Wentzville School Board Approves Budget with $10.8 Million Deficit

At the June 16 meeting of the Board of Education, the board approved the district's 2011-2012 budget. With grand total (all funds) projected revenues of $144,900,593 and grand total projected expenditures of $155,743,576, the district expects a $10,842,983 shortfall. To make up for the shortfall, the district will use funds from a balance carried over from previous years.

The district feels that the resulting decrease in the district's fund balances is acceptable, however, and cited several factors affecting the budget:

• Increased enrollment, but class sizes remaining near current averages
• Certified staffing increased by 25 full time equivalents.
• Support staffing increased by 6.25 full time equivalents.
• Average salary step increases for current staff of approximately 2.8%.
• Benefit cost increases due to higher retirement contribution rates and medical insurance cost increases.
• Increased textbook purchases to fully implement current and previous replacement cycles.
• Increased budget for maintenance projects with the long-term intention of minimizing the amount of maintenance projects in future bond issues.
• Increased budget for equipment for transportation to purchase a new bus camera system and outfit the shop at the new facility.
• Increased budget for contracted educational services and local tax effort payments for students placed outside the District.

Technology for Students

A program to put netbooks in the hands of 900 high school students enrolled in English 1 end-of-course exam courses was given the green light for bidding. Tech said that studies have shown that students with this kind of access to technology show improved writing skills, interest and morale, and attendance.

Board president Terry Ratcliff expressed concern about damage or theft of the netbooks, and board member Heather Reiter asked if there would be a problem with students without home internet access.

Superintendent Terry Adams said, "There are places where we’ll have problems. Let’s not be afraid of it. It’s not going to happen without a few glitches. We can benefit from what other schools have done. I think overall we’ll be happy that we’re moving in this direction. Ten years from now, we'll be seeing this at all grade levels.”

In other business, the board approved policy revisions concerning:

• Student allergy prevention and response
• Student welfare, seclusion and restraint
• Assignment of grades
• Instructions for homebound students
• Staff involvement in decision making
• staff absences, leaves and vacations
• Equal opportunity employment
• Health services and administering medicines to students
• Assessment and referral to outside services
• Graduation requirements for students with disabilities
• Nondiscrimination and student rights
• Harassment

The board heard the first reading of a policy that will limit parent recording of meetings.

Co-Curricular & Extracurricular Activities Report

Activities Directors Frank Gentile (Holt) and Todd Hayes (Timberland) gave a report on co-curricular and extracurricular activities at their respective schools.

Both schools administered a survey to detemine students' interest in sports, clubs and activities. Results were tallied by gender and grade. One board member brought up the fact that boys' volleyball received a lot of interest on the survey and asked if it might be added to the program. Hayes and Gentile answered that would probably not happen until boys' volleyball, which is considered an "emerging sport" by the  MSHSAA (Missouri State High School Activities Association), has a post-season tournament and more schools in the conference field boys' volleyball teams.

At Holt, 46 percent of females and 54 percent of males are involved in athletics, and in school activities such as band, drama, DECA, newspaper and robotics team. Sixteen of the 22 Holt sports programs' participants had average GPAs of 3.0, earning them special recognition from the MSHSAA. The boys' football, baseball, basketball and track program, and the girls fall and winter pommers posted average GPAs below 3.0.

At Timberland, 47.3 percent of females and 52.7 percent of males participated in athletics and actvities this past year. All but one sports program held average GPAs of 3.0 and above, also earning them MSHSAA recognition. The one program that did not was boys' golf.

"It kind of shocked me," Gentile said.

Guidance and Counseling Report

Dr. Gauzy, , said that the counselor's role in the schools was to "reduce barriers to learning."

“We keep distractions, both in the school environment and outside the school envirnonment, from becoming those barriers," she said.

Among the many services offered by the department are:

• conflict mediation,
• career and education planning
• alcohol and drug abuse awareness and prevention
• bullying prevention
• cultural diversity
• suicide prevention

The department also provides responsive services to crisis situations, and system support in management, evaluation (such as achievement assessment programs MAP, EOC, ACT and advanced placement) and rewards programs.

The district currently has

• 15.5 counselors in the elementary schools
• 7.5 counselors in the middle schools
• 10 counselors in the high schools
• 4 district crisis counselors

Construction Report

A representative from Hoener Associations reported on the progress of construction projects in the district. Lake Saint Louis Patch will post that report on Monday, June 20.