Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Board Briefs from March 31, 2020 Special Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the March 31, 2020 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 ITEMS

Spending Parameters. Dr. Buckner presented, and the Board approved, the administration’s recommendation for the expenditure parameters to be used in developing the district’s budgets for the next five years, beginning with the 2020-21 school year. The expenditure parameter was set at 2.7% but could be reduced given various scenarios, as outlined in the information linked at the top of this section. 

This will be the third set of expenditure parameters the Board has developed, with the last five-year parameter completing at the end of the 2019-20 school year. This last five-year cycle ended with eight years of consecutive surplus budgets, resulting in a fund balance of 60% totaling approximately $37 million. 

It may be advisable to hold back on plans for using the district’s fund balance to expand early childhood programming and/or to fund building projects as has previously been discussed until the economic repercussions of the pandemic have become more clear.

Ladue Early Childhood Center Tuition. Dr. Wipke requested, and the Board approved, that tuition payments be reimbursed to families who have students enrolled at the Ladue Early Childhood Center for the time these students are not in school as a result of the recent district closure related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on April 14, 2020. The meeting will be held virtually using Zoom and the Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted. 

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting April 14, 2020:

ACTION
  • 2021-22 School Calendar
Board Organization
  • Oaths of Office
  • Election Officers
INFORMATION
  • Summer Construction Projects
  • 2021 Potential Bond Referendum Update
  • Advisory Committee Re-Appointments
Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting April 27, 2020:

ACTION
  • Designation of Delegates and Alternates for MSBA, SSD Governing Council, EdPlus Legislative Liaison
  • Summer Construction Projects
  • Board Advisory Re-Appointments
INFORMATION

  • Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
  • Support Staff Salary Recommendations
  • Gifted Report

Friday, March 13, 2020

Board Briefs from March 9, 2020 Business Meeting

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the March 9, 2020 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


Board President's Remarks
  • Board President Carolyn Jaeger shared that the recent series of Ready. Set. Connect! Meetings hosted by Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke and herself were a success. These sessions gave the community the opportunity to ask questions and gain information about the district in a casual setting. The meetings were held at different times of day in various locations in hopes that those who wished to attend could find a convenient place and time to do so. Dr. Wipke and Mrs. Jaeger intend to host another series of Ready. Set. Connect! meetings in the fall.
Superintendent Remarks
  • Dr. Jim Wipke updated those present on the work the district is doing to address COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Area superintendents have been meeting to talk with health officials about potential responses should the virus become widespread in the St. Louis area. Multiple letters have been sent to Ladue Schools families and staff to update them on the situation and a Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 section has been added to the district website. Custodial staff and bus contractors remain heavily focused on cleaning and disinfecting buildings, buses, playgrounds, etc. 
  • Unfortunately, the district has no say in whether or not our schools are used as polling locations. (These decisions are made by the St. Louis County Board of Elections.) Old Bonhomme Elementary School, Reed Elementary School and Ladue Middle School were used for the primary on March 10, 2020. Additional security was provided at these locations that day to ensure voters remained within designated areas, and these areas were thoroughly cleaned prior to opening them up to students the next day. 
  • The Ladue Horton Watkins High School Speech and Debate Team competed in the MSHSAA District Tournament. The team placed first in Debate Sweepstakes and fifth in Event Sweepstakes.  Anna Reis was the District Champion in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
  • Missouri’s First Lady Teresa Parson and DESE Commission Margie Vandeven visited Conway Elementary School last week to congratulate the school on being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School. 
  • Dr. Wipke thanked the Parents as Teachers team for allowing him to attend one of their recent meetings. He said he was appreciative of being able to ask questions and learned a lot.
  • The LHWHS Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams both won their district competitions. They will both be playing Vashon High School in the sectional competitions. 

INFORMATION ITEMS

2021-22 School Calendar. Dr. Zielinksi introduced the proposed calendar for the 2021-22 school year. As is typical, the first semester will continue to be completed prior to Winter Break and the last day of school will be prior to Memorial Day. Winter Break will be just a couple of days shy of two weeks. The Board will vote on the calendar at the April 14, 2020 meeting. Details can be found by clicking on the header of this paragraph. 

2020-21 Budget. Dr. Buckner updated the Board on the 2020-21 budgeting process which is underway. State law requires Missouri Boards of Education to approve the next year’s budget by June 30 of each year. Prior to final approval, the Board will review the recommended budget in detail and have several meetings in which to ask questions and provide guidance. 

In addition, work is underway on the district’s five-year spending plan which will also be reviewed and approved by the Board of Education. The Superintendent’s Finance Committee, as well as the Finance Board Advisory committee assists in the development of these plans. The district remains on a very solid financial footing, largely because of its adherence to a 2% maximum expenditure increase being adhered to over the last five years. 

Superintendent Update. Dr. Wipke presented his Mid-Year Update to the Board. His update included his findings during his first eight months as superintendent, the process he has followed to acclimate himself to the district and his plan for moving forward. The presentation can be viewed by clicking on the header to this paragraph. 

Board Goals Review. The Board of Education reviewed its 2019-20 goals, noting that satisfactory progress is being made on each of the initiatives outlined. 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education meeting will be a Business Meeting on April 14, 2020, at the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Multipurpose Room, 1201 S. Warson Road, at 6 p.m. Tentative agenda items include the following.  

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting April 14, 2020:

ACTION
  • 2021-22 School Calendar
Board Organization
  • Oaths of Office
  • Election Officers
INFORMATION
  • Summer Construction Projects
  • 2021 Potential Bond Referendum Update
  • Advisory Committee Re-Appointments

Tentative Agenda Items for Business Meeting April 27, 2020:

ACTION
  • Designation of Delegates and Alternates for MSBA, SSD Governing Council, EdPlus Legislative Liaison
  • Summer Construction Projects
  • Board Advisory Re-Appointments
INFORMATION

  • Recommended Patron Appointments to Board Advisory Committees
  • Support Staff Salary Recommendations
  • Gifted Report