This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the February 22, 2021 regular Board of Education 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.
Click here to view a recording from the February 22 Board Meeting
Board President Remarks
I’d like to welcome our four Board of Education candidates to tonight’s meeting: Marissa Rosen, Jennifer Growe Soshnik, Andrew “Andy” Cohen, and Adam Pablo Flinn. The election is April 6 and the district will host a Meet the Candidate Night on March 30.
I want to let you know that we held our first Prop L Zoom meeting last week, and you can find the link to future meetings at futurereadyschools.net.
Board candidate information is available on the district website and I recommend you take a look at this information as it’s very helpful in learning about the candidates.
On Feb. 10 I attended the National Equity Symposium hosted by the National School Board Association; there were some very inspiring speakers who took part in the event and we learned from other districts about how different situations were handled and different creative ideas they had used.
Superintendent Remarks
I attended a meeting of SAGE today where about 10 students and I discussed energy efficiency and sustainability.
I want to recognize Grace Hu, whom I spoke with before that meeting, and when I congratulated her on her Speech and Debate achievement, she thanked me then talked about her teammates. I think that summarizes her as an individual that she wanted to recognize her teammates and their achievements.
Our maintenance and custodial staff worked incredibly hard last week to get up early in the morning and clear our parking lots and sidewalks so school could take place. I can’t thank Mike Noonan and his team enough for their hard work.
I want to thank everyone for braving the weather on Wednesday when we returned to school.
All 29 of our National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists are now Finalists - congratulations to all of them.
I continue to meet with other superintendents in the region to share best practices for COVID mitigation measures; we have started discussions about annual spring events like prom and graduation and what those might look like this year, along with discussions about instructional planning for next school year.
I have also participated in a Racism and Equity Professional Development series with regional superintendents; it’s facilitated by Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple, the two authors of “Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity.” They are walking us through their book and it has really broadened my lenses on many issues.
We hosted our first Prop L Community Conversation last week; our next session is tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.
I want to recognize Dr. Amy Zielinski and her department for facilitating our district professional development on Feb. 12 as we heard a great message from guest speaker Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Choose Love Movement.
Black History Month celebrations continue in our schools; at Reed Elementary, there is an interactive periodic table that features 90 African Americans who have impacted our nation. Patricia Brown at Old Bonhomme has put together a very creative Black History Month challenge that shares information about influential African Americans and presents students and staff with a daily challenge that incorporates different ways of using technology.
On Feb. 18 we conducted our third quarter CURE meeting with our African American parents; we celebrated successes and participated in breakout groups with families. These meetings always leave me with a lot to think about as we strive to improve in the area of equity.
Congratulations to Erin Hemme, who last week was named the 2021 Special School District Teacher of the Year. Erin teaches deaf and hard of hearing students at the LECC.
As a reminder, we have Spring Break next month meaning we’ll only have one Board meeting in March.
I also want to recognize both Sheri Glantz and Nancy Goldstein, whose final Board meeting will be our next meeting on March 8. Thank you both for everything you’ve done.
ACTION ITEMS
Director of Facilities Mike Noonan presented, and the Board approved, a landscape service contract that extends the contract of GreenRX to provide care and upkeep of the District’s turf and landscape for one year.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Amy Zielinski presented, and the Board approved, the proposed 2022-23 school calendar.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Julie Helm presented recommended changes to Board Policy JECA-2 - Eligibility to Enroll. Director of Student Services Dr. Derrick Wallace presented recommended Board Policy ACA - Sexual Harassment Under Title IX, recently issued by the Missouri School Boards' Association.
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Dr. Jason Buckner shared information about the proposed bus transportation contracts.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Amy Zielinski and members of the Curriculum and Instruction Department presented information about the district’s assessment data.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The next Board of Education meeting will be a regular Business Meeting on Monday, March 8, 2021. 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 MARCH 8
ACTION
Policy Update
Bus Transportation
INFORMATION
Prop L Presentation
Olivette TIF Commission Update
Summer School Programs
Meet and Confer
District Safety and Security Presentation
