This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Feb. 13, 2018, Board Business & Work Session 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 shared her enthusiasm for the growth of the district’s robotics program. Started with the dream of one Reed Elementary School teacher (Karen Engelkenjohn) several years ago, the district now has a robotics program K-12 with competitive teams at the elementary and high school levels. Dr. Jahnke credits the teachers who support this program for its continued success. Leading the way are Mark Biernbaum, Kathie Dolan, Karen Engelkenjohn, Lindsay Lombardo, Tammy Maclean, and Steve Schmidt. She also noted that the Ladue Education Foundation was integral in providing the funding for these programs when they initially began.
ACTION ITEM
High School Building Project: Change Orders, Requisitions. The Board approved the following requests for the High School renovation project:
- Change Order requests 136 and 165
- Final large furniture order through EdPlus approved for $781,243.99 not to exceed $2,502,736 furniture budget
- Asbestos Monitoring and Testing pay request of $39,000 to Farmer Environmental
WORK SESSION ITEMS
2018 Summer Programs. Director of Student Services Dr. Derrick Wallace presented the 2018 Summer School Program plan which incorporates targeted interventions and project-based learning at all levels for students who need additional support. The plan includes a recovery program for high school students, a Middle School Summer Academy, an Elementary Summer Academy (incoming K-5) and a Ladue Early Childhood Center Summer Camp.
Update on School Start Times. Dr. Allen presented the Calendar Committee’s recommendations for 2019-2020 school start times. The report includes research on best practices and comparisons with surrounding districts, as well as logistics and needs specific to the Ladue School District. Recommendations include a communication and implementation plan for the following start times:
- 7:30 a.m. for K-4 elementary schools
- 8:10 a.m. for Ladue Horton Watkins High School and Fifth Grade Center
- 8:50 a.m. for Ladue Middle School
2019-2020 School Calendar. Dr. Allen presented the administration’s recommendation for the 2019-2020 School Calendar. The calendar is very similar to previous years’ calendars in terms of student contact days, teacher contact days and days incorporated for staff professional development. The approved calendar reflects the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and the last day of school on Friday, May 22.
Staff Attendance. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented an updated version of the 2017-2018 Staff Attendance and Sub Report, with data through Dec. 31, 2017. The report included a summary of absence data for district employees for each building, comparing the first semester of the 2016-2017 school year to the first semester of the current school year (2017-2018) after raising awareness with staff regarding improved absence management. The report also included information regarding changes made to substitute services and the absence management system. The overall absence data for this school year will be updated after the fiscal year concludes on June 30, 2018.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on Feb. 26, 2018 at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road. Tentative agenda items include the following.
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting Feb. 26, 2018:
ACTION
- 2019-2020 School Calendar
- Meet and Confer Report and Recommendations
- High School Building Project
- Project Report #23
- Contractor Payment Requests
INFORMATION
- C&I Instruction Updates: Student Performance Data
- 2018-2019 Budget Discussion
