This document includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the June 24, 2019 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. On behalf of the Board of Education, Board President Carolyn Jaeger presented Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke with a sculpture commemorating her time in the Ladue School District. It reads:
Dr. Donna Jahnke
Fanning the Flames of
Fanning the Flames of
Excellence in Ladue Schools
Superintendent 2013-2019
This was Dr. Jahnke’s final Board meeting, having served the district for 32 years, the last six as superintendent.
Superintendent Remarks. Dr. Jahnke shared how honored she has been to lead the Ladue School District. She thanked the Board of Education for their collaboration as a team and with administration, noting that working together is key to the success of a school district. She also thanked her administrative team, as well as parents and the community, for their dedication to educating and supporting our students and our schools. Our students are extraordinary and, as the school motto goes, they truly “enter to learn” and “go forth to share.” We are all so proud of the marks they make on our world.
Finally, Dr. Jahnke thanked Cassie Johnston, her administrative assistant for doing a great job in supporting her in her work and assured those in attendance that she is confident she is leaving the district in excellent hands with Dr. Jim Wipke and will continue to support the district from afar.
ACTION ITEMS
Approval of 2019-20 Preliminary Operating Budget. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance, Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the 2019-20 Preliminary Operating Budget. The preliminary operating expenditure budget for the 2019-20 school year totals approximately $63.88 million and meets the spending parameters set by the Board of Education. These spending parameters have been instituted to delay the need for requesting an increase in the operating tax levy for as long as possible while meeting educational needs.
Performance-Based Teacher Evaluation Program Changes/Certified Staff. Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendations for changes to the K-12 Teacher Evaluation Manual, as well as the Ladue Early Childhood Center Evaluation Manual. Changes to these documents are highlighted in the documents linked above.
Board Policy KI Update Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendations for revising Board Policy KI (Public Solicitations/Advertising in District Facilities) to allow greater flexibility in selling advertising opportunities at district events. The suggested change is noted in the document linked above.
Suburban Athletic Conference Resolution Agreement Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board agreed to sign, a resolution for districts in the Suburban Athletic Conference which outlines expectations for participation and the approach that will be used for hiring officials.
Board Policy Updates. Dr. Jahnke recommended, and the Board approved, changes to three district policies. 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.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Retirement Notification Incentive. This past year, due to the district’s Early Separation Incentive Plan, the district knew which positions would be open in the 2019-20 school year very early in the 2018-19 school year. This allowed the district to get ahead of other districts in hiring high quality, diverse staff members. The administration and the Board began a discussion regarding how they might provide incentives in future years for retiring staff in order to create similar hiring advantages.
2019-20 Board Goals. President Jaeger led the Board in a discussion regarding the development of their 2019-20 Board of Education Goals. These goals will be developed to align with both the district’s Strategic Plan and the superintendent’s goals to ensure continuous progress and focused energy and resources on the initiatives identified as the district’s highest priorities. President Jaeger asked Board members to review current goals as well as the ideas that arose during the Board’s June 11, 2019 meeting. Board members were asked to provide input on potential 2019-20 goals to President Jaeger who will combine them into a single document for review. The Board is due to approve 2019-20 goals at their August 26, 2019 meeting.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on August 26, 2019, at 6 p.m., at the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Multipurpose Room, 1201 S. Warson Road, at 6 p.m. Tentative agenda items for that meeting include the following.
Tentative Agenda Items for August 26, 2019 Business Meeting:
ACTION
- 2019-20 Board Goals/Work Plan
- SSD Carl Perkins Consortium Allocation Agreement
- SSD Contract for Homebound Services
- Consolidated Application for Federal Grants
- Re-adoption of Board Policy BBFA – Board Member Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure
INFORMATION
- First Semester Board Meeting Agenda Calendar
- Activities Report
