This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 11, 2022 regular Board of Education 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 to view a recording from the April 11 Board Meeting
Board President Remarks
Five Board members and Dr. Wipke attended a regional meeting recently, where local school districts get together to talk about best practices, legislative matters, and many other topics.
Having been President for the last three years, I want to touch briefly on the many accomplishments we as a Board have achieved in that time. We initiated our Instructional Coaches, organized our Social Emotional Behavior team, brought on a data analyst as well as an Equity Coordinator, and we completed our Panorama survey. We’re also studying our counseling services, have helped improve content on our district website, rewriting curriculum, improving PLCs, conducted a hiring data report, done an analysis of our certified salary schedule, analyzed our financials ahead of Prop L and passed the measure, and transitioned in a new Superintendent and new assistant superintendents of Finance and Human Resources. Finally, we also aligned our Board goals and are now working on district goals and are developing a new strategic plan. Additionally, we made it through the pandemic without our community tearing itself apart while our staff endured with dignity and compassion. All the while, we were focused on the success of our students and the safety inside our school buildings. I am proud that we did not let the difficulties of COVID become distractions to our mission.
I’d like to wish our next Board President much less turbulence during their term and hope there will be calmer and more peaceful in our district. I’ll add that success is not determined by how well you shoulder the burden, but by how well you distribute it. Although the President leads the governance of our organization, they are one of seven and we take on burdens as a team. We are all here to see our next President Kisha Lee succeed.
Superintendent Remarks
I want to thank Carolyn Jaeger for her service as Board President. We would not have been on the same timeline for Prop L if not for her efforts. Also, if I had to go through COVID with any Board President, I’m glad I experienced it with Carolyn because of her diligence and willingness to listen.
I also want to thank our Ladue Schools community; over the last two and a half years, tonight’s audience is the largest crowd we’ve had at a Board meeting. The Ladue community has been with us throughout the last two and a half years and I thank you for that. We had to make tough decisions during the pandemic and I know we couldn’t make everyone happy all the time, but our community stayed with us.
Tonight is an important meeting as we reorganize our Board officer positions. It goes without saying that our current Board members and officers have done a remarkable job; thank you all for your service in the last year.
Here are a few highlights in our district since our last meeting in March: the high school hosted a regional NSDA competition. More than 60 schools participated and LHWHS students performed very well, winning many awards with several moving on to compete at the national level.
Our chess team also recently won the state tournament, and our Science Olympiad teams at both LMS and LHWHS performed well at state; LMS took 1st place and LHWHS took 2nd in their respective divisions.
Also, our high school’s History Bowl team won the state championship and will represent our state in the national competition at the end of this month.
The Panorama magazine at our high school earned its first-ever Pacemaker, one of the most prestigious awards a publication can receive, and received the highest ranking of All-American from the National Scholastic Press Association. It also placed third in the nation in news magazines.
ACTION ITEMS
Administration of Oaths of Office
Sheldon Johnson and Jeff Kopolow both were sworn into office following their election on April 5.
Kisha Lee was voted Board President, Marissa Rosen as Vice President, Jennifer Growe Soshnik as Secretary, and Andy Bresler as Treasurer.
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Julie Helm presented, and the Board approved, a report from the concluded discussions related to the Meet and Confer process with the Ladue Educators Association.
INFORMATION ITEMS
COVID-19 Stipend (MOVED TO ACTION)
Dr. Helm presented, and the Board approved, a one-time, $1,000 stipend for all district employees to assist with collecting data and strategies related to what was learned during the pandemic.
Board Advisory Committee Re-Appointments
Re-appointment information from the Curriculum and Instruction, Facilities, and Finance Board Advisory committees was shared.
Reed and Conway Gymnasiums/Storm Shelters
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Geoff Macy discussed progress on the projects at Conway and Reed Elementary.
Conway Easement (MOVED TO ACTION)
Director of Facilities Mike Noonan discussed, and the Board approved, granting the City of Ladue three easements, one temporary and two permanent, related to the installation and maintenance of flashing hazard light signs at the Conway Elementary crosswalk.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a regular Business Meeting on Monday, April 25, 2022. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.
