This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Nov. 27, 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.
Superintendent Remarks
- Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke congratulated the Ladue Horton Watkins High School football team for making it to the State Championship. Although the Rams did not prevail, there was a large turnout of fans, and Dr. Jahnke thanked Coach Mike Tarpey and Activities Director Nick Gianino for their great support of the team and a terrific and exciting season.
- Dr. Jahnke congratulated Stacy Butz, a teacher at Old Bonhomme Elementary School, on the publishing of her children’s book entitled A Mother’s Gift.
ACTION ITEM
Acceptance of Auditor’s Report. The Board approved the Fiscal Year 2017 Audit. Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Jason Buckner introduced Mark Janiesch, 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, 2017. The district received an “unmodified opinion,” the highest opinion a district can receive, and remains one of the few public school districts in Missouri to hold a stand-alone AAA rating from Standard and Poor's.
2018-2019 LECC Tuition and BASK/TAS Rates. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented, and the Board approved, the 2017-18 tuition rate recommendations for early childhood programming and the district’s before and after school care programs (BASK/TAS).
Currently, the district alternates years for rate changes for preschool programs and BASK/TAS. Therefore, this year, no rate changes will be made for BASK (K-8) unless school start times change for the 2018-19 school year and necessitate a change in the rate. Tuition rates for all preschool/toddler programs (residents and non-residents) for the 2018-19 school year will be increased by 3.5%. More detailed information can be found by clicking on the header to this paragraph.
High School Building Project: Project Report #20; Contractor Payment Requests; Bid Approvals. Project Director for S. M. Wilson, Kort Cole, presented Construction Progress Report #20, which includes the October pay application and updates on the work completed, the construction timeline and the project budget. Photos of various components of the project are included in the linked document.
At this time, anticipated savings identified on the project as originally defined are anticipated to be approximately $4.6 million, which is not inclusive of the $1.42 million construction contingency in the construction budget for unidentified or unforeseen expenses incurred during the remainder of the project.
INFORMATION ITEMS
2018-19 Middle School and High School Course Change Proposals. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Jennifer Allen introduced Ladue Horton Watkins High School Principal Brad Griffith, who outlined high school course changes for 2018-19, which include 12 new courses, listed below under their departments:
- English:
- Culture and Identity in Sports LIterature
- Fine Arts
- Chamber Orchestra
- Modern and Classical Languages
- Latin IV
- Practical Arts
- Sports and Entertainment Marketing,
- Science
- Human Body Systems
- Special School District
- CBVI - Independent Living
- Fundamentals of Literature and Composition
- Pre-Vocational Skills
- Electives
- SMART Lab 1
- SMART Lab 2
- Student Laboratory Assistant (non-credit bearing)
- Student Office Aide (non-credit bearing)
In addition, five courses will be renamed and 12 courses will be eliminated. Additional details can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph.
Missouri Seal of Biliteracy. Dr. Allen introduced high school Spanish teacher Maritza Sloan, who presented information regarding the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy, an award given by a school, district, or county office of education in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. Ms. Sloan outlined the benefits to implementing this award at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.
2017-18 Revised Budget. Dr. Buckner presented the 2017-18 Revised Budget. The Board of Education approved the 2017-18 Preliminary Budget on June 26, 2017. 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 prior to the school year beginning. (Click on the paragraph header for additional details.) After additional financial planning and discussions are conducted among district leadership, the revised budget will be presented for Board approval at the January 22, 2018 Business Meeting.
District Bond Refinance Considerations. Dr. Buckner introduced Matt DeLeo of Sentry Financial, who outlined a potential opportunity for the district to refund the districts Build America Bonds (BAB’s) which could result in potential savings to taxpayers of $1 - 1.5 million over the remaining life of the bonds which have a payoff date of 2030. These BAB’s were sold in 2010 and are the only district bonds that have not been refinanced, other than the bonds sold most recently in May of 2016 as a result of voters approving Proposition R for the primary purpose of renovating the district’s high school.
Policy Changes. Dr. Jahnke presented recommendations for changes to 12 district policies, part of the district’s ongoing efforts to maintain policies which accurately represent district expectations, incorporate current legislative requirements, and take into account recommendations by the Missouri School Board Association (MSBA). Additional details can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph.
These recommended changes will be presented for Board approval at the Dec. 11, 2017 Business Meeting.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on Dec. 11, 2017 at 6 p.m. at the Ladue Horton Watkins High School library, 1201 Warson Road. Tentative agenda items include the following.
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting Dec. 11, 2017:
Public Forum on the Expansion of the Renovation of the High School Campus
ACTION
- 2018-2019 High School and Middle School Course Change Proposals
- 2017-2018 Revised Budget
- Board Policy Changes
- High School Building Project
- Project Report #21
- Contractor Payment Requests
INFORMATION
- Second Semester Board Agenda Calendar (January - August)
