This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the June 29, 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
Superintendent Remarks
Proud of district and of staff who took part in Leadership and Racism Institute recently and Ladue Schools was well-represented.
31 teachers volunteered to work with a group of 145 K-12 students in a one-on-one capacity to focus on literacy and expanding vocabulary. More than 831 hours were spent on literacy with those students this summer.
District Curbside Library Program: students can check out books from their schools over the summer. The program has been going very well.
Dr. LaGarrett King is visiting the district for two days to instruct teachers from Ladue Schools and from around the area about how they can be more intentional about teaching black history K-12.
Reentry plans are being worked on, and thank you to the leadership team who continues to work tirelessly on getting students back to school safely.
Communications about reentry will be sent to families and available to the public July 20.
I know the community cares deeply about the topic of safe reentry and families are worried about how things may look in the near future and how we’ll reopen schools. We plan to present multiple options for families to safely send their students back to school or to keep them at home and learn virtually.
ACTION ITEM
Approval of 2020-21 Preliminary Operating Budget: Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the preliminary budget for 2020-21. The economic results of the pandemic may negatively affect district revenues this year or in the future. At this time it is too early in the process to make specific determinations. Therefore, the 2020-21 (FY21) Preliminary Budget is estimated with no increase in revenue from state, federal, and local sources, as well as the implementation of strategic expenditure reductions, additions, and reallocations which results in projected Unrestricted Revenues of $64,693,255, Unrestricted Expenditures of $64,832,294, and a resulting Unrestricted Deficit of $139,038. It is important to note that it is planned to transfer $5,806,623 out of the Unrestricted Fund Balance to pay for planning and design fees associated with a potential future bond referendum. The resulting 2020-21 year-end Unrestricted Fund balance is projected to be 47.14%.
Performance-Based Teacher Evaluation Manual Changes/Certified Staff: Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Julie Helm presented, and the Board approved, the 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.
2020-21 Master Agreement: Dr. Julie Helm reviewed, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for 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.
Board Goals Review: Board President Carolyn Jaeger led a discussion on the 2020-21 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 on the initiatives identified as the district’s highest priorities.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Architect Contract Timeline: Board President Jaeger and Dr. Wipke presented the timeline related to the potential Bond Referendum, specifically related to the outlined stop points in the architect contract.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next regular Board of Education meeting will be Business Meetings on July 27, 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 July 27, 2020:
Opening of Schools Report
ACTION
· 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
· Board Policy Updates
· First Semester Board Meeting Agenda Calendar
