Skip to main content

Festus R6 School District

"Educating all students to meet tomorrow's challenges."

A Step Ahead

Board Report for January 15, 2026 Meeting

Posted Date: 01/16/26 (03:23 PM)
View Original Post


Festus R-6 School District logo featuring a tiger head.

School Board Report

January 15, 2026 Meeting

Good News, Recognitions & Announcements

In the video:
  • Addi Cupp and Drew Johnson hit career milestones in their respective sports.
  • Former basketball Coach Tony Kinder given career award.
  • Softball Coach Jeff Montgomery officially inducted into the the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.
  • Girls Track and Field State Champion Athletes and Coaches received their rings.
  • Livi Kearns is the FHS Student of the Month.
  • Isabella Micco is the Elks 1721 Student of the Month
  • Intermediate School Assistant Principal Dr. Deana Brown reads to students... as Mrs. Claus.
  • Many staff participated in the building holiday door decorations
 

Consent Agenda

Approved unanimously. Items were:

  • December regular session meeting minutes
  • Bills payable for the month
  • Financial reports & Statement
  • Ledger Subtotals
  • First reading of the BOE 2025E Policy Updates: IIA-1, IIAC, IGD-AP3, IIA-AP1, IIAC-AP1, KB-AP1.
  • Approve Library Weeded Materials.
 

Communication and/or Reports

Superintendent's Report

  • The 30th Annual Black History Luncheon is Saturday, February 21 at the Corpus Christi Center in Imperial. The district has 3 tables. Approximately 20 students will be attending, leaving room for 10 teachers and administrators.
  • The Calendar Committee held its first meeting on January 12. The law mandates the first day of school cannot happen until August 24 at the earliest. State law prohibits the first day of school happening more than two weeks before Labor Day. This law creates challenges with this year's calendar because of several reasons but most concerning is the imbalance between the two semesters. In this scenario first semester will be significantly shorter than second semester. Late in the week, we received word that the State Board of Education is looking into whether it can grant a one year waiver, to allow school to start a week earlier. Eight schools petitioned the State Board for the exemption. Dr. Ruess has drafted a letter supporting the statewide exemption that will be sent to the State Board. The State Board will decide at their regular scheduled February meeting. The calendar committee will not meet again until after the State Board's February meeting.
  • February 13th is an ALL-Staff Professional Development Day. Certified staff will meet in their budlings. Classified staff will meet with their departments. Everyone will gather for lunch at the high school gym, followed by attending three breakout sessions at the high school. Each session has 18 different topics to choose from.
  • The State of the County is on February 16 at Northwest High School
  • Band Booster Trivia Night is February 7. This year, Dr. Ruess is the designated expert for one round.
  • Kindergarten Registration is February 26 and March 26. We are expecting fewer people at these registration events because we are getting more signed up at the Early Childhood Center and through local daycares with the assistance of PAT.
  • High School and Beyond is March 10.
  • Supper with the Superintendent is Wednesday, January 21 from 6pm - 7pm at Main and Mill. This is an open forum for all stakeholders.
  • CSIP Stakeholder meeting to set the goals for our next Continuous School Improvement Plan is January 28.
  • Enrollment in the district is up about 30 students from the same time last year.

Mid-year budget and investment report

2nd Quarter Financial Review - Through Dec. 31, 2025
  • We have received 51% of our revenues. That's slightly more than we had at this time last year, and in line with the year before.
  • We have spent 44.5% of our expenditures. That is about where we were at this time the past two school years.
  • We are still on target for 30% reserves which is the preferred target for the Board of Education.

Series 2021B Investments
All funds are currently maintained in liquid accounts. Since July 2025, the district has earned $158,247 in interest income, averaging approximately $24,000 per month during the second quarter. Cumulatively, the district has earned more than $2 million in interest on these investments. To date, approximately $9 million has been expended on construction, with a remaining balance of approximately $6 million in the account.

Series 2025 Investment
To date the District has earned $65,421 in interest in four months (approximately $16,000/month).
Balance is approximately $5 million

T-Bills
$15 million in one
$10 million in the other

We have more than $30 million in the investment pool to fund the construction of the new gym and indoor fieldhouse.

Early Childhood Report

The Early Childhood submitted its annual report.

Parents As Teachers Program Report

The Parents as Teacher Program submitted its annual report.
 

Prior & New Business

February Special Meeting

The Board set a special meeting for 7pm on Thursday, February 5, 2026 to review and approve bids for the sitework for the new gymnasium and indoor practice facility.

Facilities Report & Recommendations

Constrruction Update
Roy Mangan from ArchImages provided an update on our constructions projects:
  • The Intermediate School expansion is on schedule. They are beginning to set beams on the top of the structure. Colder weather is preventing masonry work from happening, but work is still being done inside (electrical, plumbing, etc.). This structure will have a concrete roof, because, by code, it must also serve as a storm shelter. It is still on schedule to be complete at the end of May. The new playground layouts have been finalized for the 2 new playgrounds at the Intermediate School. They will be installed in the early summer.
  • The gym and fieldhouse projects are being broken into multiple bid packages to expedite each phase of the construction process. Dr. Ruess says she is very happy with the CMAR construction process. It allows everyone involved (District, Architect, General Contractor) to work together early in the process to find cost savings while maintaining high quality. The first bid project for the site work was released on January 14th. Site work bids are due at the end of January and will be reviewed at the special board meeting on February 5.

Surplus Sale
The Board approved a surplus sale for Friday, March 13, 2026. The items for sale are coming from the 2 homes the District purchased on Pounds Road next to the Transportation Department. Before these homes are demolished, contractors, home flippers, and the general public will be offered the chance to purchase items inside (metal roof, cabinetry, flooring, etc.). The purchaser will be responsible for removing what they buy.

Summer Projects
The Board approved the bid from WTI, a subsidiary of Tremco, in the amount of $1,019,952 to complete the roof replacement projects at the Intermediate School and High School, tuckpointing at Tiger Stadium and at the Early Childhood Center, and HVAC replacements at the Elementary lower cafeteria and the High School cafeteria. These projects are part of the annual rotation and upkeep of current facilities. This long range rotational facilities plan was developed to manage and maintain facilities and lessen the chances of many replacements all at once.