Budget discussions will commence on Monday, July 22, at the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education meeting. Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy said the board is reviewing where they can move forward on some of the former bond issue projects from the 2023-24 failed attempt.

“We have got a list of things together and then we’ll have a discussion on what projects we want to focus on,” Hardy said on July 16. “We have some bids out, but nothing is finalized yet.”

The capital improvement updates the board is reviewing are brick-and-mortar projects.

“We are looking at making improvements around the district in the coming year,” Hardy said. “We are getting bids on the Gerald Elementary School (GES) teachers’ lounge. We are going to update the bathroom in the teachers’ lounge, too. The bathroom currently opens into the teachers’ lounge at the table. We are going to open it up from the hallway.”

Moving the entrance will also allow the closet-sized restroom to be expanded.

“The way it will have to come out will be more elongated from the hallway,” Hardy said. “I don’t know if we will be able to put two stalls in there because of how narrow that is. We will be able to have an updated sink hopefully.”

The GES facility will also realize improvements from summer projects.

“We are in the process of putting the basketball court in at GES and they are doing a lot of asphalt improvement, brick sealing and tuck pointing at this time,” Hardy said. “We are going to be putting in the double entry door at GES and all the security cameras for the upcoming year, most are installed now, but we are looking at finishing up this summer. Those installed are all working now. It’s nice to have the clear, non-pixelated pictures.”

She added that the majority of the cameras to be replaced around the district campuses are installed.

The district also approved pay increases for the teachers.

“We went ahead and increased the baseline teacher salary to $40,000, but also adjusted the entire salary schedule for everyone, not just new teachers. That includes staff and classified staff,” Hardy said.

She emphasized that district improvements have specific goals.

“It’s about student learning and improving things for the students in the district,” Hardy said. “Not only for the students, but making things better for the staff. We want to make sure that the employees have a place to come every day for work and that students have a place that is a safe environment for learning.”

The board will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 22, at the Administrative Building, This a new starting time for the R-2 Board of Education directors to begin their meeting.