Natalie Yates placed 1st 3D & 14th in Bullseye at State Archery Competition. Chase Buechting scored a personal best.
Theater Department held four performances of The Music Man last weekend.
Addison Smith is the Festus High School Rotary Student of the Month
Josie Hensley was the Elks Lodge 1721 February Student of the Month. Kane Seitz is the March Student of the Month.
FMS Yearbook staff received a special recognition from Walsworth, their yearbook publisher.
The Middle School held its annual Play Unified Track meet this week
Madison White is the 8th grade Tournament of American History winner.
8th grade quiz bowl team finished 1st in the county competition. 7th grade was 4th. The Middle School math team placed 2nd in the Jefferson County Math Competition.
3 Intermediate School students placed 1st, 2nd & 3rd in the Optimist Club's Visual Arts competition.
Festus Elementary and Intermediate School students collected 317 teddy bears and stuffed animals to raise awareness about childhood cancers.
The elementary school and early childhood center celebrated Down Syndrome Awareness Day last week.
Elementary food service employee Chelsi Stubblefield came to the rescue of a 1st grader who was choking in the cafeteria.
Festus High School Student Council delivered a "thank you" message to the board for School Board Appreciation Month.
Audri Sauer presented the board members with a small gift from the Festus High School Student Council to show their appreciation for their work.
Superintendent Dr. Nicki Ruess followed up with some words of appreciation for the board:
"In every strong community, there is a foundation that holds everything together, one that often goes unseen, yet impacts every child, every family, and the future of the community itself. In Festus, that foundation is our schools, and behind the strength of our schools is a dedicated group of individuals who serve with purpose, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to doing what is best for students… our Board of Education.
Our partnership with the City of Festus continues to strengthen our community as a place where families want to live, learn, and grow. That success does not happen by chance. It is the result of thoughtful leadership, difficult decisions, and a shared vision for excellence—led by our school board members.
Among them is President Wendel, our local Chief of Police, who has served the Festus School District for 14 years. His steady leadership, commitment to students and staff, and ability to lead with both strength and care have been instrumental in guiding our district forward. His presence at the table ensures decisions are grounded in both safety and student success.
Mr. Wolk, now in his 17th year of service and serving as Vice President, continues to bring a sharp, analytical mindset to board discussions. His willingness to ask the hard questions and dig deeper into complex issues has strengthened our district’s ability to make informed decisions that positively impact student achievement, staff support, and facility growth.
Mr. Abrams, serving his 18th year, brings invaluable institutional knowledge and a deep love for the Festus community. His experience, particularly in construction and facilities, continues to guide the district through complex projects and long-range planning with confidence and clarity.
Mrs. Berezowski, in her 8th year of service, brings the voice of an educator to the board table. Her passion for students and understanding of instructional needs ensure that decisions remain grounded in what matters most—supporting both students and the professionals who serve them every day.
Mr. Martin, currently serving as treasurer in his 4th year, exemplifies thoughtful and intentional leadership. His careful approach to financial stewardship ensures that district resources are managed responsibly while always keeping student impact at the forefront. His quiet, steady presence brings balance and clarity to decision-making.
Mr. Kinder, now completing his first full year of service, has quickly demonstrated what it means to lead with purpose. His willingness to ask questions, seek understanding, and invest the time necessary to make informed decisions reflects a strong commitment to our students, staff, and community.
Mr. Wilkey, also in his first full year of service, has brought a thoughtful and community-centered perspective to the board. He approaches his role with a willingness to listen, learn, and contribute in meaningful ways.
Together, this team represents a powerful combination of experience, perspective, and dedication. Their work extends far beyond meetings and agendas. They are responsible for setting direction, ensuring accountability, and making decisions that shape not only our schools, but the future of our entire community.
Their leadership has not wavered, even in the face of challenges. From navigating complex issues to supporting continued growth and innovation, they remain focused on maintaining high expectations and ensuring that every student has access to meaningful opportunities. They understand that excellence is not accidental—it is intentional.
Because of their service, Festus continues to thrive. Our schools remain a source of pride, our students are prepared for the future, and our community stands united in its commitment to education.
School board members are often the unseen leaders—the ones who quietly carry the responsibility of ensuring everything moves forward. Their impact is lasting, and their service is invaluable.
To each of our board members, thank you for your leadership, your time, and your unwavering commitment to the Festus R-VI School District. We are stronger, better, and truly Powered by Purpose because of you. I am honored to serve alongside you."
Spring activities are underway. The baseball team is 3-0. The soccer team is 3-0 and just won the Festus tournament. Track & field, golf and tennis are underway.
The annual retirement dinner is Sunday, April 26.
State assessments begin in a few weeks. Tests will be taking place from April 13-May 15.
The Festus High School and Middle School student councils received awards at the state convention in Branson last weekend. The high school council received the Honor Council Gold Award. Just 81 councils in the state received the award. They also got the Special Olympics School of Character Award. Elsa Muellersman and Emme Coplin received Distinguished Leader awards. Joe Fehlker received Southeast District Middle School Advisory of the Year. Jennifer Kline is the Southeast District High School Advisor of the Year. Dr. Karl Shininger is the Southeast District Administrator of the Year.
Dr. Ruess recently had a 2 hour meeting with the state representative from St. Francois County (our area of Jefferson County is currently not represented in the Missouri House of Representatives). The meeting was productive. The representative was open and asked a lot of questions. The General Assembly is in session until May 15.
It has been a successful year. We began the year with 8 and are ending with 6. Two participants missed the last couple of sessions for maternity leave. They will pick those up next year.
There was representation from every attendance center except the intermediate school.
Everyone said they enjoyed having time to observe their mentors in the classroom.
Some sessions included going through some "real life" scenarios, such as what does a teacher do if they are approached by a parent in public to discuss school related items.
They appreciate getting the periodic "check-ins" from District administration.
Participants asked for more classroom management material.
All asked for more chances to observe experienced teachers in the classroom.
Festus Early College Academy
High School Principal Dr. Karl Shininger and Counselor Angie Macy detailed the new "Early College Academy." This program gives students options to receive college credit. The District currently offers a large number of Dual Credit and AP classes for students. The new program offers three pathways for college credit.
1) A la carte - this is currently what students do. Students can pick and choose which classes they want to take and which classes fit into their schedule and future college or career pathway.
2) Core 42 - This involves a state mandated block of general education courses that are guaranteed to transfer to any Missouri public institution.
3) Associates Degree - This involves credit hours over two years. At the end, the student graduates with a high school diploma and an Associate's degree. This is the most rigorous.
There is a cost of $72-$75 per credit hour. 19 high school sophomores applied. 16 were accepted. 12 chose the Core 42 pathway, 4 chose the Associates degree.
ATS Program Review
Festus participates in 13 programs at Jefferson College. There has been a significant increase in Festus student enrollment in recent years. Festus students represent 30% of the students in the health services program. 100% of the Festus Class of 2025 ATS students had positive placement on the follow-up graduate survey.
Student Services Review
The Student Services annual report was submitted for review.
Prior & New Business
Health Insurance Report
The board approved a negotiated 2-year agreement with Guardian for dental insurance. There will be a 6% increase next year. This is about $36/employee (less than $16,000 total). There will be no increase in the 2nd year of the agreement.
Facilities Report
Playground Alterations
Submitted for review some changes to the new playground layouts at the Intermediate School. No action was required.
Bid Package 2: Gymnasium
Solicited bids from 127 contractors for several different scopes of work for the gym project. This included concrete, electrical, plumbing, etc. 78 pulled the plans, and there were 57 bidders for 19 scopes of work. Approved a package for $22,802,002. This included alternates for current locker room renovations, the referee green room, Tiger logos, and the DAS system.
Bid Package 3: PEMB Fieldhouse
This is for the shell only of the indoor practice facility. This is a smaller more specific project. 12 contractors were solicited, 3 pulled the plans, but there was only 1 bidder. Brockmiller Construction was approved for $1,476,830.
New Boys Cross Country Coach
In the closed portion of the meeting, the board approved Wes Armbruster to take over the head coaching position for the boys cross country team. Armbruster has been the head coach for the girls team for the past three years, leading the girls to a state championship in November. Armbruster will now lead both programs. He is replacing Bryant Wright who is retiring after coaching the Tigers cross country teams for 24 years.
