Navigate presents bond-project progress and security upgrade options to St. Louis City meeting

Amy Miller, a representative of Navigate, updated meeting attendees on progress under the district bond program and outlined potential security upgrades for school buildings.

Miller said the bond work is advancing “in spring of ’25,” listing roofing, tuckpointing, window installation and exterior-door replacement among tasks now in progress. She said several restrooms have been renovated and new playgrounds were installed at some schools, and showed before-and-after photos for Nottingham, Sumner and other sites. “There’s a wide range of services that they’re able to provide for the district,” Miller said of a proposed security firm, adding the district will choose which options to pursue.

The presentation moved into potential security measures after Miller described a procurement step taken last June: the district issued an IDIQ RFQ for architectural services to create a preapproved list of architects and design teams the district can draw on for work under the bond. From that list, the district invited a team identified in the presentation as Gemma, in partnership with a contractor called Faith Group, to present security options; Miller said the district expects to receive Gemma’s formal proposal next month. If approved, Miller said, Gemma and its partners would develop designs and scope documents that could be incorporated into an RFP for contracting.

Miller outlined options presented by the vendor that range from incremental to more complex: card-access systems and visitor-management kiosks that scan driver’s licenses; expanded video surveillance; door alarms and delayed-egress treatments; hands-free screening systems; thermal imaging; biometric systems; and a shot-detection system similar to one used by the St. Louis City Police Department. On shot detection, Miller said sensors would notify first responders and district contacts and could help pinpoint an active threat on campus.

Board members asked several operational questions during the presentation. Miss Jones, a board member, asked whether the signage shown in renderings would be installed across other buildings or was project-specific. Miller replied the signage shown was specific to the projects in the presentation and that district-wide signage remains an unresolved scope that the district is discussing with Chief Watson and his team. When Jones asked whether landscaping and site work would be included beyond the high schools shown, Miller said landscaping would be added for the projects shown because site work was part of those contracts.

A board member asked whether any schools currently use shot-detection sensors; Miller said she did not believe any location in the district had those sensors and noted that while many buildings already have camera systems, some advanced analytics shown in the presentation were not currently in use. A separate question about restroom upgrades asked whether vape sensors had been included; Miller answered no.

Miller also said that high-school cafeterias have received new furniture at multiple campuses — with benches, tables, school logos and charging stations at some sites — and offered to follow up with seating counts and photos for Gateway STEM and other locations.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve the 03/10/2025 real estate meeting minutes: moved and seconded (mover/second not specified in the record). Roll call recorded as yes from Miss Henry, Miss Johnson, Mister Watson, Doctor Borschach, Miss Jones and Miss Hubbard. Outcome: approved.

- Motion to adjourn into closed session: moved and seconded (mover/second not specified in the record). Roll call recorded as yes from Miss Henry, Miss Johnson, Mister Watson, Doctor Borschach, Miss Jones and Miss Hubbard. Outcome: approved; meeting adjourned to closed session.

The vendor selection and specific security measures remain at the design- and proposal-review stage, Miller said; the district must approve Gemma’s forthcoming proposal and decide which schools and scopes will be funded before work would move to contractor bidding and construction. Miller closed by asking whether attendees had further questions; members followed with the items summarized above.