Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Board Briefs from Oct. 26, 2019 Board Business Meeting

This document includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Oct. 28, 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.


Excellence in Education Award

National Merit Semifinalists
Row 1 (L to R): Michael Wayne (12), Anna Zhong (12), Kashish Dhawan (12), and Jacob Sheldon (12); Row 2 (L to R): Matthew Shareshian (12), Cindy Wang (12), Katherine Shaw (12), Lilly Tung (12), Will Stappenbeck (12); Row 3 (L to R): Shelei Pan (12), Gavin Giuliani (12), Carlos Puyo (12), Christopher Ye (12), Jeremy Ouyang (12).
Board President's Remarks
  • Board President Carolyn Jaeger announced that filing for candidacy in the 2020 Board of Education elections will begin on Dec. 17, 2019 at 8 a.m. and close on Jan. 21, 2010 at 5 p.m. This year there are three positions available. Click here for additional details posted on the district website. 
Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke congratulated Garrett White on receiving the October Excellence in Education Award and commended him on the positive relationships he has built with both students and staff. 
  • Dr. Wipke also congratulated the 14 high school students who were recognized as National Merit Semifinalists. 
  • Dr. Wipke shared that Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Amy Zielinski had recently attended the recognition ceremony for National Districts/School of Character in Washington, D.C. Dr. Zielinski said it was an amazing experience to celebrate the Ladue Early Childhood Center and Ladue Middle School for their National School of Character recognitions and the district on its National District of Character recognition. She also noted that the topic of the keynote addresses focused on the importance of social emotional learning to character education.
  • In this week following parent teacher conferences, Dr. Wipke noted that all of the comments he has received from parents has been very positive and that the high percentage of parents who attend conferences is a testament to the high level of engagement and involvement of our parents, making this long week for teachers very worthwhile. 
  • Dr. Wipke let everyone know that all the red ribbons they are seeing around the district are in recognition of Red Ribbon Week, a week devoted to drug awareness and encouraging youth to maintain a drug-free lifestyle. 
  • Dr. Wipke also went to the recognition of the Regional and Semifinalist Teachers of the Year last week, along with Board Member Kisha Lee, former Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke and Dr. Zielinski. They were there to honor our own Angela Kelly, Ladue Schools’ 2019 District Teacher of the Year and Regional Teacher of the Year.
  • Dr. Wipke thanked President Jaeger for representing the district and the Board at the City of Ladue City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 21. Mayor Nancy Spewak was presented with a plaque in appreciation for the city’s collaboration with the district during the renovation of Ladue Horton Watkins HIgh School  
  • Dr. Wipke congratulated the Ladue Education Foundation (LEF) on another successful annual breakfast event, noting that it was great to see such enthusiasm and support from the community.
  • Last week Dr. Wipke had the opportunity to participate in Coffee with the Mayor with Mayor Missy Waldman of Olivette. He expressed his appreciation for the city’s collaboration with the district.
  • The first C.U.R.E. meeting of the year took place on Oct. 10, 2019. Dr. Wipke said he was grateful for the candid conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion topics and looks forward to working with the district’s African-American families to identify ways to bridge the opportunity gap in the district through identifying specific goals and the action steps needed to achieve them.
  • Nov. 12, 2019 is an election day and a districtwide Professional Development day. The Curriculum & Instruction Department and individual buildings are creating opportunities for teachers and staff to delve into a wide variety of learning opportunities, focusing on First Best Instruction. 
ACTION ITEMS
2020-21 Board Meeting Schedule. President Jaeger presented, and the Board approved, the Board of Education’s meeting dates for the 2020-21 school year. Board meetings will be held in the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Multipurpose Room and will take place primarily on Mondays and begin at 6 p.m. (Click on the header to this paragraph for the complete schedule.)
2020-21 School Calendar. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Amy Zielinski, presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for the Revised 2020-21 School Calendar. A new Missouri law states that beginning in the 2020-21 school year, districts cannot start “earlier than 14 days prior to the first Monday in September” (Labor Day). With an emphasis on completing the first semester by Winter Break and having students finished with school by Memorial Day, the originally approved 2020-21 calendar was revised. (Please click on the header to this paragraph for details and the resulting calendar.)
INFORMATION ITEMS
Ladue Education Foundation Report. President Jaeger introduced Ladue Education Foundation (LEF) Executive Director Julie Ferrie. Ms. Ferrie updated the Board on the final results of the Capital Campaign which supported renovation of the high school. Mrs. Ferrie also outlined current initiatives underway, as well as the overall structure of the LEF, noting their continued expansion and increased abilities to support extraordinary opportunities for the Ladue Schools students and staff. 
Enrollment and Residency Report. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Julie Helm, and Director of Student Services Dr. Derrick Wallace updated the Board on current enrollment and projected enrollment for the next three years. As of Missouri Count Day (Sept. 25, 2019), total district enrollment was 4,234, with an increase of 19 resident students and a decrease of 20 non-resident students, resulting in a net decrease of one student in comparison with the 2019-20 school year. Slight increases are anticipated to continue for the next few years. Additional details can be found by clicking on the header to this paragraph. 
Construction Management Methods Presentation. Director of Facilities Mike Noonan provided information regarding the various construction methods the district has used in the past for improvements to its buildings. In addition, Mr. Noonan outlined a somewhat newer construction method which the Board may consider for upcoming projects. “Construction Manager at Risk” is a methodology where the construction agency takes on greater responsibility (and risk) in the management and subcontracting of 
a project. The Board will vote on the adoption of a policy relating to this construction method later this fall.
Change June 2020 Board Meeting Date. Dr. Wipke and the Board discussed the possibility of moving the June 22, 2020 Board meeting to June 29, 2020. A number of administrators will be attending the Leadership & Racism Institute from June 22 to 25, 2020, making it difficult to get the full benefit of the institute and be at the Board meeting. 
Special Meeting, Jan. 21, 2020. President Jaeger advised the Board that a Special Board Meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. to provide architectural and construction management firms who are selected to refine potential improvements to K-4 elementary schools and the middle school opportunities to present information to the Board.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Board Work Session on Nov. 12, 2019, 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 Business Meeting November 12, 2019:
INFORMATION
  • School Improvement Plan: Leadership Sharing
  • 2020-21 LECC Tuition and BASK/TAS Rates
  • 2020-21 High School and Middle School Course Change Proposals 
  • MAP Data Report and Student Performance
  • Board Goals Review
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting November 25, 2019:
ACTION
  • Acceptance of Auditor’s Report
  • 2020-21 LECC Tuition and BASK/TAS Rates
  • 2020-21 High School and Middle School Course Change Proposals 
  • Recommendation for a construction management company, performance contractor and architect
INFORMATION

  • Secondary School Presentations (FGC, LMS, HS)
  • Social-Emotional Behavior Report and Update
  • School Counseling Program Update
  • Summer School Programs Update
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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Board Briefs from September 23, 2019 Board Business Meeting

This document includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the September 23, 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.
Excellence in Education Award
Erin Heckendorn, Math Interventionist, Ladue Middle School

Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) Program Participants Recognized for Excellence in Research
Hannah Abraham, Connie Chen, Shelei Pan, Allison Rea and Jacob Shelton
Board President's Remarks
  • Board President Carolyn Jaeger announced a “Happy Birthday!” to Board Secretary Kisha Lee. Additionally, she shared a special thank you to Board Vice President Sheri Glantz for hosting the Administrative Council at her home.
Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke described his first experience with Sixth Grade Camp and thanked Mark Bierbaum for organizing this annual trip. Dr. Wipke went on to praise the execution of the first football games of the 2019 season. Lastly, he shared that due to a positive financial turn with EducationPlus, Ladue School District will receive $.30 back per student in dues.
ACTION ITEMS
Approval of 2019-20 Tax Rates Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the 2019-20 operating tax levy as the following per $100 assessed valuation for each class of property:
  • $2.7625 Residential
  • $2.7500 Agricultural
  • $2.7500 Commercial
  • $3.2400 Personal Property
(These rates would result in a $2.8020 operating levy if St. Louis County used a single rate method.)
The Board also approved the 2019-20 debt service levy at $.78 per $100 assessed valuation. By law, the Board of Education could set the levy for 2019 at $1.1826. However, the district can meet interest payments by keeping the rate at $0.78 where it has been since 2016. This continues to keep the district on track for a potential 2021 no levy increase bond referendum.

2019B Policy Updates. Dr. Jim Wipke presented, and the Board approved, changes to12 district policies.  These policies and the recommended changes can be viewed by clicking on the header of this paragraph. The majority of the changes are the result of recommendations by the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) in order to keep district policies in compliance with state and federal law. 
2020-21 Board Meeting Dates. President Jaeger noted that the current proposed board meeting dates reflect all Tuesday meetings. This is a conflict for some board members and approval of this item is being postponed until the Oct. 28 meeting. Additionally, moving forward, all meetings will be business meetings, and the Board will no longer hold Work Sessions which were used in the past for subjects requiring discussion only (no decisions) by the Board.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Transportation/2019-20 Bus Routes/Mileage Dr. Buckner presented an overview of the current transportation program. The district runs 122 regular routes with 3,515 students scheduled for transportation twice per day for 175 school days. The linked information also provides additional information about bus capacities and individual bus ridership counts. (These are unofficial counts, as the official Ridership Count Day is in October. 
2020-21 School Calendar  Dr. Zielinski introduced the proposal for the revised 2020-21 school calendar year. The calendar is being revised due to a recently passed Missouri law that states that public schools can have class no earlier than 14 calendar days prior to the first Monday in September (Labor Day). Priority was given to completing the first semester prior to Winter Break and having students finished with school by Memorial Day. Details can be found by clicking on the header to this paragraph. This calendar will be presented for approval at the Oct. 28, 2019 Board of Education meeting.
Process for Moving Forward; Request for Proposals/Request for Qualifications Dr. Wipke and President Jaegar updated the Board on the next steps following the completion of the feasibility reports presented at the Sept. 20, 2019 Board meeting. Requests for Proposals and/or Requests for Qualifications are in the process of being developed so the district has the ability to further refine the improvements needed at the four K-4 elementary schools, the middle school and the Administrative Center. In addition, at an upcoming meeting, Director of Facilities Mike Noonan will describe the potential construction methods that could be used for these projects.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on Oct. 28, 2019, 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 Business Meeting October 28, 2019:
ACTION
  • 2020-21 School Calendar
INFORMATION

  • Ladue Education Foundation Report
  • Enrollment and Residency Report
  • 2021 LECC Tuition and BASK/TAS Rates
  • Summer School Programs Update
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Board Briefs from September 10, 2019 Business Meeting

This document includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the September 10, 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
  • Board President Carolyn Jaeger announced that Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke and she would begin hosting gatherings to give members of the Ladue Schools community an opportunity to have informal conversations with them on whatever district topics are on their minds. These gatherings will be held over the course of the school year on varying days and times of day in hopes that people who wish to attend will be able to find a time that is convenient for them.
Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke shared that the school year was continuing to go well. The challenges have been few and there were lots of highlights to celebrate.
  • Beginning with the 2020-21 school year, Missouri law dictates that public schools cannot start sooner than 14 days prior to Labor Day. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Amy Zielinski is working with a committee to redraft the previously approved 2020-21 calendar and will be presenting a revised calendar to the Board for approval in the near future. Once the Board has approved the revised calendar, it will be shared immediately with parents and staff.
  • Dr. Wipke recently had the opportunity to meet with MICDS Head of School Jay Rainey and Mayor of Creve Coeur Barry Glantz. He said he is enjoying getting to know other leaders in the community and noted that he knew he could learn a lot from both of these individuals.
  • He shared that he had just had the opportunity to see the Ladue Horton Watkins High School (LHWHS) Girls Tennis Team triumph over Parkway West. The team Invited him to come by and practice with them sometime!
  • This Friday, Sept. 13 will be the first home game for the LHWHS Varsity Football team since 2014. The team will take on Webster Groves. Game time is 7 p.m. with pregame activities beginning at 6:30 p.m.
INFORMATION ITEMS
District Finance and Tax Rate Discussion.  Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner reviewed several documents related to the district’s finances. (All of these can be found by clicking on the linked header to this paragraph.) 
Specifically, Dr. Buckner shared that the projected final expenses most recently provided to the Board for the 2018-19 operating budget, and also used to build the 2019-20 budget, were found to be highly accurate. Revenue for the 2018-19 school year came in approximately $1.2 million higher than anticipated. The result is an overall $1.5 million surplus for the 2018-19 budget. (The 2018-19 fiscal year ended on June 30, 2019.)
Dr. Buckner also reported that the district will complete the five-year budget planning cycle in June 2021.  The Board required the district to adhere to a 2% expenditure increase parameter. Having succeeded in hitting these benchmarks the past four years, the district and Board will now begin to develop the next five-year plan.
Dr. Buckner also provided an update on St. Louis County’s most recent projections for property assessments in the district. Approximately 80% of the district’s operating revenue and 100% of the district’s debt service revenue is generated through local property tax assessments. As a result, fluctuations in assessments have a significant impact on the tax rates set by the Board. The Board is required to set the district’s tax rate prior to Oct. 1 each year, although finalized assessments are not known until later in the fall. Dr. Buckner said he hoped to have an additional update on projections prior to the Board’s Sept. 23, 2019 meeting.
The Board will set the district’s debt service levy on Sept. 23, as well. This levy is set each year in order to raise at least enough revenue to pay for what is owed in the coming year. Based on current estimates, Dr. Buckner believes that he will be recommending that the Board maintain the debt service levy at $.78 where it has been for a number of years.  
The Board then reviewed the projected debt service payment schedule developed based on foreseeable assumptions, such as interest rates, property assessment growth, etc. Dr. Buckner noted that in 2021 it would likely be possible for the district to run a bond referendum of approximately $70 million without increasing the debt service levy. 

Feasibility Study Report. Over the summer, feasibility studies were conducted on all of the districts K-8 buildings and Dr. Wipke asked Director of Facilities Mike Noonan to introduce the representatives who would be presenting this information to the Board. Mr. Noonan introduced: Scott Faller and Shawn Buerle from Ameresco, the company that performed feasibility studies for Conway Elementary School and Reed Elementary School, as well as Sue Pruchnicki from Bond Architects, the company that performed the feasibility studies for Old Bonhomme Elementary School, Spoede Elementary School and Ladue Middle School. 
These feasibility studies can be found by clicking on the header in the previous paragraph. When considering the information found in the studies, please note:
  • The cost estimates provided are “all in” costs, including all new furniture, technology, etc., as well as higher end finishes. From here, the Board and administration will work to refine the scope of the project, and cost estimates are anticipated to decrease significantly.
  • Ameresco’s cost estimates do not include escalation projections and could increase depending on the timing of the project. Bond’s cost estimates include estimated escalation for two years.
  • Labeled areas are presented to indicate the amount of space needed for various programs, classrooms, offices, etc. They do not reflect actual recommended locations. 
2019B Policy Updates. Dr. Wipke introduced the first reading of recommendations for changing a number of district policies. These policies and the recommended changes can be viewed by clicking on the header of this paragraph. The majority of the changes are the result of recommendations by the Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) in order to keep district policies in compliance with state and federal law. 
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on September 23, 2019, 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 Business Meeting Sept. 23, 2019:
ACTION
  • Approval of 2019-20 Tax Rates
  • 2019B Board Policy Updates
  • 2021 Board Meeting Dates
INFORMATION

  • Transportation/2019-20 Bus Routes/Mileage
  • 2020-21 School Calendar
  • Process for Moving Forward Requests for Proposals/Qualifications
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