This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 27, 2020 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 assured that, even in these challenging times, the Board is working hard on committees and subcommittees to keep the district’s work moving forward.
- She also encouraged everyone to take care of themselves and to reach out to others for help when they need it.
Superintendent’s Remarks
- Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke thanked the Curriculum & Instruction Department for conducting and analyzing the results of the recent ThoughtExchange which has provided tremendous guidance in how Distance Learning can be tweaked to be more flexible and effective for district families. He also shared there were many positive comments on how the teachers and the district have approached this new learning environment.
- Dr. Wipke said he was very pleased by the number and types of student and staff recognitions that have continued to take place. He specifically mentioned the lighting of the high school stadium lights on Friday evenings through May 22 to celebrate our graduating seniors and the virtual Senior Awards Night that will take place during the first few weeks of May.
- He congratulated Leah Crawford, fourth-grade teacher at Old Bonhomme Elementary School for being part of the PBS show being created to help students in the St. Louis area who do not have access to the internet. Leah’s math lesson was the premier segment of the series.
- Ladue Horton Watkins High School was named the third best high school in the state by U.S. News and World Report behind Metro Academic and Classical High School and Clayton High School.
- The high school graduation date has been set for August 2, 2020 at Chaifetz Arena.
- Dr. Wipke complimented the Student Services and Curriculum & Instruction departments for their proactive work to prepare for summer school opportunities.. Although there continue to be a lot of unknowns, they are looking to identify ways to expand and extend opportunities to the extent they are able.
- The final edition of the Link newsletter is being completed and should arrive in homes in mid-May. Dr. Wipke noted this would be Communications Director Susan Downing’s last time to oversee a production of the Link before her retirement.
- Dr. Wipke gave a shout out to our healthcare professionals who are the true front line heroes during this incredibly difficult time.
- Very soon, the district will announce the District Teacher of the Year who will be chosen from the Teacher of the Year selected by each building. (Since the meeting, Jennifer Gardner, Math Specialist at Spoede Elementary, was surprised with a “distanced” announcement at her home.)
ACTION ITEMS
Designation of Board Delegates/Alternates for Affiliated Organizations. The Board selected the members who will represent them in the various capacities during the next school year.
Association Representatives
- Missouri School Board Association: Kisha Lee (Andy Bresler - alternate)
- Special School District Governing Council: Kisha Lee (Nancy Goldstein - alternate)
- EdPlus Legislative Liaison: Dr. Jim Wipke (Sheri Glantz - alternate)
School Liaisons
- Conway Elementary School: Sheri Glantz
- Fifth Grade Center: Kisha Lee
- Ladue Early Childhood Center: Andy Bresler
- Ladue Horton Watkins High School: Kisha Lee
- Ladue Middle School: Nancy Goldstein
- Old Bonhomme Elementary School: Carolyn Jaeger and Sheldon Johnson
- Reed Elementary School: Carolyn Jaeger
- Spoede Elementary School: Jeff Kopolow
Board Advisory Committee Assignments
- Curriculum & Instruction: Sheri Glantz, Nancy Goldstein and Kisha Lee
- Facilities: Andy Bresler, Carolyn Jaeger, Sheldon Johnson
- Finance: Andy Bresler, Carolyn Jaeger, Sheldon Johnson
- Technology: Jeff Kopolow and Kisha Lee
Superintendent’s Committees
- Facilities: Andy Bresler, Carolyn Jaeger, Sheldon Johnson
- Finance: Andy Bresler, Carolyn Jaeger, Sheldon Johnson
- High School Student Advisory - Jeff Kopolow
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Nancy Goldstein and Kisha Lee
Other Committees
- CURE: Sheri Glantz, Nancy Goldstein, Carolyn Jaeger and Kisha Lee (no more than three will attend any single meeting)
- Diversity: Sheri Glantz, Nancy Goldstein, Kisha Lee
- Ladue Education Foundation: Carolyn Jaeger, Sheldon Johnson, Kisha Lee
- Legislative: Jeff Kopolow, Kisha Lee
- Parent District Council: Carolyn Jaeger, Kisha Lee
- Policy: Sheri Glantz, Jeff Kopolow
- Wellness: Nancy Goldstein
Administrative Salary Schedule. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Julie Helm presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for a revised Administrative Salary Schedule. This new schedule ties positions to the market by using the midpoint of “like” positions in Ladue Schools’ comparable districts (Clayton, Kirkwood, Pattonville, and Webster Groves) and then adjusts for years of experience in the role. Adoption and implementation of this new system did not cost the district any additional money.
Architect Contract. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner provided an update on progress to negotiate a contract with the architects hired to design potential improvements to Old Bonhomme Elementary School, Spoede Elementary School and Ladue Middle School. Dr. Buckner expects to be able to present the final contract to the Board at their May 11, 2020, meeting. He noted that consideration was still being given to the dates that would be built into the contract to allow the Board to reassess whether and how to move forward with additional work, given the state of the economy. Discussion also continues in regard to the reimbursable items included in the contract.
The Board engaged in lengthy discussion regarding the type and timing of decisions leading up to a potential bond referendum, and how these might be impacted by the state of the economy, the state of the pandemic and the resulting reentry plans for the 2020-21 school year.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Support Staff Salary Recommendations. Dr. Helm presented the Support Staff Salary Recommendations that were developed through discussions with the Support Staff Employee Council during the year which were completed prior to schools closing in March. Support Staff salaries will be calculated for 2020-21 the same way they were for the 2019-20 school year. This structure is based on EdPlus data, using the midpoint as a starting place for each position, with higher increase percentages given to those at the lower end of the range and becoming less as staff reach the mid and higher end of the range. The Support Staff Employee Council will begin brainstorming a potential new salary structure for consideration for the 2021-22 school year.
Recommended Patron Reappointments to Board Advisory Committees. Board President Carolyn Jaeger announced that the following patrons are recommended for reappointment to their second terms to district Board Advisory Committees. These recommendations will be voted on at the May 11, 2020, meeting.
- Lolita Flinn — Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee
- Jessica Paik — Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee
- Tango Walker— Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee
- Susie Sachs — Facilities Board Advisory Committee
- Shaun Carr— Facilities Board Advisory Committee
Gifted Education Update. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Amy Zielinski introduced Gifted Coordinator Brooke Bilby who provided an overview of the status of the district’s Gifted Education Program. Highlights of this presentation can be seen by clicking on the header to this paragraph.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on May 11, 2020. The meeting will be held virtually using Zoom and the Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting May 11, 2020:
ACTION
- Recommended Patron Re-Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
- Support Staff Salary Schedule
INFORMATION
- Professional Development Report & Plan
- 2020-21 Testing Schedule
- 2020-21 School Lunch Prices
- Board Member Assignment to Board Advisory and Other Committees
- Board Advisory Committee Patron Appointments
