Board Briefs from April 24, 2017 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 24, 2017 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.

April Excellence in Education Award

Ann Chapin, Physical Education Teacher, Conway Elementary

Superintendent Remarks

• Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke commented on the opening of the new Olivette City Center that she attended on Saturday, April 22, 2017.  She congratulated the city on creating an impressive facility designed well to the support the citizens of Olivette.  

ACTION ITEM

Designation of Board Delegates/Alternates for: MSBA, SSD Governing Council, EdPlus Legislative Liaison. The Board approved the appointments of the following Board members as liaisons to associations with which the district regularly meets and collaborates.

• Missouri School Board Association: Sheri Glantz, with Andy Bresler as alternate
• Special School District: Nancy Goldstein, with Kisha Lee as alternate
• EdPlus Legislative Liaison: Dr. Donna Jahnke, with Jeff Kopolow as alternate

High School Building Project: Report #13; Payment Applications; Work Package Bid Approvals. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner shared that Advanced Placement (AP) testing is taking place at Ladue Middle School in order for these assessments to be administered in a quiet environment without delaying construction progress.

Project Director for S.M. Wilson Kort Cole informed the Board that as of April 28, 2017, all of the design documents for the project will be complete, resulting in the architects and construction team all working from one complete set of construction plans.  

Mr. Cole also presented, and the Board approved, contractor pay applications for the month of March.  Mr. Cole also provided construction progress report #13, which includes updates on design and engineering; permitting; finance and budget; bidding and procurement; scheduling; current construction activity and change orders.  Photos of various components of the project are included in the linked document.  

Administrative Salary Structure. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented, and the Board approved, the Administrative Salary structure to be used in determining salary increases for administrators for the 2017-18 school year.  The factors in the schedule include: current education level, inflationary changes, and similar administrative experience.  It also allows for performance to be introduced as a factor at a later date.  

INFORMATION ITEMS

Support Staff Employee Council Report. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented the Support Staff Employee Council (SSEC) Report, which outlines salary and benefit considerations which have resulted from regular SSEC meetings since the beginning of the school year.  Recommendation for changes in salary ranges, titles, increase recommendations, evaluation procedures and potential leave revisions are included in the report.  Final salary recommendations will be recommended for consideration at the May 8, 2017, Board meeting.

Communications Report. The Communications Department updated the Board on initiatives completed by the Communication Department over the past year, as well as areas of focus for the following school year, which include: supporting strategic plan development, supporting the high school renovation initiative, converting all websites to content management systems responsive to all devices, developing structures between the district and the Ladue Education Foundation to support the Ladue Alumni Association, and fully integrating the ParentLink messaging platform into communications sent by administrators, support staff, teachers and coaches.

Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees. Administrators and Board members discussed patron appointments to the Facilities Board Advisory Committee and the Finance Board Advisory Committees.  Final recommendations will be made and voted upon at the May 8, 2017, Board meeting.

2017-2018 Board Meeting Dates. Dr. Jahnke outlined the anticipated schedule for Board meetings for the 2017-18 school year.  Generally speaking, Work Sessions will take place on the second Tuesday of the month and Business Meetings will take place on the fourth Monday of the month. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on May 8, 2017, at 7 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road. Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting May 8, 2017:

ACTION

• 2017-18 Board Meeting Dates
• Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
• High School Building Project
• Project Report #14
• Payment Applications/Bid Approvals

INFORMATION

• 2017-18 Testing Schedule
• Extra Duty Stipend Amounts
• Food Service Contract
• 2017-18 School Lunch Prices
• 2017-18 Budget Introduction and Financial Planning
• Board Member Assignment to Board Advisory and Other Committees

Board Briefs from April 17, 2017 Board Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 17, 2017 Board 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.

Board President’s Remarks

• Board President Sheri Glantz commented on how encouraging it was to have had seven candidates running for three positions on the Board of Education, all willing to serve and support the Ladue School District.  She welcomed incumbents Andy Bresler and Carolyn Jaeger back to the Board, and Kisha Lee to her initial term.  

Superintendent’s Remarks

• Dr. Jahnke thanked Board member Steve Spratt for his service on the Board of Education during the last three years.  Mr. Spratt served as Treasurer for the Board during the last two years, and has also served on the Finance and Facilities Board Advisory Committees, the Strategic Planning Leadership Team, the Superintendent Finance Committee, and the Board Liaison to Spoede Elementary School.
• Dr. Jahnke welcomed incumbents Andy Bresler and Carolyn Jaeger back to their third and second terms on the Board, respectively.  She also welcomed Kisha Lee to the Board of Education, noting her considerable contributions to the Ladue School District already, and expressing her appreciation for the leadership, expertise and dedication Mrs. Lee will bring to Ladue Schools Board of Education.
• Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke shared that Old Bonhomme Elementary School has been engaged in a community art project with the City of Olivette. Students have worked side-by-side with community members, police officers, fireman and city officials to create a mosaic under the direction of the art teacher at Old Bonhomme Elementary, Lisa Roth. This weekend, at the opening of the new Olivette City Center dedication and ribbon cutting, the community will be able to view the finished artwork. The new Olivette City Center is located at 1140 Dielman Road, and the event is open to the public from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

ACTION ITEM

Board Policy Changes. Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendations for 15 policy change recommendations. The majority of these changes are being made at the recommendation of the Missouri School Board Association (MSBA) in order to keep district policies in compliance with state and federal law, and to accurately reflect current district practices in policy.

Board Advisory Committee Reappointments.  Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendations for patron reappointments to three of the district’s four Board Advisory Committee meetings, as follows:

• Ann Noble, Facilities Board Advisory Committee
• James Faron, Facilities Board Advisory Committee
• Troy McClendon, Finance Board Advisory Committee
• Mark Murdaugh, Finance Board Advisory Committee
• Adil Rahman, Technology Board Advisory Committee
• Frank Trau, Technology Board Advisory Committee
• Keith Yeldham, Technology Board Advisory Committee

All of these community members are beginning their second two-year term on these committees.  There were no open patron positions on the Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee this year.  

High School Building Project Approvals. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner introduced Kort Cole, project manager for S.M. Wilson who presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for the following contract awards in relation to the high school renovation project:

• Bid Package 7/Work Packages:
• #5 - Terrazzo: Missouri Terrazzo for $346,690
• #7 - Abatement and Demolition: Midwest Service Group: $676,480

Administration of Oaths of Office.  Mrs. Glantz administered the oath of office to the three Board of Education members elected on April 4, 2017: Andy Bresler, Carolyn Jaeger and Kisha Lee.

Election of Officers.  Board of Education officers for the coming year were elected as follows:

• President Andy Bresler
• Vice President Sheri Glantz
• Treasurer Carolyn Jaeger
• Secretary Jeff Kopolow

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on April 24, 2017, at 7 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

ACTION

• Acceptance of Certified Election Results
• Support Staff Salary Ranges/Recommendations
• Designation of Board Delegates/Alternates for MSBA, SSD Governing Council, and EdPlus Legislative Liaison
• High School Building Project
• Project Report #13
• Payment Applications/Bid Approvals

INFORMATION

• 2017-18 Board Meeting Dates
• Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
• Communications Report

Board Briefs from April 11, 2017 Special Board Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 11, 2017 Special Board 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.

ACTION ITEM

High School Building Project Approvals. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for the following components of the high school renovation project:

• Bid Package 7/Work Packages:
• #3 - General Trades: Waterhout Construction Company, Inc. for $6,646,500
• #8 - Painting and Intumescent Mastic Fireproofing: Dannix Painting for $463,369
• #12 - Glass and Glazing: Missouri Valley Glass Co., Inc. for $2,208,672
• Phase I Summer 2017 Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment order totaling $276,983.33.  These items are primarily for the renovated spaces of the existing building which will be renovated during the coming summer.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on April 17, 2017, at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Announcement of Election Results

ACTION

• City of Ladue/District Resource Officer Agreement
• Public Gift to the Fifth Grade Center
• Board Policy Changes
• Board Advisory Committee Re-Appointments
• Board Reorganization/Oaths of Office/Election of Officers

INFORMATION

• Support Staff Employee Council Report