Board Briefs from December 8, 2014 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of action taken and information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the December 8, 2014, meeting.  This is an unofficial record. Official minutes of each Board meeting are posted on the district website and are available for viewing at the Administrative Center after the Board approves them, typically two weeks after the meeting.

Excellence in Education Award

Dee Ayres

Preschool Teacher, Ladue Early Childhood Center

Board President's Remarks

• Board President Jeff Kopolow announced that filing will begin on December 16, 2014 for anyone interested in running for a position on the Board of Education.  Interested persons may file at the Superintendent's Office located at the Administrative Center (9703 Conway Rd., St. Louis, MO 63124.)  Filing ends on Tuesday, January 20, 2015. Two positions are available with three-year terms.  Get more information.

Superintendent's Remarks

• Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke announced that the district's psychologist, Maggie Travers, was recently honored as the St. Louis Suburban Counselor Advocate of the Year.  She was presented with her award by Old Bonhomme Elementary School Counselor Hayley Arnold.
• Dr. Jahnke also offered her congratulations to the LHWHS Boys Varsity Soccer team on their outstanding season. The team finished fifth in the state.  Senior Michael Wielansky was the district's first player to be voted to the All-State First Team.  Junior Chris Naunheim was named to the All-State Second Team and Junior David Maffly-Kipp was named All-State Honorable Mention.  Dave Aronberg coaches the team and is also a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Ladue Middle School.

ACTION ITEMS

2015-16 High School Course Change Proposals. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Laura Brock presented, and the Board approved, the proposed high school course changes for the 2015-16 school year.  Included were course changes recommended by the teaching staff for the addition of five courses, the deletion of three courses, as well as recommendations for changing three course names.  Details can be found by clicking the heading of this paragraph.  

High School Facility Renovation Project: Construction Planning Team. Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the appointment of the following companies to assist the district in the development of plans for a potential high school renovation project.  These firms were selected based on input from Facilities and Finance Board Advisory Committee members, past district experience, reference checks, proposal evaluation, cost and familiarity with the district and its community.  

• Construction Management Firm: S.M. Wilson 
• Architectural Services: Bond Architects and Hastings & Chivetta (These two firms will contribute separately and differently to various components and phases of the project.)
• Financial Advisor: Sentry Financial

2014-15 Revised Budget. Dr. Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the 2014-15 Revised Budget.  A Preliminary Budget was approved by the Board on June 23, 2014.  Each year, the annual budget is adjusted and revised based on the availability of more accurate revenue and expense data than is available in the summer before the school year begins.  The revised operating budget totals approximately $56.7 million and remains well within the 2% increase per budget year parameter set by the Board in 2012.

Health Insurance Carriers. Dr. Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the administration's recommendations for employee health insurance carriers for the 2015-16 school year.  The district's medical and dental insurance programs are self-funded and implementation of new programs within recent years have significantly reduced the district's expenditures for these programs.  Therefore, extensions with existing carriers were negotiated, with slight increases in dental premiums anticipated.  Medical premiums are still under consideration based on claims experience.

Early Separation Incentive Program. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented, and the Board approved, an Early Separation Incentive Plan (ESIP).  The plan, in accordance with Board policy GCPCA, will provide compensation in the amount of $40,000 for certified staff members and $30,000 for non-certified staff members who are eligible for retirement according to the state's retirement system and choose to leave the district's employment at the end of the 2014-15 school year.  It is not anticipated another ESIP will be recommended for consideration by the Board prior to the 2018-19 school year.  

INFORMATION ITEMS

Meet and Confer Certified Compensation Committee Report.  Mr. Rossics and Ladue Educator Association Meet & Confer Director Melora Pruneau outlined the details of the Certified Compensation Committee's recommendations for revising the compensation structure for the district's certified staff.   The primary goals of the plan are to rectify salary inconsistencies that have developed over the years and to put in place a process capable of maintaining a fair and equitable system going forward.  Official adoption of the plan will take place as part of the Meet & Confer discussions in the spring.  Between now and then, staff will have the opportunity to learn more about the plan and have questions answered, as the implementation details are finalized. 

Second Semester Board Agenda Calendar.  Dr. Jahnke outlined the tentative Board calendar for the second semester which includes the major topics anticipated for all Board of Education meetings through the end of the 2015-16 school year.  The calendar will be adjusted based on the progress of initiatives being addressed and as new topics arise.

District Roof Work Bids.  Dr. Buckner informed the Board that the roofs of five of the district's buildings are at, or past, their serviceable life expectancy.  The administration will be presenting the lowest qualified bid(s) for these projects to the Board for approval on January 25, 2015.  

FUTURE MEETINGS

Tentative Agenda Items for Work Session January 14, 2015

• Update on Master Plan Phase I Discussion
• Strategic Plan

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting January 26, 2015

• School Board Recognition Week
• Announcement of School Board Candidates

ACTION

• Annual Renewal of Agreement to Participate in PEGS
• Five-Year Financial Plan
• Strategic Plan
• Bids for Roof Work

INFORMATION

• 2015 District Summer School Programs
• Draft of 2015 Legislative Positions

The next meeting of the Board will be a Work Session at  6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.

Board Briefs from November 24, 2014 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of action taken and information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the November 24, 2014, meeting.  This is an unofficial record. Official minutes of each Board meeting are posted on the district website and are available for viewing at the Administrative Center after the Board approves them, typically two weeks after the meeting.

Excellence in Education Award

Susan Davis

Librarian, Spoede Elementary School 

Board President's Remarks

• Board President Jeff Kopolow introduced Debbie Kersting, Executive Director of the Gateway Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, who was at the meeting to acknowledge the outstanding fundraising efforts of the high school, middle school and Conway Elementary School.  Together, these schools raised a total of $3,203.84 for the society over the last year.  

Superintendent's Remarks

• Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke wished everyone a very happy, restful and peaceful Thanksgiving.

ACTION ITEMS

Acceptance of Auditor's Report.  The Board approved the Fiscal Year 2014 Audit.  Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner introduced a representative of Daniel Jones & Associates, who presented the district’s annual Independent Auditor’s Report which states all financial statements reviewed, in all material respects, fairly represent the respective financial activities, and each major fund, of the district, as of June 30, 2014.   The district received an “unqualified opinion,” the highest opinion a district can receive, and remains one of the few public school districts in Missouri, and one of less than a hundred in the nation, to hold a stand-alone AAA rating from Standard and Poor's.  

INFORMATION ITEMS

2015-16 High School Course Change Proposals.  Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Laura Brock introduced Ladue Horton Watkins High School Principal Brad Griffith, who provided an overview of proposed high school course changes for the 2015-16 school year.  Included were course changes recommended by the teaching staff to be added and deleted, as well as recommendations for changing course names.  Details can be found by clicking the heading of this paragraph.  These changes will be voted upon by the Board at the December 8, 2014, Business Meeting.  

2015-16 LECC Tuition and BASK/TAS Rates.  Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics and Director of Early Childhood Kerri Wetzel presented information regarding the Ladue Early Childhood Center.  Rate changes are not being recommended for the 2015-16 school year.  The administration plans to do a complete review of the center's revenue and expense information over the coming year before recommending any rate changes.  

2014-15 Revised Budget.   The Board of Education approved the 2014-15 Preliminary Budget on June 23, 2014.  Each year, the annual budget is adjusted and revised based on the availability of more accurate revenue and expense data than is available in the summer before the school year begins.  Dr. Buckner presented the revised budget which the Board will approve at the December 8, 2014, Business Meeting.  The revised operating budget totals approximately $56.7 million and remains well within the 2% increase per budget year parameter set by the Board in 2012.

Health Insurance Carriers.  As a result of significant alterations made to the district's employee insurance programs in the past, and the resulting positive insurance account financials, Dr. Buckner indicated the administration will be asking for the Board's approval to pursue extensions with existing carriers at the December 8, 2014, Business Meeting.  Dr. Buckner also indicated the administration will be recommending an increase in dental premiums for the 2015-16 school year, although an exact percentage increase amount is not currently known.   

Early Separation Incentive Program.  Mr. Rossics outlined the Early Separation Incentive Plan (ESIP) the administration will be asking the Board to approve at the December 8, 2014, Business Meeting.  The plan, in accordance with Board policy GCPCA, provides compensation for those staff members (certified and non-certified) who are eligible for retirement according to the state's retirement system and choose to leave the district's employment at the end of the 2014-15 school year.  It is not anticipated that another ESIP will be recommended for consideration by the Board prior to the 2018-19 school year.  

High School Facility Renovation Project:  Construction Planning Team.  Dr. Buckner reviewed the Finance and Facilities Board Advisory Committees' work to date for selecting a Construction Management Agency and an Architect to assist the district in developing plans for a potential renovation of the high school.  At the time of the meeting, the field had been narrowed to two Construction Management Agencies and five Architectural firms.  (Details are available through the heading above.)  The administration anticipates bringing forth a recommendation to the Board for both serves at the December 8, 2014, Business Meeting.  

FUTURE MEETINGS

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting on December 8, 2014

ACTION

• High School Facility Renovation Project: Construction Planning Team
• Financial Advisor
• Construction Management Agency
• Architect
• 2015-16 High School Course Change Proposals
• 2014-15 Revised Budget
• Health Insurance Carriers
• Early Separation Incentive Program

INFORMATION

• Second Semester Board Agenda Calendar (January-August)

The next meeting of the Board will be a Business Meeting  at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2014. The meeting will take place at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.