The bond issue, now referred to as Proposition R, will be put on the ballot for taxpayers to vote on April 3.

$20,700 in administrative costs were cut out of the proposed bond issue. Also, in the “Health and Wellness Facility Improvements” category of the proposed bond, the Board decided to cut funds by creating the new nurses’ station at LaSalle Springs Middle School, but not restoring the vacated space.

The bond issue proposition divides this total budget into 20 categories based on the type of improvement or construction necessary.

Not every school receives benefits from each category. Lafayette will get updates inb eight of the groups.

Specifically, Principal John Shaughnessy said, “Lafayette will benefit from the bond issue package in the areas of technology infrastructure and the replacing of the main gymnasium floor.”

The bond issue would also provide Lafayette with updated fire sprinkler and fire code compliance, storm water overflow protection on the roof, field light pole replacement, energy saving initiatives and contingency.

“The money created by the passing of this bond issue will directly deal with the continued efforts of capital projects around our district as needed,” Shaughnessy said.

Shaughnessy stressed the importance of passing the bond issue, noting the down economy as a reason for the district being behind on improvements to schools.

He said, “The current financial strain that we are experiencing has put us behind on staying on top of needed improvements in many of our buildings, and the passing of this bond issue will allow the district to move forward with needed improvements.”

More information about the proposition can be found at: http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/propr/Pages/default.aspx.

The competition is meant to complement the musical, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Therefore, there are two options for the competition piece.

Moving with the tide of Lafayette’s focus on words, Option A entails making a quote, haiku, or saying look artsy within your one inch piece.

Option B only gives one word as a prompt: “Bees.”  It asks the artist to find out what bees means to them, and go from there.

However, both options are “Open to interpretation,” according to the entry information flyer.

There are only five requirements for the artwork.  It may be no larger than one square inch, the artwork must be put on a background of exactly three inches square (or cubed), artwork’s height, width and depth can be no bigger than one inch and all entries are due by Feb. 3.

The information to be included on the back of an entry piece includes name, grade, first hour teacher and citation for quotes.

Founder of the competition, Lauren Sakowski, a fine arts teacher, said she got the idea from wanting to hold a school-wide show, but not wanting to deal with the storage of large quantities and sizes of the entries.

She said, “It’s a fun challenge and really interesting to see how different people solve that creative problem.”

Some of the more interesting entries received in the past include a pheoniz rising from the ashes, a photo of someone trapped in a glass box and a frog made out of melted starbursts.

When judging the pieces, Sakowski said, “We are looking for creativity, craftsmanship and adherence to the one cubic inch requirements.”

The winning entries will be displayed in cases near the library throughout February.

West News Magazine’s third annual “Best of West” contest recognizes people, places and businesses that make west county a favorable place to live.

It was decided by those who voted on the official website.

Lafayette High School receivd not just one, but three Best of West titles for Best Boys High School Sports Team, Best Girl’ High School Sports Team and the Best High School.

Principal John Shaughnessy said, “I’m excited and proud” when hearing about Lafayette being named Best High School of 2011.

Best Boy’s High School Sports Team goes to Lafayette swimming with coach Todd Gabel and Vicki Palmer.

 Best Girl’s High School Sports Team went to Field Hockey led by Coach Kate O’Connell,  Mark McAllister and coach Melissa Lantz.

Field Hockey won 22 straight games this season to go on to the State Championships where they won first place and fifth place national ranking.

Coach O’Connell said being named best girls sports team is a great honor.

“I knew this team was different than any other team before because of the heart they showed.” O’Connell said about the team.

To give blood, one must sign up at the STUCO table in the Upper Commons during any lunch period.

It is required to be a minimum of 16 years old with parental consent to donate. If older than 16, no parental consent is necessary.

After signing up and completing the consent form if needed, students have to bring a photo ID on the day of the blood drive.

Sponsor of STUCO, David Choate has given blood every year.

Choate said, “Knowing that your blood is going to someone in need [feels] very rewarding.”

Senior Alicia Mestre had an interesting experience with giving blood last year, but still though it was worth it.

“I got over my fear of giant needles and I got out of class, but I don’t think my body was prepared for the loss of so much blood so I had to stay in the gym for three extra hours,” she said.

Overall, though, she said, “It was pretty good and I got a T-shirt and I know my blood type now, so I feel like if I die at least I’ll die a decent person.”

The blood goes to the American Red Cross.

The events of Curriculum Night will begin in the Lafayette Theater at 7:00 p.m. with a 30-minute presentation. After that, the parents and students are free to roam the Commons, Gym and Library to familiarize themselves with the building and have any questions and concerns answered.

 The leaders of every academic department will be located in the Commons, ready to answer questions. The teachers of these departments will be in the Gym taking questions as well. Counselors will be available in the Library, assisting with registration.

Participants will be able to search the displays and ask questions until 9 p.m.

“I like Curriculum Night because it’s a very relaxed atmosphere,” says Assistant Principal Mandy Lewis. “It gives the parents the opportunity to come in and ask the questions that they have.”

Even though Curriculum Night is geared toward parents of new and incoming students, anyone who has any questions and concerns regarding the curriculum are invited to come as well.

Donna Hagemeier, Guidance Department secretary, said the counselors will talk about scheduling with the students and hand them the paperwork that they are able to fill out on their own.

Guidance Counselor JoAnn Goehler said, “The assemblies will hold a larger group verses meeting with individuals.”

Similar to recent years, the counselors will go to each classroom after the assemblies take place and go over the advisement with the students again.

However, instead of counselors discussing all of the paperwork with the students in the classrooms, they will focus more on working on each student’s schedule and help the students through the process, making their visits more effective.

The freshman assembly will take place on Jan. 17, the sophomore assembly will be on Jan. 18 and the junior assembly will take place on Jan. 19. All assemblies will be during 5th Hour in the Theatre.

The doors open at 6 p.m. and the event will begin at 7 p.m.

Prices for the event are $20 per adult and $10 for LHS students and staff. Tickets may be purchased in the sophomore office or by visiting the Lafayette website under the Trivia Night announcement and printing off the form in the Lafayette newsletter.

There is a maximum of eight people allowed at each table. However, if a group does not have eight people, there is a spot to fill in on the form who you would like to be seated with. Trivia Night organizers will place these people together and then fill in the rest of the table.

“All the funds will be donated to support several activities for the Sophomore Class,” Assisant Principal Kirti Mehrotra explained.

There will also be games at the Trivia Night including Dead or Alive, Heads or Tails, and 50/50. A silent auction will be available for participants to bid on various prizes, as well as the chance to buy mulligan tickets which will be sold at the price of 10 for $20. Mulligan tickets give a group of players the choice to skip any trivia question that they are not sure of the answer without losing points.

Light snacks and drinks will be provided.

“I want a table this year,” junior Nikki Frazer shared, after explaining her last year experience of helping, instead of playing.

For further information, contact:
Teresa Jentilucci at (636) 537-9009, teresajentilucci@hotmail.com or
Mary Brieten at (636) 536-7940, mjbofct@aol.com

The RSD website states that the award “is bestowed upon individuals who show excellence of character, performance, leadership and service to the Rockwood School District.”

Anyone affiliated with the district is allowed and encouraged to nominate a staff member for the award, even stakeholders. These staff members can be teachers, counselors, Community Education members, administrators or support staff.

One person is allowed to nominate up to two Rockwood staff members. Filling out an application involves giving general information about the staff member, as well as writing a short explanation explaining why he or she deserves the award.

“We received more than 200 nominations last year,” David Downs, ROSE award program coordinator, said.

Downs continued to explain that from there, the staggering list is whittled down to just 15 recipients.

According to the ROSE award nomination form, “Honorees are chosen by a 17-member committe representing a cross-section of Rockwood citizens, community and staff.”

The formal presentation of the awards will take place on May 6 at the Doubletree Hotel St. Louis.

To nominate an outstanding Rockwood staff member for a ROSE award by Jan. 25, follow the link below:

http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/rose/Documents/Nomination%20Form%202012.pdf

For a list of past ROSE award recipients, follow the link below:

http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us/rose/Pages/PastRecipients.aspx

With approximately 1,100 eligible drivers at Lafayette, 400 students will be out of luck if they are trying to receive a parking space.

At the beginning of the year, students had the option of either buying a semester parking pass or a year long pass. Those who decided upon the $90 semester passes were forced to renew their passes for an additional $90, though there was no guarantee that they would be given the same spot.

Also, sophomore students who may have turned 16 years old and gotten their licenses place additional pressure upon spot availability.

As a result, after two days of selling passes during each lunch, 17 students have already been placed on the wait list.

Assistant Principal Matt Dieckhaus said it is not likely that many of the students on the wait list will be able to get a spot. The only way a student on the wait list will be able to receive a parking space is if another student refunds their money and gives up their space.

student refunds their money and gives up their space.

Sophomore Michael Kanan said, “I consider myself lucky to not be on the waiting list, especially since I was on there all last semester and never got a spot.”

Kanan was one of the first in line to get his parking pass for second semester, making sure he wouldn’t end up on the wait list once again.

In recent experience with parking spaces, only about 2-5 people on the wait list end up receiving a parking space. Therefore, the odds are not good for the remaining eligible drivers who have not purchased their space yet.

Junior Mallory Wesley commented that she did not like the way they were handling the selling of parking passes this semester.

She said, “I don’t like that when you renew your parking pass, you can’t just get your old [spot] back.”

The pass she had bought last semester was already sold when she got around to purchasing her second semester pass.

Though the meeting began like any other, with the Pledge of Allegiance and a few comments from Superintendent Bruce Borchers and some fellow board members on the District’s recent positive attributes, Smith immediately transitioned into his letter during the allocated commenting period.

He began, “Please accept this letter as my resignation from the presidency of the Rockwood School Board, effective immediately. I do intend to complete my term as an elected member of the board.”

Smith continued, “While I am honored and humbled to have been selected by my fellow board members as president, this position is not my priority. My priority is honoring the trust placed in me by our voters to serve our students, staff and community.”

Smith then cited an impending bond issue as a vital reason for his departure from the presidency, saying, “…the board appears to be reconsidering a decision on a potential 2012 bond issue. As you know, some people have expressed concerns about my being the board president while working for the company that has provided program management services for the district’s bond issue projects. Today, I remove that concern.”

“Our community has historically supported these bond issues,” Smith continued. ” It would be a disaster if some people’s opinions about my role as board president jeopardized this support.”

In the end, Smith explained in his letter that his “only motivation for serving on the board is to ensure the welfare of more than 22,000 students” and that it is for this reason that he is stepping down, seeing as the impending bond issue is in their best interests.

“This is a sad day for all of us on the board,” Strate said. “He [Smith] has been a very good president and we’re all very sad at his decision to step down.”

As for his rationale in the motion, Strate said, “It’s hard to really know if his presidency really would have affected voters [on the bond issue]. The Post-Dispatch just wrote so much about him. We [the board members] know it [Smith's relationship with Glenn Construction] wasn’t an issue, but it was obviously bothersome to enough people.”

And as for the future of the board, Strate said she believes the members will continue to move forward.

“The key is that we are all equal on the board. It is just the job of the president to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard,” she said.

Smith also said he is looking forward to the future.

“I look forward to working with my fellow board members to effectively govern this wonderful school district and to working with our superintendent.”