Throughout the past few years, the district has focused on utilizing alternative funding sources to address some of the needs identified through the facility planning process, such as utilizing:

funds from the Ste. Genevieve County R-II Foundation;
grants we have been awarded;
funds set aside annually for turf field and track resurfacing updates; and
state and federal allocated COVID-19 funds, some of which have been used for important safety and infrastructure upgrades, such as plexiglass, masks, cleaning supplies, and necessary HVAC and roofing work.

Track & Field:

The district was able to have the track resurfaced and the synthetic turf field updated over the summer of 2021. The original turf field and the accompanying track were originally installed in 2007, and the life of the track at that time was 10 years, and the life of the field was 12 years. Through the outstanding care of our coaches and maintenance staff, we were fortunate to have been able to utilize the track four years past its lifetime, but it was time to make an upgrade, as the track was worn in areas and re-surfacing would improve safety and enhance performance.
Byrnes & Jones Construction’s contract for the track and field total $595,371. Because the District decided to complete both projects, we received a 3% discount, approximately $18,431.50. Since the original turf field installation in 2007, the District has set aside $10-15,000 annually into a fund to be utilized for future track and field updates. The district was able to utilize part of this fund for the upgraded installation and resurfacing. The district will continue to set aside funds annually to address the resurfacing needs of all of our synthetic turf surfaces.

HVAC & Roofing:

The district was also able to launch necessary roofing repairs and HVAC priorities this past summer and fall. We are excited to complete some of these timely updates by appropriating current revenues and decreasing the amount of upgrades that would need to be included in a plan for a ballot initiative.

Technology:

At the June 21, 2022, Board of Education's Regular Meeting, the Board approved a a proposal from Securix (a Division of American Digital Security) to update the card access control software and hardware for the door lock system used throughout the district. Originally, the district’s cost estimates for updating these door locks included having to replace many doors in the process, and the lowest estimate was approximately $100,000. Replacing this door lock system was then included on the Prop SG bond issue projects. However, our Assistant Director of Technology, Jason Bauman, researched various companies and systems over the past few years, and found Securix, a company with a quality solution to replace the system without having to also replace doors. This proposal is approximately $68,610.74, and the full system was replaced before the start of school in the fall of 2022. Due to this lower total cost, the district was able to pull the door lock system from the bond issue, allowing for a redistribution of those funds to other Prop SG projects.

This purchase was made through TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System). TIPS is a national purchasing cooperative that offers access to competitively procured purchasing contracts to its membership. For government agencies such as public education organizations, higher education entities and city or county governments, membership in a purchasing cooperative offers the following benefits:

Access to competitively procured contracts with quality vendors;
Savings of time and financial resources necessary to fulfill bid requirements;
Assistance with purchasing process by qualified TIPS staff; and
Access to pricing based on a "national" high-profile contract.

STE. GENEVIEVE R-II SCHOOL DISTRICT