Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Board Briefs from April 23, 2018 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 23, 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
Heather Andrews
Fifth Grade Center Math & Science Teacher

Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke announced that Dr. Amy Zielinski will be the new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction as of July 1, 2018. She is replacing Dr. Jennifer Allen who will be retiring after serving the district in this role since 2015.
  • This Wednesday evening we will be honoring 16 retirees, 2 Distinguished Service Award winners and our Teachers of the Year at the annual Employee Recognition Banquet.
Board President's Remarks
  • Board President Andy Bresler shared that the Superintendent’s Finance Committee, the Superintendent’s Facilities Committee and administrators have been meeting in order to develop a series of comprehensive presentations to the Board in preparation for developing short- and long-term financial and facilities plans.
ACTION ITEM

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 (representative), Nancy Goldstein (alternate)
  • Special School District Governing Council: Kisha Lee (representative), Nancy Goldstein (alternate)
  • EdPlus Legislative Liaison: Jeff Kopolow (representative)

Support Staff Salary Recommendations. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics presented, and the Board approved, the Support Staff Employee Council (SSEC) Report, which outlines the salary and benefit considerations that have resulted from regular SSEC meetings since the beginning of the school year. Recommendations related to salaries and professional development information are included in the report.

High School Building Project: Project Report #24; Payment Applications. Project Director for S. M. Wilson Kort Cole presented Construction Progress Report #24, which includes the March 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.

ATG Sports, the company awarded the construction contract for the track and field project, has broken ground, and the demolition of the existing grandstands and field is underway.

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 $424,527 in the construction budget for unidentified or unforeseen expenses incurred during the remainder of the project.

Board Policy Changes. Mr. Rossics presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendations for changing GCBDA-AP(1) which is the Administrative Procedure pertaining to policy GCBDA - Pregnancy, Childbirth and Parental Leave. This change is aimed at creating greater equity for leave between parents who adopt and those who undergo pregnancy and childbirth.  

INFORMATION ITEMS

Board Policy Changes. Dr. Allen and Director of Student Services Dr. Derrick Wallace presented the administration’s recommendations for three additional policy changes. These changes are being made at the recommendation of the Missouri School Board Association (MSBA) in order to keep district policies in compliance with state and federal law, and to accurately reflect current district practices in policy.

  • IGBD - At Risk Students
  • JHD - Student Guidance and Counseling
  • JHDF - Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Professional Development Report and Plan. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Jennifer Allen introduced Drew Crismon, the chair of the District Professional Development Committee, who presented the committee’s annual report which detailed the professional development work for the past school year and plans for 2018-19.

Preliminary 2018-2019 Budget Discussion. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Jason Buckner outlined the initial steps taken by the administration to begin drafting the 2018-19 Preliminary Budget. The Board and administration will continue these discussions at workshops and meetings scheduled for the remainder of the spring and summer. The Board is required to approve a preliminary budget for the upcoming year by July 1 of each year.

Business Manager Barb Myers outlined significant changes the state is requiring public school districts implement in their accounting, budgeting and budget reporting processes beginning in the 2018-19 school year.

2018-2019 High School Course Change Proposal. Dr. Allen presented the administration’s recommendation for an additional course provided by the Special School District entitled Cooperative Work Experience (COOP), which is available for qualifying high school students with disabilities whose IEP indicates the need for work experience and who are also eligible as clients of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees. Mr. Bresler presented nine patron appointments to three district Board Advisory Committees:

  • Amy Walker for the Finance Board Advisory Committee
  • Andrew Cohen, Susie Sachs and Shaun Carr to the Facility Board Advisory Committee
  • Lolita Flinn, Kevin Korenblat, Jessica Paik, Tango Walker, and Dr. Jennifer York to the Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee

2018-19 Board Meeting Dates. Dr. Jahnke outlined the anticipated schedule for Board meetings for the 2018-19 school year.  Generally speaking, Work Sessions will take place on the second Tuesday of the month and Business Meetings will take place on the fourth Monday of the month. All meetings are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m and will continue to be held at the Administrative Center at 9703 Conway Road until the multi-purpose room at the high school is available for use.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on May 14, 2018 at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting May 14, 2018:

ACTION
  • Board Policy Changes
  • 2018-19 Professional Development Committee Goals
  • High School Course Change Proposal
  • Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
  • 2018-2019 Board Meeting Dates
  • High School Building Project
    • Project Report #25
    • Payment Applications
INFORMATION

  • 2018-19 Testing Schedule
  • 2018-19 Extra Duty Stipend Amounts
  • 2018-19 School Lunch Prices
  • 2018-19 Budget and Financial Discussion
  • Discussion of Hancock Amendment
  • Board Member Assignment to Board Advisory and Other Committees

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Board Briefs from April 10, 2018 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 10, 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.


Board President's Remarks
  • Board President Andy Bresler announced the unofficial results of the April 3, 2018 Board of Education election. Three candidates ran for two positions, with incumbents Sheri Glantz and Dr. Nancy Goldstein winning re-election. Mr. Bresler thanked them for their continued service to the district.  
Superintendent Remarks
  • Superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke added her congratulations to Mrs. Glantz and Dr. Goldstein for being re-elected to the Board.
  • Dr. Jahnke welcomed Cassie Johnston to the meeting, as she will be taking on the role of Assistant to the Superintendent as of July 1, 2018. This position is currently held by Beth Hufford who will be retiring as of the same date.
  • Dr. Jahnke also encouraged Board members and attendees to take advantage of this season of awards, concerts, events and celebrations. Between now and the end of the school year, there are many opportunities to watch our students perform and to recognize their hard work.
ACTION ITEM

Administration of Oaths of Office. The current Board secretary, Jeff Kopolow, administered the oath of office to the two Board of Education members elected on April 3, 2018: Sheri Glantz and Dr. Nancy Goldstein.

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

  • President - Andy Bresler
  • Vice President - Carolyn Jaeger
  • Treasurer - Sheldon Johnson
  • Secretary - Jeff Kopolow

Board Advisory Committee Re-Appointments. Dr. Jahnke presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendations for patron reappointments to three of the district’s four Board Advisory Committee meetings, as follows:

  • Barbara Barrett, Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee
  • Larissa Malone, Curriculum & Instruction Board Advisory Committee
  • Mark Manlin, Finance Board Advisory Committee
  • Michael McMurtrey, Finance Board Advisory Committee
  • Daniel Baker, Technology Board Advisory Committee
  • Zongming Gao, Technology Board Advisory Committee

High School Building Project: Contractor Payment Requests. Project Director for S. M. Wilson Kort Cole presented, and the Board approved, contractor pay applications for the month of March. Mr. Cole also presented Change Order Request (COR) 270 for $65,590 to Jim Taylor Roofing for the replacement of the Infill Classroom roof, due to leaking.

Superintendent Search Process. Mr. Bresler has interviewed six Board members from other high achieving school districts in the area and across the nation who have recently completed successful superintendent searches. A consistent recommendation from these Boards was to select one Board member to be the liaison with the search firm selected in order to provide coordination with the other seven Board members. All decisions will be made by the full Board. The Board selected Sheri Glantz to fill this role.

The Board voted to direct Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Ken Rossics to issue a Request for Proposal for search firms as quickly as possible with a three-week window for responses.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Support Staff Employee Council Report and Salary Recommendation. Mr. Rossics presented the Support Staff Employee Council (SSEC) Report, which outlines the salary and benefit considerations which have resulted from regular SSEC meetings since the beginning of the school year. Salary recommendations related to salaries and professional development information are included in the report.

Career Technical Education Program Update. The district’s Strategic Plan includes as a Priority Initiative: Create and Support Defined Secondary Career Pathways.  As a result, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Jennifer Allen outlined the district’s plan for developing programs that will allow students to explore numerous career pathways prior to graduation.

One strategy will be the development of a Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program which is targeted to be launched in the 2019-20 school year. This is a nationally recognized program that allows students to fast forward into their future careers. Students in the program gain both high school and college credits, while immersing themselves in a professional culture, solving real-world problems, and using industry standard tools.

A graduate of Ladue Horton Watkins High School (who wishes to remain anonymous) is giving $1 million to the Ladue Education Foundation and Alumni Association (LEF) to endow an ongoing part-time coordinator position for the CAPS program.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on April 23, 2018 at 6 p.m. at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road.  Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting April 23, 2018:

ACTION
  • Acceptance of Certified Election Results
  • Designation of Delegates and Alternates for MSBA, SSD Governing Council, EdPlus Legislative Liaison
  • Support Staff Salary Recommendations
  • High School Building Project
    • Project Report #24
    • Contractor Payment Requests
INFORMATION

  • Discussion of Long Term Operating Spending Strategies/Hancock Amendment
  • Board Policy Changes
  • Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
  • 2018-2019 Board Meeting Dates

Monday, April 2, 2018

Board Briefs from April 2, 2018 Special Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 2, 2018 Special 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.


ACTION ITEM

High School Building Project: Field and Track Bid. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner presented the bids received for constructing the multi-sport artificial turf field and surrounding track at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.  The lowest qualified bidder, ATG Sports, was recommended and approved by the Board of Education. Details of the bids submitted can be found by clicking on the header to this paragraph.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting at 6 p.m. on April 10, 2018. The following meeting will be a Business Meeting at 6 p.m. on April 23, 2018. Both meetings will be held at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road. Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting, April 10, 2018:

Announcement of Election Results

ACTION
  • Board Advisory Committee Re-Appointments
REORGANIZATION
  • Oaths of Office
  • Election of Officers
INFORMATION
  • Career Technical Education Program Update
  • Support Staff Employee Council Report and Salary Recommendations
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting April 23, 2018:

ACTION
  • Acceptance of Certified Election Results
  • Designation of Delegates and Alternates for MSBA, SSD Governing Council, EdPlus Legislative Liaison
  • Support Staff Salary Recommendations
  • High School Building Project
    • Project Report #24
    • Contractor Payment Requests
INFORMATION

  • Board Policy Changes
  • Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
  • 2018-2019 Board Meeting Dates