Superintendent’s Corner

Our district has faced a lot of negative press this past week.  First off, the financial status and stress the district is facing was announced to the district personnel.  I understand that rumors have begun to surface, so I invite you to a meeting with the Board of Education on Wednesday (1/11/12) at 7PM in the cafeteria.  This meeting will be mainly an informational meeting with an explanation of where we stand and an initial discussion on budget cuts.  The meeting will include a discussion about increasing the tax levy and the amount needed to cover our funding shortfalls.  The final decision on the levy increase amount to be placed on the April ballot will be made the following Wednesday (1/18/12) at the Board of Education’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting.

We would like to invite everyone to the first of several open meetings the district will hold to discuss and prioritize the areas for possible cuts.  Please attend – get the information first hand and have an opportunity to get your concerns and questions voiced.  I would also like to dispel any rumor that the school district is closing.  This is not the case.  The district is facing some serious financial decisions to be made, but we are not in jeopardy of being closed.  In fact, we currently sit with a fairly good reserve fund balance.  The concern is the deficit spending that has been occurring.  The district is aware of this now and we have time to correct that problem.  The district will continue to strive for providing the best education possible and get our expenditures in line with our revenues.

As if the financial concerns weren’t enough bad news, information was released about one of our bus drivers being accused of sexual misconduct with a student.  This is an unthinkable and unacceptable crime for anyone to imagine ever happening “to us.”  Unfortunately, tragedies of this nature do sometimes occur.  I want everyone to understand that the school district did “everything right” with regards to this employee.  A Missouri Highway Patrol background check was obtained prior to employment.  The district provides all employees, bus drivers included, with annual training regarding sexual misconduct, warning signs, reporting procedures, and personal responsibility regarding these items.  Additionally, the district also supplies cameras on all of our busses to assist in handling misconduct of any nature on the bus.  In fact, we have at least two cameras on each bus to record from the front and from the back.

We have fully cooperated and are still cooperating with the authorities in the continuing investigation.  I have attempted to send letters to all parents and guardians of students who may have ridden the bus in question during this past school year or during the current school year.  This letter requests that parents speak to their children and report any concerns to me as soon as possible.

I am sincerely sorry that any child would ever have to endure a tragedy of this magnitude.  The public can be reassured that the district will continue to examine our procedures and policies with regards to this despicable situation to help ensure that we never drudge down this loathsome path again.  Though, I do want to be clear that the district does attempt to take every precaution to ensure that something like this does not occur.  Our students’ welfare and well-being are our utmost priorities!

Have a wonderful week!

John French

Superintendent of Schools