best noted that this was an interesting idea but for now the school district will have to wait until the end of the legislative session to see what happens.

  Best will present a proposal to the school board at next month’s meeting to hire the Fired-Up Consulting Group to work with the district in the fall of 2022. The group is made up of retired school administrators that work with school districts to improve their Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP). The program will cost the district $5,750 and an additional cost for travel not to exceed $1,000.

“Obviously there is a cost,” Best explained. “But you look at it as an investment to your district and your planning process to a good three-to-five-year plan and make sure it is a solid guide for your future decision-making.”

The Fired up Consulting Group works with staff members for eight to 10 weeks and develops a plan that is then presented to the school board for approval.

“I think it’s a good thing for our district,” Best said. “They have worked with a lot of schools around us who have had positive things to say about their experience.”

Elementary summer school is scheduled for May 16-27.

Board members approved outstanding expenses for the month totaling $43,833.50.

Chamois R-1 had the following ending balances in their account: general ($1,900,726), special ($156,866), and capital projects ($171,797).

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Best reviewed other bills that are currently before the house and senate that may affect public education. 

House Bill #1903 and Senate Bill #648 deal with virtual expansion. The bills, if passed, would continue with the current process the school district has in place if a student is only requesting to take an individual class virtually. If the student is requesting that they do all of their classes virtually, services will no longer go through the school district. Best noted that the student will no longer be a part of the school district and instead be a part of a program involving several virtual schools that are already in place in the State of Missouri.

“They don’t count for anything for us,” Best said. “No accountability. No assessment. No aid. No anything. It does provide more choice for people but if you are a small school and you need as many students as can to participate and some aren’t enrolled it does make things difficult.”

House Bill #1814 deals with open enrollment. Best noted that several open enrollment bills were being discussed.

Senate Bill #1075 and House Bill #2600 are concerned with lead in the school’s drinking water. This would include some testing and reporting that is required of the school districts and filtering and repairs if lead is found in the school district’s water.

House Bills #1754 and #1753 are what Best described as “massive bills for dealing with education.”

House Bill #1858 outlines a Parent’s Bill of Rights. 

“A lot of the Parent’s Bills of Rights directly impact teachers,” Best explained. “They are not always practical and would be very difficult for a lot of teachers to comply with.”

Best noted that Air Quality Assurance tests have been completed and he is waiting to hear back on the test results.

The dryer had to be replaced in the gym and a garage door has been repaired.

  Chamois R-1 will be participating in the pilot program for Quality Assurance for the preschool. 

“It will be good to help us identify strengths and weaknesses and make our program better,” Best said.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT 

Principal Jeremy McKague noted the high school Academic Team won its district tournament contest and will be playing its next game on Wednesday, April 20 at 5 p.m. in the cafeteria. The team will be playing against St. Elizabeth, and all are welcome to come and watch.

Waylon Carter and Evert Mehmert earned Knowledge Bowl All-Conference honors.

  The preschool has 16 students enrolled for the 2022-23 school year.

The spring concert went well and there was a nice turnout of parents and family.

Tyler Brandt was selected to go to Washington, D.C., for his essay that was submitted to the Three Rivers Essay Contest. Carter Brandt also placed and received $200.

  Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) and End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments began last week.

On April 6, a vaping presentation was provided to junior high students.

State Tech hosted a lunch-and-learn program on April 7 for juniors and seniors.

On April 8, there was a Safe and Sober presentation by the Missouri Highway Patrol for students in grades 7-12. 

This year’s athletic banquet is scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 25 in the gym.

On April 26, third and fourth-grade students will go to the State Capitol. 

Career Presentations will be provided on April 29 to elementary students.

On May 9, Decision Day will be held celebrating seniors and is also professional development day.

May 10 is Fun Day.

Graduation is scheduled for May 13.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the May school board meeting will be held on May 18 at 7 pm., and the June meeting will be held on June 20 at 7 p.m.