This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the June 9, 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.
Click here for a video recording of the June 9, 2020 Board Business Meeting
This meeting is the first half of the Board of Education’s annual retreat which
is taking place this year in two half-day sessions by Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second half of the meeting will take place on June 11, 2020.
Board President’s Remarks
Board of Education President Carolyn Jaeger thanked the Board for their time and attention during the two half-day “retreats.” While these meetings will make for long days in front of their computers, the work they will be doing to set the direction and vision for the district’s future is extremely important.
Mrs. Jaeger noted that the community is very stressed due to both the pandemic and the unrest in our country due to acts of racism. She encouraged everyone to be supportive of each other in these difficult times.
On behalf of the Board, Mrs. Jaeger presented Communications Director Susan Downing with cards and flowers in recognition of her upcoming retirement and in gratitude for her 11 years of service to the district.
Superintendent’s Remarks
Dr. Wipke said it was so good to see the entire Board, even if by Zoom.
Last year, prior to officially becoming Superintendent, Dr. Wipke attended the Board’s retreat, but was just there to listen. So, this is technically his first retreat with the Board of Education.
He shared the news that the Ladue Early Childhood Center received two Promising Practice awards from Character.org for their Mighty Oaks Passport Day and their Mighty Oaks School Garden. Ladue Horton Watkins High School also received a Promising Practice award for their Character Cadre.
Dr. Wipke thanked Kimberly McKenzie, the district’s incoming Communications Director for spending time transitioning with the Communications Department staff and for being on this call with the Board of Education.
The Cabinet Retreat was held on June 3 and 4 and was held in person in the Multipurpose Room of the high school with all members socially distanced.
Summer Institute, the annual two-day meeting of all district administrators will be held on June 17 and 18. This is a time for planning and setting the direction for the upcoming school year.
Two Ladue Schools students, Lauryn Donovan and Victoria Neal, coordinated a peace march which began in Frontenac and made its way west on Clayton Road. So proud of our kids sharing the message that Black Lives Matter.
Dr. Wipke shared that the entire administrative team will be reading We Got This. by Cornelius Minor. The book examines how authentically listening to students can spark action that allows us to make powerful moves toward equity by broadening access to learning for all children.
ACTION ITEMS
Board Advisory Committee Patron Appointments. The administrators who lead Board Advisory Committees recommended, and the Board approved, the following patrons begin serving on these committees in the 2020-21 school year. Due to increased interest in these committees, the Board will be considering increasing the number of patron appointments in future years.
Finance Board Advisory Committee: Kristen Cooper, Roger Levy, Hudson Moore and Todd Stanton
Facilities Board Advisory Committee: David Singer
Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee: Luis Copeland, Andrea Krussel, Madaline Lapp and Linda Varadachari
Technology Board Advisory Committee: Kendall Norris and Brett Ramsey
INFORMATION ITEMS
Administrative Center Roof Work. Director of Facilities Mike Noonan reviewed the recommendations for needed roof work at the Administrative Center. The Board will vote on this item during the second half of their retreat scheduled for July 11, 2020 at 3 p.m.
2020-21 School Lunch Prices. Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Jason Buckner outlined the administration’s recommendation to not increase student meal prices for the 2020-21 school year. Historically, the program has been designed to run a small surplus, with excess funds being used to support additional food service expenses. The Board will vote on this item during the second half of their retreat which is scheduled for July 11, 2020 beginning at 3 p.m.
2020-21 Master Agreement. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Julie Helm and Dr. Buckner presented the administration’s recommendation to approve an updated Master Agreement between the district and the Ladue Educators’ Association. The updated agreement incorporates the items approved in the Meet and Confer negotiations approved by the Board on Jan. 27, 2020. The Meet and Confer negotiations take place every year in order for the district and the Ladue Educators’ Association (LEA) to discuss salary, benefits and working conditions. The Board will vote on this item at the June 29, 2020 Board meeting.
Teacher Evaluation Manual Updates. Dr. Julie Helm presented recommended changes to the Certified Staff and Ladue Early Childhood Center Staff Evaluation Program and Manual. Upon finalization of the Meet and Confer process, the decision was made to dissolve the Evaluation Incentive Pay, which resulted in the need to make changes to the Evaluation Manual. The Board will vote on this item at the June 29, 2020 Board meeting.
REPORTS
Curriculum and Instruction Initiatives. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Amy Zielinski reviewed the status of Curriculum & Instruction initiatives embedded in the district’s Strategic Plan. In addition, Dr. Zielinski outlined the curriculum revisions currently in process and planned for the coming school year. Extensive additional details can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph.
Assessment Specialist Lisa Lacroix outlined the district’s intent to develop, maintain and actively use a Data Dashboard that will provide meaningful student data to teachers and administrators on an ongoing basis. Data will be drawn from the district’s student information system (Infinite Campus) and assessment resources. Analysis and use will be focused on continuously identifying opportunities to make changes in instruction that will assist in closing the education/opportunity gap. The role of Assessment Specialist is new to the district in the 2020-21 school year and has been created in order to provide additional accountability in the district’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work.
Reentry Planning. Dr. Jim Wipke and the lead administrator for each department presented the status of the district’s planning for reentry in the fall. Decisions will not be made until mid-July when more is known about the status of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, district administrators are continuing to plan for various potential scenarios in order to be able to quickly prepare for and communicate those decisions once they are made. Dr. Wipke’s presentation can be viewed by clicking on the header to this paragraph.
Initiatives for 2020-21. Dr. Wipke presented his vision and goals for the 2020-21 school year.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular Board of Education meeting will be Business Meetings on June 29, 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 June 29, 2020:
ACTION
Consolidated Application for Federal Grants
Final 2019-20 Bus Routes
Extra Duty Stipend Amounts
2020-21 Lunch Prices
Hearing and Approval of 2020-21 Preliminary Budget
Curriculum Revisions
2020-21 Tuition Rate Per Policy JECA
Teacher Evaluation Manual
INFORMATION
