Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Board Briefs from April 25, 2016 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 25, 2016 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.


Excellence in Education Award
Amy Grunwaldt, Counselor, Conway Elementary School

Board President's Remarks
  • Board President Sheri Glantz extended her sympathies to the family and friends of Nick Olson, a junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School who was killed in a car accident this past weekend.  Mrs. Glantz said the Board and administration are keeping Nick’s loved ones in their thoughts and  will provide comfort and support to the family, students and staff in any way possible.
Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke also offered her sincere condolences and led those attending the meeting in a moment of silence in Nick’s honor.
ACTION ITEM

Support Staff Salary Range. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for support staff titles, salary ranges, and salary adjustments for the 2016-17 school year.  Adjustments vary by employee based upon where each staff member currently falls within the salary range for their position.  

Designation of Delegates and Alternates for MSBA, SSD Governing Council and EdPlus Legislative Liaison. The Board approved the appointments of the following Board members as liaisons to associations with which the district regularly meets and collaborates.

  • Missouri School Board Association:  Sheri Glantz (Andy Bresler, alternate)
  • Special School District: Sheldon Johnson (Sheri Glantz, alternate)
  • EdPlus Legislative Liaison: Dr. Jahnke (Jeff Kopolow, alternate)

Update on High School Building Project. Dr. Jahnke and Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Jason Buckner facilitated an update on the high school renovation project.  They recommended, and the Board approved, the approval of Project Report #1.  (The entire report is available by clicking on the header of this paragraph.)
As an overview, Project Director for S.M. Wilson Kort Cole provided a construction status update including information on the status of design and engineering; estimating, budgeting, and bidding; procurement; permitting and scheduling.

In addition, Financial Advisor for Sentry Financial, Matt DeLeo, and Bond Counsel for Thompson Coburn, Ali Tilghman, outlined the process and timeline for bond sales.  The district, under the advisement of these organizations, is currently in the process of selecting underwriters.  Funding is anticipated to be available to the district the second week of June.  The process and timeline presented includes the use of local underwriters and the incorporation of some local retail distribution.  At the May 23, 2016, meeting, the Board will be asked to approve the bond resolution which will include the pricing parameters of the bond sale and give the Board president permission to sign the documents required to execute the sale of the bonds.

Dr. Jahnke provided an administrative update and facilitated a conversation regarding the creation of a structure to allow for expedient, required discussions and approvals as construction progresses.  A discussion about the formation of a Special High School Project Board Advisory Committee ensued, to allow for the public to hear discussion on construction issues and items for Board approval.  This group might also be authorized (within certain thresholds established) to make decisions on behalf of the Board in an effort to expedite construction.  Board Members Andy Bresler, Carolyn Jaeger and Sheldon Johnson will represent the Board at these meetings and finalization of the structure and parameters will take place at the May 23, 2016 Board meeting.  

INFORMATION ITEMS

2016-2017 Board Meeting Dates. Dr. Jahnke outlined the anticipated schedule for Board meetings for the 2016-17 school year.  

Elementary Attendance Areas. Dr. Jahnke outlined a proposal to make minor changes to the district’s elementary school boundaries in an effort to ease potential overcrowding of Spoede Elementary School that may result from two apartment complexes currently under construction on Olive Boulevard in the Spoede Elementary attendance area.  These changes involve streets northwest of the intersection of Lindbergh Boulevard and Conway Road. At one time, students residing in this area attended Conway Elementary but were reassigned to Spoede Elementary in the early 1990’s.  The administration’s recommendation is for this area to be assigned back to Conway for the 2016-17 school year.    

Families who currently have students enrolled in Spoede Elementary would be “grandfathered” into Spoede Elementary (if desired) and would not be impacted by this change unless they voluntarily chose to change elementary schools.  Specific guidelines for making this change can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph.  The Board will be asked to approve this proposal at the May 23, 2016 meeting.  

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Work Session on May 10, 2016.  The following meeting will be a Business Meeting at 7 p.m. on May 23, 2016.  Both meetings will be held at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road. Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Work Session May 10, 2016:

INFORMATION
  • Update on High School Building Project
    • Bond Parameters Resolution
    • Administrative Updates
  • Limitless Learning Update
  • Extra Duty Stipend Amounts
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting May 23, 2016:

ACTION
  • 2016-2017 Extra Duty Stipend Amounts
  • Bond Parameters Resolution
  • Elementary Attendance Areas
INFORMATION

  • Consolidated Application for Federal Grants
  • 2016-2017 Testing Schedule
  • Update on High School Building Project
    • Project Report #2
    • Administrative Updates
  • 2016-2017 School Lunch Prices
  • 2016-2017 Budget Introduction & Financial Planning
  • Board Member Assignment to Board Advisory & Other Committees
  • Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees

Friday, April 15, 2016

Board Briefs from April 12, 2016 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 12, 2016 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
  • Board President Jeff Kopolow commented on how far he believes the Board has come in ensuring the Board’s decisions are well researched, discussed and communicated in a very transparent and appropriate way, and noted that the Board is scrupulous in following the law regarding what decisions are made in open versus closed meetings.  Mr. Kopolow is sincerely pleased to have been re-elected to the Ladue Schools Board of Education on April 5, 2016.  
  • Mr. Kopolow then led farewell remarks to Board Member Dan Regelean who has served for the past three years and is now stepping down.  Mr. Kopolow shared how much he has enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to serve with Mr. Regelean, noting that he has learned a great deal from him and considers him a friend.  Mr. Kopolow presented Mr. Regelean with a gift in appreciation for his service to the Ladue School District.
Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke offered her thanks to the Ladue Schools community for passing Proposition R on April 5, 2016.   Approval of this initiative will provide for Ladue Schools students well into the future and reflects an endorsement and appreciation by the community for the great work being done by the district.  Dr. Jahnke also specifically thanked the Commit2Ladue leadership team which includes Carl Bisig, Diane and Rod Patershuk, and Kelly Waller.  In addition, she thanked MICDS Head of School Lisa Lyle for her unprecedented public support of public schools and Proposition R which reflect the high value our entire community places on education.
  • Dr. Jahnke also thanked Board Member Dan Regelean for his service, enthusiasm and contributions to the Board’s work over the last few years, particularly in his area of expertise of Human Resources.  She encouraged Mr. Regelean to remain active in our district in other ways.
  • Dr. Jahnke acknowledged Jeff Kopolow for his leadership as President of the Board for the last three years.  She said he is a true advocate for both students and the community, and has held the entire administration accountable for continuous improvement and fulfillment of stated objectives.   During his tenure, considerable strides have been taken in the areas of teacher evaluation, class size reduction, and facilities improvement — particularly in regard to the high school renovation.  She looks forward to continuing to work with Mr. Kopolow.  
ACTION ITEM

Summer Capital Projects. Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Jason Buckner and Facilities Director Mike Noonan presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendations for some of the facilities projects scheduled to take place during the summer of 2016.  These include scheduled and budgeted carpet and fence replacement, replacement of the cooling tower at Conway Elementary School, and additional parking lot lighting at Old Bonhomme Elementary School.

In addition, the Board approved the administration’s recommendation to select GreenFields, in coordination with Byrne & Jones, a locally owned self-performing contractor, to develop the artificial turf field on the West Campus, which will be funded through revenue generated from the sale of bonds, as approved by the community through Proposition R.   The goal is to begin coordination with MSD in an effort to complete this project by Aug. 1, 2016.  

Administration of Oaths of Office. Board Secretary Nancy Goldstein administered the Oath of Office to Sheldon Johnson and Jeff Kopolow.  On April 5, 2016, voters elected Sheldon Johnson to his first term on the Board and re-elected incumbent Jeff Kopolow to his third term on the Board.  Both will serve
three-year terms.

Election of Officers. Board of Education officers for the coming year were elected as follows:

  • President Sheri Glantz
  • Vice President Andy Bresler
  • Treasurer Steve Spratt
  • Secretary Carolyn Jaeger

Amended School Calendars for 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19.  Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendations for changes to the school calendars and school day for the next three years.  These minor changes are being made as a result of voters approving Proposition R and were discussed when the 2017-18 calendar was presented on Feb. 22, 2016.  A committee of parents, teachers and administrators also provided input on these calendars and the modifications which might be made if Proposition R passed.  These alterations allow for 12-week summer breaks which will increase the time available for heavy construction at the high school without reducing instructional time for students or current teacher contract days.  Details of these changes can be found by clicking on the heading to this paragraph.    

INFORMATION ITEMS

Support Staff Employee Council Report. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented the Support Staff Employee Council (SSEC) Report which outlines salary and benefit considerations which have resulted from regular SSEC meetings since the beginning of the school year.  Recommendation for changes in salary ranges, titles, increase recommendations, evaluation procedures and potential leave revisions are included in the report.  The Board of Education will vote on acceptance of the salary related recommendations in the report pertaining to the 2016-17 school year at the meeting on April 25, 2016.

High School Building Project Update. Dr. Jahnke and Dr. Buckner updated the Board of Education on the activities taking place as a result of Proposition R passing on April 5, 2016.  These activities include:

  • Facilities:  Abatement bid refinement; moving logistics; mechanical systems schematic development; relocating of activities/sports/community use, as required.
  • Communications:  Updating the community on election results and next steps; creating plans for continuous updates on project status; continued work with the Ladue Education Foundation on raising funds for the capital campaign.
  • Finance:  Developing and executing plans for the initial sale of bonds to be completed within the next two months.
  • High School:  Making plans for relocation of some classrooms into temporary classrooms, purging materials no longer needed, and creating additional learning experiences for students during construction, while maintaining end of school events for this school year

Weekly meetings with design and construction teams will continue along with regular meetings with the  Board and individual Board members to ensure decisions can be made efficiently, as necessary.  

Architects and construction managers for the project will be at the April 25, 2016, meeting to present an update and answer questions.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on April 25, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting April 25, 2016:

ACTION
  • Acceptance of Certified Election Results
  • Designation of Board Member Delegates and Alternates for: MSBA, SSD Governing Council, EdPlus Legislative Liaison
INFORMATION

  • 2016-2017 Board Meeting Dates
  • Budget Update/Five-Year Financial Forecast
  • Update on High School Building Project