Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Board Briefs from Feb. 26, 2018 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Feb. 26, 2018 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
Courtney Conway, Special Education Resource Teacher, Old Bonhomme Elementary

Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke commended the high school for its outstanding performance of the musical The Addams Family. She said the student performances were exemplary and specifically thanked the following teachers for their assistance with the production: Director Mike Pecka, Pit Director Aaron Lehde, Vocal Director Tom Lowery, and Technical Director Daniel Raedeke.
  • Dr. Jahnke shared that the Board of Education and she would soon begin their discussions regarding the selection process for the next Ladue Schools superintendent. The general timeline is to select a search firm in the spring, accept and analyze applications throughout the summer, and begin interviews in the fall once school is back in session, with the goal of selecting a new superintendent by the end of December 2018. Additional details will be provided when they are available. 

PUBLIC HEARING
2019-20 School Calendar. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Jennifer Allen presented the administration’s recommendation for the 2019-20 School Calendar. The calendar is very similar to previous years’ calendars in terms of student contact days, teacher contact days and days incorporated for staff professional development. The approved calendar reflects the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and the last day of school on Friday, May 22.

ACTION ITEM

2019-20 School Calendar. The Board approved the administration’s recommendation for the 2019-20 School Calendar. Details can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph.

High School Building Project: Project Report #23; Contractor Payment Requests. Project Director for S. M. Wilson Kort Cole presented Construction Progress Report #23, which includes the January pay application and updates on the work completed, the construction timeline and the project budget. Photos of various components of the project are included in the linked document.  

At this time, anticipated savings identified on the project as originally defined are anticipated to be approximately $4 million, which is not inclusive of the construction contingency of $763,831 in the construction budget for unidentified or unforeseen expenses incurred during the remainder of the project.

Meet & Confer Report/Recommendations. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented the Meet & Confer Report along with Ladue Educators’ Association Meet & Confer representative Jesse McGlaughlin. The Meet and Confer process is used to discuss salary, benefits and working conditions between the teachers and the district. The Board approved the report. With this approval, appropriate updates to the Master Agreement will be completed.

Speech and Debate Day Resolution. The Board approved the request of Speech and Debate Club President Edward Wu and Vice President Levi Dyson to sign a resolution for the purpose of recognizing Friday, March 2, 2018, as National Speech and Debate Education Day. This event will be celebrated nationwide to promote speech and debate instruction across all grade levels and to highlight the pivotal roles these abilities play in personal advocacy, social movements and public policy making.

INFORMATION ITEMS

C&I Instruction Updates; Student Performance Data. Dr. Allen presented information regarding Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) performance data by grade. The presentation also included an assessment of the Curriculum and Instruction Department’s 2017-18 initiatives, along with outlining the 2018-19 goals. Details can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph.

Social and Emotional Supports. The district already has a number of programs in place to support students academically, and these efforts will continue. In this presentation, with assistance from Mr. Rossics and Director of Student Services Dr. Derrick Wallace, Dr. Allen presented the multi-tiered system of supports for students with social and emotional needs. Some are already in place, and some are currently in development.

These social and emotional support programs include the integration of support mechanisms that apply to  all students, as well as those developed specifically for more intensive support for specific groups and individual students. Implementation will require extensive staff training, as well as potential reallocation of staff. Details can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on March 12, 2018, at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting March 12, 2018:

ACTION
  • High School Building Project
    • Project Report #24
    • Contractor Payment Requests

INFORMATION
  • Policy Review
  • Board Advisory Committee Re-Appointments


Board Briefs from Feb. 13, 2018 Board Business Meeting & Work Session

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Feb. 13, 2018, Board Business & Work Session 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 shared her enthusiasm for the growth of the district’s robotics program. Started with the dream of one Reed Elementary School teacher (Karen Engelkenjohn) several years ago, the district now has a robotics program K-12 with competitive teams at the elementary and high school levels. Dr. Jahnke credits the teachers who support this program for its continued success. Leading the way are Mark Biernbaum, Kathie Dolan, Karen Engelkenjohn, Lindsay Lombardo, Tammy Maclean, and Steve Schmidt.  She also noted that the Ladue Education Foundation was integral in providing the funding for these programs when they initially began.  
ACTION ITEM
High School Building Project: Change Orders, Requisitions. The Board approved the following requests for the High School renovation project:
  • Change Order requests 136 and 165
  • Final large furniture order through EdPlus approved for $781,243.99 not to exceed $2,502,736 furniture budget
  • Asbestos Monitoring and Testing pay request of $39,000 to Farmer Environmental
Details can be found by clicking on the header above.

WORK SESSION ITEMS

2018 Summer Programs. Director of Student Services Dr. Derrick Wallace presented the 2018 Summer School Program plan which incorporates targeted interventions and project-based learning at all levels for students who need additional support. The plan includes a recovery program for high school students, a Middle School Summer Academy, an Elementary Summer Academy (incoming K-5) and a Ladue Early Childhood Center Summer Camp.

Update on School Start Times. Dr. Allen presented the Calendar Committee’s recommendations for 2019-2020 school start times. The report includes research on best practices and comparisons with surrounding districts, as well as logistics and needs specific to the Ladue School District. Recommendations include a communication and implementation plan for the following start times:
  • 7:30 a.m. for K-4 elementary schools
  • 8:10 a.m. for Ladue Horton Watkins High School and Fifth Grade Center
  • 8:50 a.m. for Ladue Middle School
2019-2020 School Calendar. Dr. Allen presented the administration’s recommendation for the 2019-2020 School Calendar. The calendar is very similar to previous years’ calendars in terms of student contact days, teacher contact days and days incorporated for staff professional development. The approved calendar reflects the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and the last day of school on Friday, May 22.

Staff Attendance. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented an updated version of the 2017-2018 Staff Attendance and Sub Report, with data through Dec. 31, 2017. The report included a summary of absence data for district employees for each building, comparing the first semester of the 2016-2017 school year to the first semester of the current school year (2017-2018) after raising awareness with staff regarding improved absence management. The report also included information regarding changes made to substitute services and the absence management system. The overall absence data for this school year will be updated after the fiscal year concludes on June 30, 2018.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on Feb. 26, 2018 at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting Feb. 26, 2018:

ACTION
  • 2019-2020 School Calendar
  • Meet and Confer Report and Recommendations
  • High School Building Project
    • Project Report #23
    • Contractor Payment Requests
INFORMATION
  • C&I Instruction Updates: Student Performance Data
  • 2018-2019 Budget Discussion

Friday, February 2, 2018

Board Briefs from Jan. 22, 2018 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the Jan. 22, 2018 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
Julianne Schankman
Early Childhood Music Teacher, Ladue Early Childhood Center

Board of Education Appreciation Week
Andy Bresler, Sheri Glantz, Nancy Leve Goldstein, Carolyn Jaeger,
Sheldon Johnson, Jeff Kopolow, Kisha Lee

Board President's Remarks
  • After Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke recognized the Board of Education for their service in honor of Board of Education Appreciation Week, President Andy Bresler thanked Dr. Jahnke, indicating that he believes he speaks for all Board members when he says they are all honored to be serving the Ladue Schools community. He specifically noted his appreciation for his fellow Board members and the spirit of collaboration in which they work.   
  • Mr. Bresler also announced that three candidates have filed for the Board of Education election to be held on April 3, 2018. Two candidates will be elected to fulfill three-year terms. In the order the candidate’s names will appear on the ballot, they are: Nancy Leve Goldstein, Sheri Glantz and Tom O’Brien.

Superintendent Remarks

  • Dr. Jahnke recommended that everyone take the opportunity to go to this year’s Chili Supper, if they are able.  This annual event takes place on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018 from 5-7 p.m.  The Boys Varsity Basketball Team will take on Parkway West at 7 p.m. in the Nielson Gymnasium.  

ACTION ITEM

2017-2018 Revised Budget. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the 2017-2018 Revised Budget. The Board of Education approved the 2017-2018 Preliminary Budget on June 26, 2017.  Each year, the annual budget is adjusted and revised based on the availability of more accurate revenue and expense data than is available in the summer prior to the school year beginning. (Click on the paragraph header for additional details.)

High School Building Project: Project Report #22; Contractor Payment Requests. Project Director for S. M. Wilson Kort Cole presented Construction Progress Report #22, which includes the December pay application and updates on the work completed during Winter Break (including the completion and turnover of the top two floors of the West Wing by the start of second semester), the construction timeline and the project budget. Photos of various components of the project are included in the linked document.  

At this time, anticipated savings identified on the project as originally defined are anticipated to be approximately $4.02 million, which is not inclusive of the construction contingency of $807,768 in the construction budget for unidentified or unforeseen expenses incurred during the remainder of the project.

Clayton Road Property Next Steps. Pursuant to Missouri state law, statute RSMo177.073, the Board of Education determined that all bids received for the 10601 Clayton Road property in response to a recent Request for Proposal are unsatisfactory. Following this vote, the Board decided to pursue further negotiations with the party identified as proposing the most economically advantageous terms: McBride Berra Land Company.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Missouri Assessment Partnership. Dr. Jahnke provided information on the Missouri Assessment Partnership (MOAP), an assessment consortium comprised of public school districts from across the state who seek to change the way students are tested in order to gain results that are better able to drive instruction.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Work Session at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2018, at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road. The following meeting will be a Business Meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2018, at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.

Tentative Agenda Items for Work Session Feb. 13, 2018:

INFORMATION
  • 2018 Summer Programs
  • Update on School Start Times
  • 2019-2020 School Calendar
  • Staff Attendance

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting Feb. 26, 2018:

ACTION
  • 2019-2020 School Calendar
  • Meet and Confer Report and Recommendations
  • High School Building Project
  • Project Report #23
  • Contractor Payment Requests

INFORMATION
  • C&I Instruction Updates: Student Performance Data
  • 2018-2019 Budget Discussion