Thursday, January 30, 2014

Board Briefs for Board of Education Meeting - January 27, 2014

This information includes highlights of action taken and information received by the Ladue Board of Education at the January 27, 2014, 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.

Excellence in Education Award
 Jennifer Corcoran, Special School District Teacher
Ladue Early Childhood Center

Board President Remarks
  • Board President Jeff Kopolow announced there are six candidates running for three open seats on the Board of Education in the April 8, 2014 election.  In filing order, they are:  Steve Spratt, Andy Bresler, Carolyn Jaeger, Matthew McLendon, Sheldon Johnson and Kisha Lee. A Meet the Candidates night is scheduled for March 3, 2014, at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria, giving community members an opportunity to pose questions through a forum conducted by the League of Women Voters.
Superintendent Remarks
  • In honor of School Board Recognition Week in Missouri, Dr. Jahnke commended the Board on their voluntary service to the district.  Beyond preparing for and attending meetings of the Board of Education, Board members also serve as Board liaison on numerous district committees and in individual school buildings, and represent the district in area organizations, such as Special School District and the Missouri School Boards Association.  Dr. Jahnke read a proclamation from the governor and presented each Board member with a certificate of appreciation for their service to the students of the district.
  • HEC-TV visited the district's Video Technology Center last week to film two more segments of Explore!  The two topics were "Life as a Dog" and "The Human Body: Eyes and Ears."  One of our high school students, Annie Donnell participated in "The Human Body: Eyes and Ears," sharing her perspectives as someone who is blind.
  • Reed Elementary School was selected by the Missouri Professional Learning Communities State Management Team as a 2014 Missouri Exemplary Professional Learning Community School and will officially be presented with the award this week.
  • The U.S. Department of Education has notified the district of six high school students who have been invited to apply for the Presidential Scholars Program.  Students are selected based on their academic and artistic success, leadership and involvement in school and community.  This is the highest number of student candidates selected from the district in many years.
ACTION ITEMS

2014 District Summer School Programs.   Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Laura Brock presented, and the Board approved, the administration's recommendation for summer school programming for 2014, including:
  • High School Credit Recovery (grades 10-12)
  • High School Title 1 Program (grades 9 and 10)
  • Middle School Title 1 Program (grades 7 and 8)
  • Elementary Title 1 Program (grades 1-5)
  • LECC Summer Camp (fee based)
Specifics about these programs can be found by clicking on the link above.  

High School Feasibility Study.  Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented the administration's recommendation to appoint Mackey Mitchell Architects to conduct a study to determine the logistics and financial implications of updating and renovating the high school facilities.  This recommendation comes as a result of the district issuing a formal Request for Qualifications for this work, analyzing the information provided, interviewing three of the six responding companies, and negotiating terms with the company ultimately selected.  Mackey Mitchell is anticipated to deliver the feasibility study approximately three to four months after Board approval.

The Board requested additional information and voted to delay their decision until a later meeting.  This study is being done as part of the district's initiative to update its Strategic Plan which includes the development of long-term plans for educational programming and facilities.   No decision, commitment or timetable has been determined for renovating the high school at this time.

Five-Year Financial Forecast.  Dr. Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the district's Five-Year Financial Plan, explaining the district’s overall financial projections are driven primarily by the financial strategies previously approved by the Board to assist in managing the district’s operating budget.
  • Institution of a 15% unrestricted fund balance threshold 
  • Passing of Proposition 1, a $.49 operating levy increase
  • Setting a 2% unrestricted operating budget spending increase parameter
For the next two years, the district will continue to run a surplus budget.  However, beginning in the 2016-17 school year, with 2% spending parameters and assuming flat revenue, the district will begin to spend down the district's existing fund balance and could reach the 15% unrestricted fund balance threshold by 2021.  Should property values in the district begin to rebound in upcoming assessment years, the district's ability to remain above the 15% unrestricted fund balance threshold may be extended beyond the five years currently forecasted.

Class Size Policy. Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board approved, a revised class size policy to be implemented in the 2014-15 school year.  A Superintendent Advisory Committee met during the first semester to study class size research, state and local policy, as well as financial and facility implications relating to the district's class size policies and procedures.  The committee submitted their report to Dr. Jahnke prior to Winter Break.   Dr. Jahnke and the district's Executive Leadership Team studied the committee's report and developed the recommendations to be presented to the Board.  The Board and administration then held lengthy discussions on the topic at their January 13 and 27 meetings.


The actual approved policy can be found through the link above.  The chart below shows the newly adopted class size information in blue, as well as additional comparative information.  It is important to note the following:
  • Due to budget and building constraints, the district has not been able to strictly implement the “Previous Policy” numbers since 2004, with the most recent results being reflected in “Current Practice.”
  • The “Maximum” numbers represent the highest number of students to be assigned to a classroom before adding another section.  They do not represent anticipated average classroom sizes.  Rather, the “Typical Range” represents the number of students anticipated to be in most classrooms, as a result of where the maximums are set.  (Projections indicate at least 75% of classrooms will fall into these ranges in the 2014-15 school year.)
  • At the secondary levels (grades 6 through 12), the “Maximum” and “Typical Ranges” are for core academic content areas only.
  • In district guidelines – which are not reflected in district policies – it will be noted a class will be “split” (a section added) when one classroom is one student over the “Maximum,” to the extent building space allows.
  • It will also be noted in the guidelines that in situations where building space is not available to accommodate all sections, preference for adding additional sections will be given to grades K-2.  In these situations, consideration will be given to adding Teacher Assistants in classrooms over the maximum. 
The estimated cost increase to implement this recommendation for the 2014-15 school year is $511,000.  For the 2013-14 school year, six additional classroom teachers were added K-2, two additional Teacher Assistants were added in grades three and four, four additional Teacher Assistants were added to provide intervention services, and elective sections at the high school were added to alleviate overcrowding.  These 2013-14 efforts increased teacher costs by approximately $456,300.  Therefore, the 2014-15 recommendations reflect a continued effort in the reduction of core content class sizes in the district, for a combined estimated cost of approximately $967,300.

In making these recommendations, Dr. Jahnke stressed the importance of taking a balanced approach so other primary contributors to student learning and success can be supported as well, specifically those related to teacher effectiveness and instructional resources.  Dr. Jahnke also noted, despite the opening of the Fifth Grade Center, the district's building capacities would not allow full implementation of the district’s previous policy and the policy being adopted is projected to result in all available classrooms being utilized at three of the four elementary schools. 

The next step in addressing class size will be to review course offerings, staff assignments and scheduling at the secondary level.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Draft of 2014 Legislative Positions.  Dr. Jahnke presented the Board with a draft of potential legislative positions and asked for comments and recommended revisions to be directed to her prior to the Board's next discussion of the topic on February 24, 2014.   The Board is anticipated to adopt legislative position at this meeting.

Tentative Agenda Items for Work Session Meeting February 10, 2014:
  • 2015-16 School Calendar
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting February 24, 2014:

      Action:
  • 2015-16 School Calendar Hearing and Approval
  • Meet and Confer Report
  • 2014 Legislative Positions
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Work Session on February 10, 2014 at 6 p.m.  The next Business Meeting of the Board will take place on February 24, 2014 at 7 p.m.  Both meetings will be held at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Board Briefs for Board of Education Business Meeting and Workshop - January 13, 2014


This information includes highlights of action taken and information received by the Ladue Board of Education at the January 13, 2014, 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.

Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke commented on the recent "Snow Days" in the district, explaining there are four additional days built into the calendar, of which three have now been used.  She indicated the district's first "Late Start Day" went well, with just a few kinks to be worked out going forward.  Dr. Jahnke thanked Director of Facilities Mike Noonan and his facilities crew, Transportation Manager Barb Myers, and Director of Communications Susan Dielmann for their efforts on these challenging days.
  • Dr. Jahnke commented on the Dance Marathon held at the high school on Saturday, January 11, 2014, in which approximately 200 students participated.  This first time event was coordinated by two students: Emily Biest and Sophie Lustman and sponsored by teachers Mike Farrell and Julie Blank.  They hoped to generate $10,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network, but actually collected over $22,000.  KSDK covered the event on their 10 p.m. Saturday newscast.
ACTION ITEMS

Participation in A+ Public Schools Program.  The Board approved the administration's recommendation for the high school to begin participation in the state's A+ Scholarship Program.  This program provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of "A+ designated" high schools who attend a participating public community college or vocational/technical school, or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools.  More information.

WORK SESSION

Class Size Discussion.  Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Laura Brock and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics provided the Board with an overview of the process and work of the Class Size Subcommittee which met during the first semester to study class size research, state and local policy, as well as financial and facility implications relating to the district's class size policies and procedures.  The committee submitted their report to Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke prior to Winter Break.   Dr. Jahnke and the district's Executive Leadership Team studied the committee's report and made the following recommendations to the Board.  As noted in the linked document, these recommendations closely align with those submitted by the committee.

The recommendations (shown to the left) reflect the maximum number of students recommended to be placed in core academic content classrooms.  The average class sizes are anticipated to be lower in most cases.  An additional section would be added when there is one additional student in a section above the recommendation.  

The estimated cost increase to implement this recommendation for the 2014-15 school year is $365,800.  For the 2013-14 school year, six additional classroom teachers were added K-2, two additional Teacher Assistants were added in grades three and four, four additional Teacher Assistants were added to provide intervention services, and elective sections at the high school were added to alleviate overcrowding.  These 2013-14 efforts increased teacher costs by $456,343.  Therefore, the 2014-15 recommendations reflect a continued effort in the reduction of core content class sizes in the district, for a combined estimated cost of over $822,000.

The Board asked administration to outline the costs -- including salaries, benefits and additional facility requirements -- to maintain the class size policy passed in 2002.  (The district has been unable to strictly adhere to this policy since approximately 2004 due to facility and budget constraints.)  The additional cost for salaries in this scenario is estimated to be $877,920, which would create an increase in overall salaries of $1.33 million for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years combined.  Additional required facility costs will be estimated and added to these costs for the Board's consideration at the January 27, 2014 meeting.

At the January 27, 2014, meeting, the Board will continue to discuss the topic and will either make a decision, or delay a decision until a subsequent meeting.  Following approval of a new class size policy, the district's current  class size policy (IHB) will be amended, and the approved methodology for adding sections and Teacher Assistants will be incorporated into the district's Guidelines and Procedures.

Once these policies and guidelines are approved, the next step in addressing class size will be to review course offerings, staff assignments and scheduling at the secondary level.

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting January 27, 2014:
  • School Board Recognition Week
  • Announcement of School Board Candidates
  • 7th Grade Green Schools Project
ACTION
  • Annual Renewal of Agreement to Participate in PEGS
  • City of Ladue/District Resource Officer Agreement
  • 2014 District Summer School Programs
INFORMATION
  • Draft of 2014 Legislative Positions
The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on January 27, 2014 at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.