School board discusses snow days, expenditures, open enrollment

From snow days to finances, the St. Joseph School School District Board of Education discussed a laundry list of items at Monday night’s meeting.

With the district utilizing all of its snow and alternate methods of instruction (AMI) days, the district looked at backup plans in case another unexpected event causes classes to be canceled this year.

“We don’t anticipate any weather, but if there is weather, we have a work day right now scheduled on March 10,” said Gabe Edgar, SJSD superintendent. “And then, if we had to, we would look a possibly a day or two on on Spring Break.”

SJSD started the year off with three school days and five AMI days, where support staff was only paid for the snow days.

Edgar wants support staff to get paid more than just the three days if school does get called off.

“If you’re sitting there, and you’re thinking, and you’re a support staff employee and you know you only have three days and you see the forecast and it might be seven days worth of snow,” said Edgar. “That creates anxiety.”

When asked if this would be something the district’s budget would be able to support, Edgar answered in confidence.

“That would be a very minimal piece,” said Edgar. “I think its something that needs to be a high priority.”

The board also looked at February’s expenditures and revenues, as both have seen an increase. Revenues were increased using the new assessed valuation, which was not yet known when the original budget was made.

Expenditures include budget increases to the special education department and student services.

The largest budget increase will be to raise pay and benefits to adjust for Proposition C salary schedules.

House Bill 711, was also discussed. The bill would allow for open enrollment in the state of Missouri.

The St. Joseph School Board voted to sign a document which would show it would not support the proposed legislative measure.

Assistant Superintendent of Academics, Ashly McGinnis also delivered her monthly academics report.

February’s report included taking a look at academic offerings given at each high school.

The report showed Central High School offering a variety of different academic and athletic opportunities, compared to Lafayette and Benton.

When asked if a two-high school model would help level the playing field, McGinnis said it’s all about the numbers.

“I think for sure, there would be a better possibility, there’s going to be a much stronger opportunity to provide all of these courses to all of our kids,” said McGinnis.

The SJSD Board of Education will hold its next work session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 10 at the Troester Media Center.

March’s Board of Education meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 24 at the Troester Media Center.