Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Board Briefs from Dec. 15, 2017 Special Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Dec. 15, 2017 Special 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 Project Bid Approval. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, a Demolition and Abatement package in the amount of $1,522,000. This work begins the spring semester and summer renovations to the Ladue Horton Watkins High School campus. The project is still on schedule to be substantially completed in the fall of 2018.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on Jan. 22, 2018 at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting Jan. 22, 2018:

School Board Recognition Week
Announcement of School Board Candidates

ACTION
  • Annual Renewal of Agreement to Participate in PEGS
  • 2017-2018 Revised Budget (Tentative)
  • High School Building Project
    • Project Report #22
    • Contractor Payment Requests
INFORMATION

  • Staff Attendance

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Board Briefs from Dec. 11, 2017 Business Meeting

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


December Excellence in Education Award
Jenny Weber, First Grade Teacher, Spoede Elementary School

Apple Distinguished School
Conway Elementary School

Board President's Remarks
  • Board President Andy Bresler announced that filing will open for two Board of Education positions beginning Dec. 12, 2017 with a deadline for filing of Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018 at 5 p.m. Get more details here.
Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke congratulated Dr. Julie Helm, principal of the Fifth Grade Center, on having recently received her doctorate degree.  

PUBLIC FORUM

Expansion of the Renovation of the High School Campus. The entire Ladue Schools community was invited to attend this Public Forum where administrators of the Ladue School District, as well as the architects and consultants involved in development of proposed renovation expansion plans, presented the components and status of this project. Over 100 residents attended and had the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

ACTION ITEM

2018-2019 High School and Middle School Course Change Proposals. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Jennifer Allen presented, and the Board approved, the high school and middle school course changes for 2018-19. High school changes 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 high school courses will be renamed and 12 courses will be eliminated. There are no new middle school courses being proposed for the 2018-19 school year. Two middle school courses will be renamed and five courses will be eliminated. Additional details can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph.

Board Policy Changes. Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board approved, the district’s 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.

Bond Parameters Resolution. Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the opportunity for the district to refund outstanding Build America Bonds (BAB’s), which could result in potential savings to taxpayers of approximately $1 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 2016 as a result of voters approving Proposition R for the primary purpose of renovating the district’s high school.  The competitive sale will take place in the market on Dec. 18, 2018, at 9:30 am CST.  If the savings is 2.5% or more, the bonds will be refunded.

High School Building Project: Report #21; Contractor Payment Requests. Senior Project Director for S. M. Wilson, Vernon Pfeil, presented, and the Board approved, Construction Progress Report #21, which includes the November pay application, updates on the work completed, the construction timeline and the project budget. The Board also approved Requisition 094054 (the second phase of the furniture order). The recommendation on abatement and demolition, which is set to occur January through June of 2018, was tabled until the Board could have further discussion.

At this time, anticipated savings identified on the project as originally defined are anticipated to be approximately $4 million, which is not inclusive of the $1.07 million construction contingency in the construction budget for unidentified or unforeseen expenses incurred during the remainder of the project.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Second Semester Board Agenda Calendar. Dr. Jahnke reviewed the Tentative Board Agenda Calendar with the Board, which outlines topics anticipated to be covered in meetings from January to June 2018.  This calendar is subject to change and additional topics will be added, as required.  

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on Jan. 22, 2018 at 7 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting Jan. 22, 2017:

School Board Recognition Week
Announcement of Board Candidates

ACTION
  • Annual Renewal of Agreement to Participate in PEGS
  • 2017-2018 Revised Budget (Tentative)
  • High School Building Project
    • Project Report #22
    • Contractor Payment Requests
INFORMATION

  • Staff Attendance