The Fort Zumwalt School District Board of Education meeting information is available through Simbli by eBOARDsolutions.
Notes from the Board Meeting
Budget Update: The Board approved a $3 million transfer from the general fund to the capital projects fund, creating a dedicated source of funding for large, time-sensitive facilities needs, such as repairs after a storm, and to reduce costs the district currently incurs through vehicle leases. In his memo to the Board, Chief Financial Officer Brian Whittle outlined the three intended uses of the fund, in order of priority. It is important to note that this transfer effectively is possible due to the budget surplus that we had at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
Emergency and unexpected capital purchases. Systems and infrastructure sometimes need emergency repairs. This fund allows the district to respond to such situations quickly, without disrupting the operating budget, which pays for day-to-day expenses such as salaries and benefits, and without delaying needed repairs.
Purchasing vehicles at lease-end. Buying our current vehicles at the end of their lease terms eliminates interest and fees the district currently pays and generates real savings over time. In his memo, Whittle noted that the district will pay about $500,000 for vehicle leases this fiscal year (maintenance trucks, small vans for student transport, etc.). This plan would eliminate those lease payments by the end of Fiscal Year 2028. Projections show that annual vehicle costs will drop to about $200,000 most years after the leases end.
Bus purchases. If, at the end of the fiscal year money remains in the capital projects fund, Whittle recommended purchasing as many buses as possible. This would save the district on interest and fees and lower the long-term costs of maintaining the fleet. Current bus lease payments are about $2 million annually.
HR Update: March 25, Erin Williams, Chief HR Officer, sent an email to the 1,475 employees who needed updated background checks, with the goal being that all employees would be entered in the Missouri Highway Patrol’s “Rap Back” program by the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year. All employees hired since 2018 already were entered in this system, which notifies the district of an employee’s arrest. By April 24, almost half of the employees needing the update had completed the process! Within two months, we were two-thirds of the way there. At the August meeting, Williams updated the Board, and, as of this morning, only two full time employees are working to get appointments. Substitutes have been deactivated until they complete the process. “We appreciate the cooperation of our faculty and staff members in getting this new background check to ensure all staff members are in the newest Missouri system,” Superintendent Dr. Henry St. Pierre said. Thank you for your commitment to keeping our schools safe.
Construction Update: As the Construction Department wraps up projects for this summer, they are already planning to get the most out of Summer 2027. The Board approved moving forward with HVAC replacements at several schools next summer. The first step is the design of the systems. The second is to put the projects out to contractors for bids. In his memo to the Board, Dan Meyer, Director of Construction, Facilities and Renovations, noted the long lead times on HVAC equipment. With the Board’s approval of the design and scope of work, the District can go out to bid this fall for Summer 2027 HVAC projects at West High, DuBray, South Middle, Emge, Ostmann, Progress South and the Maintenance facility off of Hoff Road.
With the work scheduled for next summer, the district will have updated HVAC systems at a total of 20 schools, where most of the equipment was approaching 30 years old. The replacements reduce energy and maintenance costs and create a quieter, more comfortable classroom environment. The work is made possible by voter support of the 2022 bond issue.