This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the September 28, 2015 Business 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
Bob Westerholt
Social Studies Teacher, Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Superintendent Remarks
- Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke congratulated Bob Westerholt on receiving the Excellence in Education Award, noting how often she hears from students how much they like his AP Psychology class.
- Last week was Homecoming week and full of a lot of excitement and activity. The high school celebrated “Spirit Week” all week, culminating in a great pep rally. Saturday began with the Ladue Education Foundation “‘Due Run 4 Education,” followed by the parade at noon, a big football win over Clayton High School, and the homecoming dance.
- Dr. Jahnke attended the St. Louis American Awards Event on Friday, September 25, 2015, where Ladue Middle School Associate Principal Dr. Tiffany Taylor-Johnson received the prestigious 2015 Excellence in Education Award from the St. Louis American Foundation.
- This week, Dr. Jahnke and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Jennifer Allen will be headed to Sixth Grade Camp at Camp Mihaska in Bourbon, MO. Many thanks to Mark Biernbaum, and many other staff members and high school students, for their coordination and participation of this annual excursion which allows sixth graders the opportunity to explore interests and enjoy team building activities.
- The second of two Community Forums is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30. These meetings provide district residents with the opportunity to hear more about the potential high school renovation and take a tour of the building.
- Next week, October 5 - 9, the high school will be open from 6 - 8 p.m. every evening for the community to tour the building which takes approximately 20 minutes.
ACTION ITEM
Approval of 2015-2016 Operating Budget Tax Levy. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for setting the operating tax levy for the 2015-16 school year. Preliminary data from St. Louis County indicates an increase in property assessments of approximately 5.5%. However, due to the Hancock Amendment, the district is limited to increasing the total amount of tax collected by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous year. The CPI in 2014 was .8%. Therefore, the operating tax levy will be reduced from the 2014 rate ($3.31 single rate method) to the rate in each sub-class of property as follows: $3.1438 (residential), $3.2409 (commercial), $3.75 (agricultural) and $3.24 (personal).
This levy would equate to $3.1675 if St. Louis County used a single rate method. However, in 2003, legislation was passed requiring separate ceilings to be set so that one category of property is not penalized as a result of rising property values in other categories.
Approval of 2015-2016 Debt Service Levy. Dr. Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for setting the debt service levy for the 2015-16 school year. The ceiling for the district’s debt service levy, as calculated by St. Louis County, is $.76. However, the district’s practice for approximately the last ten years has been to set the levy in order to raise sufficient revenue to manage principal and interest payments, but no more. The recommendation this year was to continue that practice and maintain the debt service levy for 2015-16 at the current rate of $.39.
The district currently has approximately $70 million in outstanding debt from prior bond referendums approved by the district’s voting community. This equates to approximately 31% of the district’s legally allowed debt margin of approximately $225 million.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Transportation. Dr. Buckner provided a summary of the 2015-16 bus routes and mileage. The district currently runs 22 bus routes, with daily mileage totaling just over 1,900 miles. The Board is required to approve bus routes on an annual basis and this item will come back to the Board for approval on October 26, 2015.
Communications Report. Director of Communications Susan Downing updated the Board on initiatives completed by the Communication Department over the past year, as well as areas of focus for the 2015-16 school year which include: supporting the high school renovation initiative, converting all websites to content management systems responsive to all devices, developing structures to support the Ladue Alumni Association, adopting and implementing a mobile app (ParentLink), and converting mass email systems to a new provider (MarketVolt).
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Work Session on October 13, 2015. The following meeting will be a Business Meeting at 7 p.m. on October 26, 2015. Both meetings will be held at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road. Tentative agenda items include the following.
Tentative Agenda Items for Work Session October 13, 2015:
INFORMATION
- MAP Data and Report
- Update on Master Facilities Plan Phase I
- Survey Development Update
- Principals Share School Improvements
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting October 26, 2015:
- National Merit Recognized Students
ACTION
- 2015-2016 Bus Routes/Mileage
- SSD Reimbursement of ECSE Costs
INFORMATION
- LEF and Alumnae Report
- Enrollment and Residency Report
- Update on Master Facilities Plan Phase I
- Board Policy Changes
