SG R-II Family Connection
Parents & Guardians
Good afternoon, SG families,
We are excited to share with all of you an important update regarding our district’s facilities planning. After nearly two years of long-range facility planning, discussions and feedback through the Facilities Committee, the Board of Education voted to place Prop SG, a no-tax increase bond referendum in the amount of $20 million, on the April 5, 2022, ballot.
In anticipation of Prop SG, the district has officially obtained a piece of property in Ste. Genevieve, in hopes of being able to eventually build an Early Childhood Center at this location. This property is located at the western end of Maple Drive in Ste. Genevieve.
As facility planning progressed the last few years, we explored various avenues for a future Early Childhood Center, including the possibility of purchasing and renovating existing buildings in Ste. Genevieve. As none of these properties fit our needs or were available at the right time, the district searched for other options in order to find the option that could culminate in the best possible outcome for our students and for our community. Fortunately, the district was able to acquire a parcel of land from private individuals, which would offer a small campus for the building of a future Early Childhood Center.
One of the most significant priorities that the district hopes to address through Prop SG is the need for an Early Childhood Center, an initiative that would:
- offer preschool and early childhood services to more families in our community, as our community has been feeling the strain in terms of available early childhood education and preschool services. Our district programs, which can currently only provide services for children who are 3+ years old, have an ongoing waitlist.
- allow Parents As Teachers, Early Childhood Special Education and Preschool classrooms to be in one location.
- allow the creation of screening, visit and group connection areas.
- allow for the repurposing of existing spaces at the elementary level for classrooms.
We will share more updates regarding facility planning as they become available. If you have not had a chance to visit our Prop SG website, check it out here! This website includes information about the other six areas of priority the district hopes to address through the upcoming bond issue.
I hope that you all have a great weekend with family and friends!
Forever a dragon,
Dr. Julie Flieg
Superintendent
Last Day of School
As identified on the 2021-22 School Calendar that was approved by the Board of Education, the last day of the 2021-22 school year will now be on Friday, May 27, 2022, and will not extend beyond this date. We have currently used 19.5 hours of AMI and have 16.5 hours left to use, which equates to about 2.5 days. If we utilize the remaining AMI hours and still miss more school due to inclement weather, the district would then begin using the excess hours that we have in the school calendar. With the Board-approved amendment in December for two additional professional development days, our total hours are 1,095. The state requirement is 1,044 hours, which means that we have approximately 51 hours to use.
Are You Registered to Vote?
The April 5, 2022 election is just around the corner! The last day to register to vote is Wednesday, March 9. To register online, or to check your voter registration status, click here. Need an absentee ballot? Learn more here.
What is going to be on the ballot in April?
- Board of Education: Two positions, each with a three-year term, will be available for the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Board of Education in the Tuesday, April 5, 2022 election. The expiring terms for Board members are Mr. Terry McDaniel and Mr. Richard Rudloff. Filing ended on Dec. 28 at 5 p.m. Five applicants have filed a declaration of candidacy for the Board of Education. In the order of filing, they include: Jamie (Naeger) Ballew, Michael Stoll, Larry Pfaff, Joshua Gettinger, Samuel Barbagallo, and Bradley (Brad) Arnold. Board Candidate questionnaires will be shared with our employees and families in the next few weeks!
- Prop SG: Check out our Prop SG informational website here: https://bit.ly/PropSG. This website includes current available information on the district’s prioritized projects if Prop SG were to pass voter approval. Other important information on this new website includes an overview of the facility planning process that spanned nearly two years, details about the district’s finances and fiscal responsibility, a list of FAQs, and more!
2022 Polar Plunge
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC program that helps connect families and households struggling to afford internet service. The benefit provides:
- up to $30/month discount for internet service;
- up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands; and
- a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider.
Click here to see who is eligible and how to enroll.
Reopening Plan Updates
- MSHSAA Return to Play Form: As of March 2, 2022, the MSHSAA COVID-19 Return To Play form has been updated. As of March 2, 2022, MSHSAA is no longer requiring student athletes to have a formal medical screening prior to returning to sports participation following COVID infection. The original intent of the screening by a medical professional was to assess for the possible complication of myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, that can lead to exercise intolerance and the ability of the heart to function normally. As we have moved through 2 years of the pandemic, MSHSAA shared that it seems that the risk of myocarditis is less than first estimated. However, there will still be a Covid-19 RTP Form that must be completed by the student athlete, parent/guardian and school personnel for any student athlete that tests positive or is symptomatic for COVID-19. Furthermore, a 5 day/step RTP progression also remains in place for those student athletes who test positive or are symptomatic for Covid-19.
- CDC Modifies Federal Mask Requirement for School Buses: On Feb. 25, the CDC announced new guidance regarding required masks on public transportation, including school buses. According to the new guidance, masking is not a recommended prevention measure in counties where the COVID-19 Community Level is at low or medium. However, additional prevention measures are still recommended in community settings such as schools, which can include physical distancing, contact tracing, and other measures. Beginning on Monday, March 7, masks will no longer be required on SG R-II buses, as our county is currently not identified as a high level for COVID. This update will be reflected in the next version of the Reopening Plan.