Board Meeting Report

Boone Trail Elementary Assistant Principal Marc Tiernan was recognized for being named the 131st Bomb Wing Outstanding Airman of the Year in the Junior Enlisted category and Air National Guard Region 5 Outstanding Airman of the Year for his service in the Missouri Air National Guard.

Timberland High School freshman Kaya McNurlen was recognized for her selection to the violin section of the Missouri All-State Orchestra. Back in January, over 230 string players across the state auditioned virtually for this honor and only 79 were selected. For her performance, Kaya was appointed 12th violin out of 36 in the ensemble.

The Liberty High School Varsity Cheer Squad was recognized for capturing first place in the Superlarge Division in the Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association (MCCA) State Championship, held virtually this year in February. This marks the first time in Liberty’s history that the squad has earned the state title having previously placed in the top five for the past four years.

Wentzville Middle School physical education teacher Jennifer Werner was recognized for being named the 2021 SHAPE America National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. The National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award is presented annually to recognize the efforts of educators who have contributed significantly to physical education at the middle school level.

Community partners that supported the March 20 vaccination event held at Holt High School were recognized for their collaboration and support. Officer Jason Horvath and Officer Stephen Hill from the Wentzville Police Department were on-hand along with Battalion Chief Greg Maddock and Paramedic Nicole Hill from the St. Charles County Ambulance District.

The WSD’s Director of Health Services Laurie Castiaux, Executive Director of Student Services Laura Parn, Community Relations Coordinator Kathy DeLaquil, and Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Jeri LaBrot were also recognized for their work to organize and plan the event weeks in advance. 917 school staff members from across St. Charles County were vaccinated on March 20 at Holt High School.

The WSD Board of Education has approved the hiring of Dr. Keri Skeeters as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, effective July 1, 2021. She is replacing Dr. Megan Stryjewski, who has been named the new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment in the Valley Park School District. Dr. Skeeters is currently the Director of Instructional Programming in the Teaching and Learning Department and has been with the Wentzville School District since 2002.

The WSD Board of Education has approved the hiring of Susan Lauren-Dawson as Director of Accounting, effective July 1, 2021. She is replacing Emilie Vaughan, who has been named the new Director of Business Services in the Webster Groves School District. Ms. Lauren-Dawson is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the Valley Park School District, where she has worked since 2016. Prior to joining Valley Park, she was the Director of Accounting for the Wentzville School District from 2008 to 2016.

The WSD Board of Education has approved the hiring of Lisa Salisbury as Director of Purchasing, effective July 1, 2021. She is replacing Carol Harvey who is retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Ms. Salisbury is currently the Budget and Procurement Officer for the City of O’Fallon Police Department, where she has worked since 2005. Ms. Salisbury started her career with the City of O’Fallon as a Recreation Specialist in 2004.

The WSD Board of Education has approved the hiring of Kim Boix as Director of Transportation, effective July 1, 2021. She is replacing David Wilson, who is retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Ms. Boix is currently one of the Operations Managers for the WSD's Transportation Department, where she has worked since 2014.

The WSD Board of Education has approved the hiring of Melissa Lamb as Coordinator for Parents as Teachers, effective July 1, 2021. She is replacing Kathy Twellman, who is retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Ms. Lamb is currently a Parent Educator for Wentzville School District where she has worked since January 2002. She started her career with the Wentzville School District as an Instructional Assistant at the Early Childhood Center.

Kathy Twellman, Coordinator of Parents as Teachers, and Kevin Garcia, Principal at Barfield Early Childhood Center, shared an evaluation of their programs with the Board of Education. Parents as Teachers was named as community co-leader of the Preschool Development Grant that will focus on inclusion and kindergarten readiness for all students in the county.

Tanya Kirkpatrick, Chautauqua Coordinator, shared an evaluation of the Chautauqua Program. Chautauqua is the WSD’s Before and After School program for families needing a caring, enriching, and well-supervised program for their children’s before and after school time.

Vanessa Fritsche, Director of Special Education, provided a report to the Board of Education about the WSD’s Special Education Program. While working through one of the most challenging and ever-changing school years, the program has seen dropout rates for special education decrease over the last three years, and discipline rates for special education are down.

Chief Financial Officer Rick Angevine shared that Moody’s Investors Service issued a one-notch downgrade for the Wentzville School District to Aa3 from Aa2. The District’s investment grade remains at a level identified as ‘very strong capacity to meet obligations.’ The change was prompted by the publication of Moody’s new K-12 Public School District rating methodology and their related metrics on how they will now evaluate K-12 public school districts.

The Board of Education approved Budget Adjustment #4, which reflects increases in budgeted revenues by $5.8 million and decreases in expenses by $4 million. The change in the projected budget will move the previous anticipated year-end operating fund balance from $42.5 million to $52.5 million (from 18.91% of operating expenses to 23.8%).

The Board of Education approved the recommendation of Raptor Technologies to install and support a visitor management system in the WSD. A visitor management system will provide a turnkey method of checking in outside visitors into District buildings and also identifying those that should not have access. The visitor management system is one of the safety and security measures that District is taking as part of the passage of Props C & S in June 2020.

Director Erin Abbott shared her research and provided proposed goals related to adding a student representative to the Board of Education. The Board approved the proposed goals and moving forward with the process.

Board Retreat - May 15, 2021

Next Regular Board Meeting - May 20, 2021