Westchester Plumbing and Casework Bid

Part of the infrastructure improvement program calls for the installation of new counters, cabinets and sinks in 13 classrooms at Westchester Elementary this summer. In preparation for this, last summer new plumbing mains were run above the corridor ceilings and new cold and hot water lines were installed above the ceiling of each designated classroom.

To complete the second phase of Westchester Elementary’s plumbing and casework improvements, public bids were solicited. A total of ten responses were received and Spencer Contracting, the low bidder, was awarded the bid at a cost of $99,500.

Curriculum Revision: Health and Fitness (9-12)

The Board approved the curriculum revision for Health and Fitness at the high school level. Currently, KHS offers two health courses from which students can choose to meet the Missouri health graduation requirement: Health and Fitness, and Health and Human Relations. Both were revised this school year and aligned with the Missouri Grade Level Expectations for High School Health.

Missouri expectations are organized around three main focus areas under which there are topics and specific outcomes. The evaluation process for this course involved a review of the state expectations and the selection of those topics and outcomes appropriate for our Health and Human Relations course.

To view the complete report click here and select the March 16 meeting minutes, Item 3 (3.02).

Kirkwood Early Childhood Center Curriculum Update
Kirkwood Early Childhood Center has completed a curriculum revision in mathematics. The curriculum focuses on

To view the complete report click here and select the March 16 meeting minutes, Item 3 (3.03).

Technology Plan

Every three years, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires school districts to submit a technology plan. Kirkwood’s plan is due for submission in April.

DESE has created an electronic planning and grants system (ePeGS) for districts to use in order to enter their district technology plan information as a subset of their comprehensive school improvement plan (CSIP). The Kirkwood School District’s strategic plan serves as the district’s CSIP. Therefore, in preparation to submit a technology plan district personnel entered the strategic plan in the electronic tool so the coordination between the two plans could be visible.

The attached 2009-2012 Kirkwood District Technology Plan includes objectives, strategies and actions steps. Some content is pulled from the district strategic plan and additional information has been added to address specific technology plans for integrating tools into teaching, learning and school improvement.

To view the complete report click here and select the March 16 meeting minutes, Item 3 (3.04).

Certified Staff Salary Package

It is my pleasure to recommend a two year certified teacher salary package. A number of people have worked very hard to bring forward competitive salaries and benefits for our teachers while maintaining fiscal responsibility for the district. Both years fall within the financial parameters the board authorized for our consideration. We believe these packages will allow us to continue to attract and retain the very best teachers St. Louis has to offer.

Note: These packages continue to include a half a percent required increase each year in PSRS.

The teacher salary committee will present this proposal to the staff and will recommend their support of the total package.

To view the complete report click here and select the March 16 meeting minutes, Item 3 (3.05).

Finance Reports
The Board of Education received the financial reports for Period 8.

Operating Expenditures
Operating expenditures in period 8 were approximately $5,846,000. Approximately $1,352,000 was paid to the Facilities Authority for principal and interest on Leasehold Revenue Bonds. Other than this payment, there were not any large and unusual expenditures for the month. The expenditures, other than salaries and benefits, consist of supply purchases and purchase services throughout the district.

Approximately $5,533,000 was paid from the Debt Service Fund for principal and interest on General Obligation Bonds. $2,065,000 of the principal payment was used to defease a portion of the 1999 Series General Obligation Bonds.

Operating Revenues
Operating revenues for period 8 were approximately $2,242,000. Revenues from current taxes were approximately $401,000. The collection rate through February was 90.23% compared to 90.99% from last year. The district received approximately $292,000 in Prop C revenue, $136,000 in Intangible Taxes, $519,000 in Railroad and Utility taxes, $478,000 in State payments, $95,000 in Federal payments, $160,000 from student activities, and $137,000 from our food service.

Approval of Budget Amendments
There were two revenue amendments for period 8 totaling $110,350: $80,350 was the posting of the Summer Adventure Program and $30,000 was an adjustment to the Medicaid Reimbursement Grant.

The expenditure amendments for period 8 total $2,132,293.66. The debt service principal budget was increased by $2,065,000 for the defeasance of a portion of the 1999 Series General Obligation Bonds; the Medicaid budget was increased $30,000, equal to the increase in revenue; and $37,293.66 was posted to the Summer Adventure Program budget. The revenue for the Summer Adventure program is expected to be $80,350, which will be collected by the end of this fiscal year; however, only $37,293.66 will be spent by the end of June. The rest of expenditures which are mainly salaries and benefits will be paid in July and will be included in the 09-10 budget. Other transfers were made to accommodate expenditure requests, but these didn’t increase the budget.

Appoval of Consent Agenda
The Board approved routine items listed on the consent agenda including vouchers payable and various personnel items.

Approval of Board Meeting Schedule for 2009-10
The Board of Education approved the voucher, agenda and board meeting schedule for the 2009-2010 school year. The schedule calls for only one meeting for the months of July, August, October and January. Three meetings will be held on Tuesday instead of the usual Monday. They are the following:

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 – the day after Labor Day

Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 – the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 – the day after Presidents Day

To view the 2009-2010 board meeting schedule click here and select the March 16 meeting minutes, Item 7 (7.01).

Approval of School Psychologist Partnership with SSD
The Board approved the formation of a partnership between the Kirkwood School District and the Special School District (SSD) to address issues related to the expanded role and consistent employment of certified school psychologists. This partnership establishes the school psychologist as a Response to Intervention (RTI) Specialist who assists the building principal in the implementation of team-based problem solving, intervention planning, progress monitoring, and data based decision making related to the early intervention and prevention of learning problems. It also creates expectations and incentives which promote consistent assignment of school psychologists to the Kirkwood School District including extended days of employment in June/August and contract expectations consistent with Kirkwood re-employment policies for certified staff.

Under this partnership, school psychologists will be supervised and evaluated collaboratively by the SSD area coordinator and the building principal. The KSD will reimburse the SSD $5,000 (plus any additional benefit costs) annually per school psychologist for the extended contract days. The district currently has four school psychologists assigned to the Kirkwood School District from Special School District.

To view the school psychologist partnership agreement and the revised school psychologist/response to intervention specialist job description click here and select the March 16 meeting minutes, Item 7 (7.02).

Future Events
Friday, March 20 – No School for Students Parent/Teacher Conferences
M-F, March 23-27 – District Closed for Spring Break
Thursday, April 2, 7:30 AM - Key Volunteer/Administrators Meeting at KHS Walker Science Center Conference Room
Thursday, April 2, 2-6 PM - Health Fair in KHS Cafeteria
Monday, April 6, 7 PM - Regular Board Meeting at ASC