Altenburg District #48 board approves budget, adopts Second Step curriculum and accepts preschool grant

Altenburg District #48 Board of Education met July 11, 2024, in the Art/Music room and approved a series of routine and programmatic actions including adoption of the district's final 2023–24 budget and the purchase of a social-emotional learning curriculum.

The meeting opened at 6:30 p.m. with members Richard Sachs, Brittany Hecht, Lindsay Palisch, Jessica Hecht, Andrew Lichtenegger and Cary Roth present. The board accepted the agenda as amended (motion by Richard Sachs; second by Lindsay Palisch). The board approved multiple sets of minutes from June and approved the July bills; the July-bills vote was recorded as 5-0 with Richard Sachs listed as abstaining.

Superintendent Debbie Haertling announced that a representative from the Missouri Association of Rural Education (MARE) will be rescheduled for September because two board members will be absent in August. The board reviewed the treasurer's report and then voted, 6-0, to accept the final 2023–24 budget as presented (motion by Richard Sachs; second by Cary Roth).

Jennifer Eifert and Renea Schnurbusch presented the Second Step social-emotional learning curriculum. The board voted unanimously to purchase Second Step for a five-year period at a total cost of $1,875.00 (motion by Brittany Hecht; second by Cary Roth).

The board considered fuel bids and disclosed a member's conflict. Cary Roth presided during the fuel-bid discussion after taking over as president for that agenda item; board member Jessica Hecht did not participate in comments or the vote because Gas A Mat submitted a bid. The board accepted bids from River Hills Gas and Go and Gas A Mat with the operational rule that the first four fill-ups will be at Gas A Mat, then alternate per bus through May 2025. The board recorded that Ashley Steffens will maintain a spreadsheet to track purchases and receipts, which must be submitted the next business day. The fuel-bid motion passed with a 5-0 tally and Jessica Hecht abstaining (motion by Cary Roth; second by Andrew Lichtenegger).

The board selected Stanley, Dirnberger, Hooper & Associates, LLC as the auditor for the 2023–24 audit (motion by Cary Roth; second by Brittany Hecht; approved 6-0). On facilities maintenance, the board approved a $2,975 contract with Richardet to paint the school's fire escape (motion by Brittany Hecht; second by Lindsay Palisch; approved 6-0).

The board increased out-of-district tuition to $1,000 for the first child and $500 for a second or third child, with a family maximum of $2,000 per year (motion by Cary Roth; second by Lindsay Palisch; approved 6-0). The Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan for 2023–24 was approved unanimously (motion by Andrew Lichtenegger; second by Cary Roth; approved 6-0). Superintendent Haertling provided an update on ESSER III funds and said the Extended School Year (ESY) summer-school report will be provided at the August meeting.

Haertling also announced that the district received the Missouri Quality Prekindergarten Local Education Agency (MOQPK-LEA) grant to serve 13 students in 2024–25. The board approved an amended certified-staff salary schedule for 2024–25 (motion by Cary Roth; second by Richard Sachs; approved 6-0). The board also approved a revised non-certified salary schedule (motion by Cary Roth; second by Brittany Hecht); that motion passed with a 5-0 tally and Richard Sachs recorded as abstaining.

Before adjourning at 9:45 p.m., the board voted to enter closed session under Missouri statute 610.021(1) RSMo to discuss personnel matters; the closed-session motion was made by Andrew Lichtenegger and seconded by Cary Roth and carried on a roll-call vote recorded in the minutes.

Key next steps include scheduling the MARE visit for September, receipt of the ESY report at the August meeting, completion of the preschool program setup for 13 students in 2024–25, and administrative follow-up on fuel purchase tracking and DESE Special Education LEA communications.