The Fort Zumwalt School District Board of Education meeting information is available through Simbli by eBOARDsolutions.
Notes from the Board Meeting
Members of the Continuous School Improvement Plan steering committee and action teams presented the revised CSIP to the Board of Education at the July meeting. The new plan folds the five priorities from the 2023-2026 plan into three focus areas, with an emphasis on the foundational practices that were refined over the past three years. Those foundational practices are: Community Connections, Physical Safety and Strong Financial Stewardship. In reviewing Fort Zumwalt’s progress on its goal areas for the past three years, the steering committee determined the work could better align with the Leader In Me language used in our schools each day. The Board approved the revised CSIP, which will guide the district’s work through the 2028-2029 school year, under the focus areas of Academics, Culture and Leadership. Bookmark go.FZSD.us/CSIP, where the district will share its plan, as well as quarterly updates on progress toward its goals. The plan will now be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for state approval.
In June, the Board heard from RSP and Associates, who provided an overview of a demographic study. The data helps Fort Zumwalt project enrollment over the next five years. In July, Cordogan Clark, Architects, Engineers and Construction, presented a Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) that detailed the cost of needed repairs at each building in relation to the cost of replacing the structure. The assessment put total needs over the next 10 years at $182 million. Paired with the demographic study, the needs assessment provides information to help district leadership and the Board of Education prioritize capital improvements for a 10-year capital improvements plan.
The Board voted to place Proposition 1, a $90-million, no-tax-levy-increase bond issue on the November 3 ballot. It is unusual timing for Fort Zumwalt. However, a new law just signed by Gov. Kehoe, changes elections for school districts in St. Charles County. Under the new law, county school districts may only take issues to voters in the November election of even-numbered years. If the district did not act now, the next opportunity to put an issue on the ballot would be November, 2028. Previously, St. Charles County School districts operated under the same election law as other school districts in Missouri, with the ability to put an issue on the April, August or November ballot in any year. Passage of Proposition 1 will require 57% approval and would be permission from voters for Fort Zumwalt to borrow up to $90 million through the sale of general obligation bonds. This money can only be used for capital improvements. Passage will not increase the debt service levy, which is the tax rate dedicated to repayment of such loans. Projections are that it will not increase the length of the district’s indebtedness. More information on FZ Prop 1 will be on our website soon.
Work continues on summer maintenance and construction projects. The Board approved bids to construct a storm shelter at Westhoff Elementary. Construction will begin shortly and is expected to be completed next summer. The addition will contain four additional classrooms, a conference room and a collaboration space. During a weather event it will provide safe space for the entire school population.
In his monthly budget update, Chief Financial Officer Brian Whittle shared changes to the district’s practice of leasing items such as computers or buses, rather than purchasing them outright. Over the past year, the district has paid off computer leases early and purchased seven buses, saving tens of thousands in interest payments. The savings have been designated for the capital improvement fund, strengthening a safety net should there be an unexpected expenditure to maintain one of our schools. This safety net would allow the district to respond quickly to a need without having to dip into operating funds, which are designated for the day-to-day operations of the district. July Budget Summary