This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 10, 2018 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 Andy Bresler announced the unofficial results of the April 3, 2018 Board of Education election. Three candidates ran for two positions, with incumbents Sheri Glantz and Dr. Nancy Goldstein winning re-election. Mr. Bresler thanked them for their continued service to the district.
Superintendent Remarks
- Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke added her congratulations to Mrs. Glantz and Dr. Goldstein for being re-elected to the Board.
- Dr. Jahnke welcomed Cassie Johnston to the meeting, as she will be taking on the role of Assistant to the Superintendent as of July 1, 2018. This position is currently held by Beth Hufford who will be retiring as of the same date.
- Dr. Jahnke also encouraged Board members and attendees to take advantage of this season of awards, concerts, events and celebrations. Between now and the end of the school year, there are many opportunities to watch our students perform and to recognize their hard work.
ACTION ITEM
Administration of Oaths of Office. The current Board secretary, Jeff Kopolow, administered the oath of office to the two Board of Education members elected on April 3, 2018: Sheri Glantz and Dr. Nancy Goldstein.
- President - Andy Bresler
- Vice President - Carolyn Jaeger
- Treasurer - Sheldon Johnson
- Secretary - Jeff Kopolow
Board Advisory Committee Re-Appointments. 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:
- Barbara Barrett, Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee
- Larissa Malone, Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee
- Mark Manlin, Finance Board Advisory Committee
- Michael McMurtrey, Finance Board Advisory Committee
- Daniel Baker, Technology Board Advisory Committee
- Zongming Gao, Technology Board Advisory Committee
High School Building Project: Contractor Payment Requests. Project Director for S. M. Wilson Kort Cole presented, and the Board approved, contractor pay applications for the month of March. Mr. Cole also presented Change Order Request (COR) 270 for $65,590 to Jim Taylor Roofing for the replacement of the Infill Classroom roof, due to leaking.
Superintendent Search Process. Mr. Bresler has interviewed six Board members from other high achieving school districts in the area and across the nation who have recently completed successful superintendent searches. A consistent recommendation from these Boards was to select one Board member to be the liaison with the search firm selected in order to provide coordination with the other seven Board members. All decisions will be made by the full Board. The Board selected Sheri Glantz to fill this role.
The Board voted to direct Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics to issue a Request for Proposal for search firms as quickly as possible with a three-week window for responses.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Support Staff Employee Council Report and Salary Recommendation. Mr. Rossics presented the Support Staff Employee Council (SSEC) Report, which outlines the salary and benefit considerations which have resulted from regular SSEC meetings since the beginning of the school year. Salary recommendations related to salaries and professional development information are included in the report.
Career Technical Education Program Update. The district’s Strategic Plan includes as a Priority Initiative: Create and Support Defined Secondary Career Pathways. As a result, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Jennifer Allen outlined the district’s plan for developing programs that will allow students to explore numerous career pathways prior to graduation.
One strategy will be the development of a Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program which is targeted to be launched in the 2019-20 school year. This is a nationally recognized program that allows students to fast forward into their future careers. Students in the program gain both high school and college credits, while immersing themselves in a professional culture, solving real-world problems, and using industry standard tools.
A graduate of Ladue Horton Watkins High School (who wishes to remain anonymous) is giving $1 million to the Ladue Education Foundation and Alumni Association (LEF) to endow an ongoing part-time coordinator position for the CAPS program.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on April 23, 2018 at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road. Tentative agenda items include the following.
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting April 23, 2018:
ACTION
- Acceptance of Certified Election Results
- Designation of Delegates and Alternates for MSBA, SSD Governing Council, EdPlus Legislative Liaison
- Support Staff Salary Recommendations
- High School Building Project
- Project Report #24
- Contractor Payment Requests
INFORMATION
- Discussion of Long Term Operating Spending Strategies/Hancock Amendment
- Board Policy Changes
- Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
- 2018-2019 Board Meeting Dates
