Monday, September 19, 2016

Board Briefs from September 13, 2016 Work Session

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Sept. 13, 2016 Work Session.  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.


Board President Remarks
  • Board President Sheri Glantz shared that she had recently attended a meeting of the Special School District (SSD) Governing Council Meeting where district profiles were provided to each district outlining which services were currently being provided by SSD.

Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke provided a brief update on the high school renovation project.  All facets of the construction project are progressing as planned and any challenges with managing education in a building under construction are being handled well by high school administrators. A canopy between the main building and the temporary classroom building is being installed on Sept. 24.   In a few classrooms, materials being considered for use are being piloted to test appropriateness and durability.
  • There was an article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch about the assistance the district is providing at Washington Elementary School in the Normandy School District.  Principal of Old Bonhomme Elementary School Cheryl Kirchgessner is quoted in the article.
  • Sixth-Grade Camp is underway this week.  All sixth-grade students attend for two and half days and have many opportunities for team building and outdoor learning.  Dr. Jahnke looks forward to attending for a portion of the activities.  
REPORTS
Discussion of Spending Parameters.   Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner reviewed the recent history of the district’s operating budget.  After the passing of an operating tax increase in 2012 (Proposition 1), the Board put a 2% expenditure increase parameter in place with the intention of allowing the district to remain above the 15% minimum fund balance parameter set by the Board in 2010.  (“Fund balance percentage” is the amount of operating fund balance remaining at the end of the fiscal year divided by a district’s total operating expenditures for that year.)  

The Board is currently considering a proposal to extend budget parameters through the 2020-21 school year that will require expenditure increases per year to average no more than 2% over the next five years.  Given the assumptions used to project various factors, including anticipated increases in assessments and the Consumer Price Index, this budget parameter is anticipated to extend the need for consideration of an operating tax increase request to at least 2024.  

Discussion of Policy JECA.  Mrs. Glantz led the Board in a discussion regarding the possible revision of the portion of the district’s Policy JECA that allows future residents who are in the process of building or purchasing a home to enroll their child(ren) as tuition students.  Consideration is being given to expanding this option to those who intend to lease a residence in the district.  The Board directed administration to bring the recommendation for this change in the policy to the district’s Board of Education Policy Committee for revision of the policy language.  This revision is anticipated to be voted on at the Sept. 26, 2016 Board of Education meeting.  

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2016, at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road, 63124.  Tentative agenda items include the following.

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting Sept. 26, 2016:

ACTION
  • Tax Rate and Debt Service Levy for 2016-17 Hearing and Approval
  • Employee Separation Incentive Plan
  • District Spending Parameters
  • Changes to Policy JECA — Admission of Students
  • Board of Education Goals/Work Plan
INFORMATION

  • Update on High School Building Project
    • Project Report #6
    • Administrative Updates
  • Transportation/2016-2017 Bus Routes/Mileage
  • Communications Report