Friday, November 15, 2013

Board Briefs for Board of Education Work Session - November 11, 2013

This information includes highlights of the discussions of the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the November 11, 2013, Work Session, as well as links to the information received by the Board.  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 Remarks
  • Board of Education President Jeff Kopolow announced that the Ladue Novice Individual Speech and Debate Tournament will be held on Friday at 4 p.m. at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. He encouraged everyone to attend this event where the competition is as "fierce as any athletic competition."  
Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke recognized the district's staff members who are also veterans, thanking them for their service to our country.  These staff members include: Roy Hagan, Hank Harrison, Rose Henke, Cindy Stevenson, Robert Snidman and J.B. Tate.  Board of Education Vice President Stacy Washington also served in the Air Force.  Veteran's Day activities occurred throughout the district today, commemorating the many military men and women who bravely serve our country.
INFORMATION ITEMS

Missouri Learning Standard Update.  Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Laura Brock updated the Board on the Missouri Learning Standards (what Missouri is calling the Common Core State Standards) and how they are being embedded into the curriculum already in place for the Ladue School District.

The presentation began with three district teachers demonstrating how the Missouri Learning Standards are placing more emphasis than previous state requirements on the application of knowledge as opposed to the content itself.
  • Carolyn Parham, Second-Grade Teacher at Conway Elementary School, presented a lesson on poetry and the techniques used to teach students about alliteration, repeated lines, rhyming and rhythm.  
  • Laila Crabtree, Sixth-Grade Social Studies Teacher and Department Chair, explained how important strong reading and writing skills are to successfully meeting the Missouri Learning Standards in social studies which require text-based question answering, informational writing and writing from sources.  
  • Matt Strayhorn, Seventh-Grade Algebra Teacher, explained how he is using the "flipped" classroom concept to use time more effectively in his classroom.  As homework, students watch Mr. Strayhorn teach the lesson on video, leaving class time available for students to work in groups and for him to work individually with students struggling with specific concepts. 
Dr. Brock then reviewed information regarding how instruction will change to help students successfully meet the Missouri Learning Standards, by shifting from the acquisition of knowledge, to the assimilation of knowledge, to the application of knowledge.

MSIP 5.  Dr. Brock reviewed the district's Annual Performance Report, noting the district had an overall rating of 98.9%.  The district achieved 100% of points possible in the areas of Academic Achievement, College and Career Readiness, Attendance and Graduation Rate.  The district received 89.3% of points possible in Subgroup Achievement, with 75% scores in English Language Arts and Social Studies, and 100% scores in Mathematics and Science.  Dr. Brock explained the district will be looking closely at the disaggregated results to determine how best to improve results in the underperforming student groups.

Tentative Agenda Items for the Board's Business Meeting on November 25, 2013:

      ACTION
  • Acceptance of Auditor's Report
      INFORMATION
  • Proposed High School Course/Program/Procedure Changes
  • 2014-15 LECC Tuition
  • 2013-14 Revised Budget
  • Board Policy Changes
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on November 25, 2013 at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.
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Friday, November 1, 2013

Board Briefs for Board of Education Business Meeting - October 28, 2013

This information includes highlights of action taken and information received by the Ladue Board of Education at the October 28, 2013, 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.

Staff Recognition
October 2013 Excellence in Education Award
Abby Wheeler, Science Teacher
Ladue Horton Watkins High School

Student Recognition
2013 National Merit Semifinalists

Emily Biest, Katherine Campbell, Enze Chen, Emily Chu, Justin Cole, 
Sam Crowder, Jialin Ding, Michael Figenshau, Robert Marshall, Shira Morosohk, 
Caleb Rosenthal, Nate Rushing, Scott Sanchez, Stella Schindler, Luke Song, Ben Zhang, Eric Zhu
    Superintendent Remarks
    • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke attended a luncheon hosted by The Archway Chapter of Links, Inc. where Marteana Davidson, of the district's Video Technology department, was recognized for her volunteer work in media editing.  In addition, Harriet Kopolow, wife of Board of Education President Jeff Kopolow, was honored for her work with youth and the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse.  The Links is a volunteer service organization of women committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African-Americans and persons of African ancestry.
    • Dr. Jahnke congratulated Ladue Middle School students on their work to eliminate cyberbullying by selling STAMP bracelets.  STAMP stands for Students Together Against Mean Posts.  The slogan and bracelets were designed by Claire Rowe and are being sold at lunch at the middle school with proceeds going to an anti-cyberbullying organization.
    • Dr. Jahnke announced the property owned by the district at 10601 Clayton Road in Frontenac is under contract with residential developer The Pulte Group.
    ACTION ITEMS

    Trane Service Contract.  Administration recommended, and the Board approved, a three-year contract with St. Louis Trane Service Company to maintain all major HVAC components for the district.  This budgeted expense will allow the district to maintain the current annual costs in place for the duration of the three-year contract and adds the West Campus equipment.

    INFORMATION ITEMS

    Enrollment and Residency Report.  Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented the 2013-14 Enrollment and Residency Report, noting there were 4,097 students enrolled district-wide on the state's official "Count Day," representing an increase of 127 from last school year and equating to a 21.6% increase in enrollment over the last ten years.  Projections indicate enrollment will increase by approximately 100 more students in the next two years.  (The district enrolled 88 students from Normandy and Riverview Gardens school district as a result of the student transfer program put in place this past summer.  Transfer students were not reflected in the projections.)

    The district has convened a Superintendent's Advisory Committee to study the educational and financial impact of class size and will report to the superintendent in December for Board of Education consideration in January.

    Revenue Enhancement Discussion.  Dr. Jahnke and Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner led a discussion regarding the potential of alternative revenue sources for the district.  After outlining current district policies and practices, Dr. Buckner outlined possible alternatives including private fundraising through the alumni association and the Ladue Education Foundation, as well as corporate opportunities through the sale of naming rights and advertisements.

    Tentative Agenda Items for the Board's Work Session on November 11, 2013:
    • Missouri Learning Standards Update
    • MSIP 5
    Tentative Agenda Items for the Board's Business Meeting on November 25, 2013:

          ACTION
    • Acceptance of Auditor's Report
          INFORMATION
    • Proposed High School Course/Program/Procedure Changes
    • 2014-15 LECC Tuition
    • 2013-14 Revised Budget
    • Board Policy Changes
    The next Board of Education meeting will be a Work Session on November 11, 2013 at 6 p.m.  The Board's next Business Meeting will take place on November 25, 2013 at 7 p.m.  Both meetings will be held at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.
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