This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the December 13, 2023 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.

View a recording from the December 13 Business Meeting

Board President Remarks

• I’d like to remind everyone that filing for the Board of Education election has opened and will close on Dec. 26. Interested candidates should contact Board Secretary Fern Wagstaff at 983-5302 for additional information.

• I’d like to congratulate Ladue Schools Director of Technology Patricia Brown who received her doctorate from Maryville University.

• We will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday at 1 p.m. to officially open the Conway Elementary gymnasium. Please feel free to join us.

Superintendent Remarks

• We are in the beginning of our winter season sports and I had the opportunity to watch our girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball teams play at Clayton High School. It was Coaches vs. Cancer Night which was an awesome event and I want to compliment our students who showed up in droves and saw some pretty good basketball.

• I have been visiting our schools and want to compliment our staff. This is the time of year when everybody has a little more energy, including our young students, and our staff is doing an excellent job continuing to educate but also have some fun through performances at the schools; our elementary music teachers continue to impress.

• I know this can be a stressful time of year for our high school students as they begin finals. We make a concerted effort in our district to get our first semester completed before Winter Break because we want our students to give their best effort in preparation for finals but we also don’t want that hanging over their heads during break. Good luck to all of our high school students as they approach finals.

• I want to wish everyone in the Ladue Schools community happy holidays.

ACTION ITEMS

S.M. Wilson Presentation, Change Order Requests, and Pay Application

Representatives from S.M. Wilson provided updates on construction progress and Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary, along with the latest change order requests and pay application.

Wachter Presentation and Pay Application

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Geoff Macy provided updates on construction progress and Conway Elementary and Reed Elementary along with the latest pay application.

Performance Services Reed/Conway Window Pay Application

The Board approved the Performance Services pay application in the amount of $724,853.80.

C. Rallo Contracting West Campus Plaza Pay Application

The Board approved the C. Rallo Contracting pay application in the amount of $8,075.

2024-25 LECC Tuition

The Board approved LECC tuition rates for the 2024-25 school year.

Acceptance of Auditor’s Report

The Board approved the 2023 auditor’s report.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Panorama Survey

Assistant Superintendent for Student and Community Services Dr. Derrick Wallace and DEI Coordinator Dr. Jennifer Riesenmy shared results from the Fall 2023 Climate/Culture Survey.

Certified Staffing Summary

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Julie Helm shared information about certified staff hiring and retention data.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the November 29, 2023 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.

View a recording from the November 29 Business Meeting

Board President Remarks

• The first day of candidate filing for the upcoming April 2, 2024 Board of Education election is Dec. 5 at 8 a.m. Filing ends Dec. 26 and the Administration Center will be open only from 3 to 5 p.m. that day.

• We held our inaugural Parent University event on Nov. 15 and I heard very good reviews of the event.

Superintendent Remarks

• I want to congratulate Reed Elementary for a wonderful celebration of its National Blue Ribbon Award. Dr. Schreiner, Dr. Garrett, and teacher Amy Rich made the trip to Washington, D.C. to receive the award on behalf of the school. Only eight Missouri schools received the award this year along with only 353 public schools in the nation.

• We are getting closer to finalizing our Prop L projects. I want to invite our community and Board of Education to our ribbon-cutting ceremony at Conway Elementary on Dec. 19 when we officially open the doors on our new gymnasium and safe room.

• We had a very successful Parent University event on Nov. 15. The Student Services and Communications departments put in countless hours to pull off a great event. I’m pleased to say that we did hit our registration goal.

• Congratulations to our boys’ soccer team, which finished 2nd in state this year which was quite remarkable.

ACTION ITEMS

S.M. Wilson Presentation, Change Order Requests, and Pay Application

Representatives from S.M. Wilson provided updates on construction progress and Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary, along with the latest change order requests and pay application.

Wachter Presentation, Change Order Request and Pay Application

Representatives from Wachter, Inc. provided updates on construction progress and Conway Elementary and Reed Elementary, along with the latest change order requests and pay application.

2024-25 High School Course Change Proposals

The Board approved course changes for the upcoming two school years at LHWHS. Changes include new courses, course name changes, and course removals.

Performance Services Reed/Conway Window Pay Application

The Board approved the Performance Services pay application in the amount of $820,048.55.

C. Rallo Contracting West Campus Plaza Pay Application

The Board approved the C. Rallo Contracting pay application in the amount of $14,250.

INFORMATION ITEMS

District Goals Review

Dr. Wipke led a discussion reviewing progress on 2023-24 district goals.

LECC Presentation

LECC Director Dr. Stacy Carlock provided an update on phase one of the district’s early childhood expansion effort.

2024-25 LECC Tuition

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Geoff Macy provided information on LECC tuition rates as compared to neighboring district pre-k programs.

Auditor’s Report

Dr. Macy reviewed information contained within the district’s most recent audit.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the November 8, 2023 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.

View a recording from the November 8 Work Session

Board President Remarks

• Last weekend, Peter, Pablo, and I had the pleasure of presenting at an MSBA conference along with Dr. Wipke and Dr. Macy. It was a great opportunity to build fellowship with other board members from across the state, and I believe this was the first time that MSBA collaborated with MOASBA. It was an opportunity for us to see how education is advancing across the state and learn how we can partner with our partners.

Superintendent Remarks

• On Saturday night, we had the honor of recognizing LMS math teacher Brian Griffin for receiving the Excellence in Education Award from the St. Louis American Foundation. The Foundation put on a very nice dinner and banquet for all of the award recipients and we are super proud of Brian.

• Our middle school has opened yet another new section of renovated space. The band room and orchestra room are now open for business and they look outstanding.

• Parent University is Nov. 15 and should be a fantastic event. All families are welcome and dinner will be provided. Topics to be covered include college and career information, what parents should know about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and vaping, safety and security in our district, sextortion, special education, and suicide awareness and prevention.

• I want to compliment Jess Winningham who directed Puffs, an outstanding high school play, and I appreciate everything she did to lead that. All of the kids were just wonderful.

• We had 19 students earn a spot in the All-Suburban Honors Concert Band and Jazz Band. We also had five students earn a spot in the All-Suburban Honors Choir. There are so many good things going on in our music programs.

• The high school’s Panorama magazine was named Best of Show in newsmagazines by the National Scholastic Press Association and Journalism Education Association at their fall convention. It’s the first time the Panorama has won the award. Several other students were recognized for their works.

• I also want to recognize our  robotics teams, which have already qualified for the Missouri State VEX Robotics Competition later this year. Both our middle and high school teams are doing an outstanding job.

• Our high school boys’ soccer team won districts and will play again this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at home.

ACTION ITEMS

Spoede Roof Top Unit Replacement

Director of Facilities Mike Noonan recommended, and the Board approved, replacement of the two roof top air conditioning units above the Spoede Elementary gym. The contract will be awarded to Jarrell Contracting for the installed cost of $78,661 for both units.

2023-24 SSD Partnership Agreement

The Board approved the proposed 2023-24 partnership agreement with the Special School District.

INFORMATION ITEMS

High School Course Change Proposals for 2024-25 and 2025-26

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Amy Zielinski shared information on course change proposals for the upcoming two school years at LHWHS. They include new courses, course name changes, and course removals.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the October 25, 2023 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.

View a recording from the October 25 Business Meeting

Board President Remarks

• On behalf of the Ladue Schools Board of Education, we want to acknowledge that our hearts are heavy for our students and families who are suffering under the weight of war between Israel and Hamas. I would like to invite our entire community and those in this room for a moment of silence for the victims of violence in the Middle East … thank you.

• I would also like to add that I am incredibly proud of two LHWHS student affinity groups: our Jewish Student Union and our Muslim Student Association have partnered to raise funds for the International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC is an impartial, neutral, and independent organization with the humanitarian mission to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other violent situations and to provide them with assistance. Anyone who wishes to contribute can offer support and donate to the fund by visiting the high school website for additional information.

• Our commitment as a district to offer ongoing support for our students and families is unwavering and we are here to assist any students or staff who may be struggling as events unfold in the media and on social media platforms about the war.

• On October 4 we hosted the MSBA regional fall meeting for District 7.

• On October 7, I participated, along with Dr. Wipke, Marissa Rosen, and several others, participated in the Ladue Education Foundation ‘Due Run.

• Later that afternoon, I also participated in the Prop L tours of Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme, and Spoede, along with Jeff Kopolow. We gave tours to more than 100 taxpayers to give them a sneak peek of our new buildings before they officially hold their ribbon-cuttings. I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Wipke, Mike Noonan, our building administrators, the Communications Department, and the students who assisted with those tours.

• I want to give a shoutout to LMS math teacher Brian Griffin who will be honored at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Awards Gala on November 4.

• On November 18, Dr. Patricia Wilson and Leah Crawford will receive the Apple for the Teacher Award.

Superintendent Remarks

• We successfully completed the first quarter of the academic year on Oct. 13. Reflecting on our journey since the beginning of the school year, it’s evident that a lot has transpired. I want to share my heartfelt appreciation with the Board of Education for all of its support this quarter because we have had some obstacles to overcome. Our collective efforts continue to propel us forward and we’ve made some significant strides in some areas. Our commitment to fulfilling our promises of Prop L remains strong; we’ve achieved substantial progress in realizing these goals. Our students have exhibited remarkable growth and achievement during the first quarter; their dedication to learning and the tireless efforts of our educators have yielded impressive results. Kudos to our teachers – conference nights are long nights for our teachers and staff but they are well worth it. I’m thrilled to share that we have excelled in some areas of sports and after-school activities. I just want to highlight two: our girls’ tennis team won state again which is quite an accomplishment. Our girls’ volleyball team made it to the district championship game, so we’ve had some significant milestones.

• Let’s talk a little bit about our celebrations: it would not be this time of year without trunk-or-treats, dance-a-thons, and all kinds of things that don’t happen without the support of our parents. I’m participating this Sunday at the Fifth Grade Center for a pie in the face; I’m sure there will be a few that want to participate and attend that with me.

• Looking ahead, I’m excited to announce that we will participate in the MSBA conference in Kansas City Nov. 2-4. I’m anticipating a great conference where we will learn a lot.

• I want to recognize two other items of importance for our community to know. Our Finance and Facilities Committee led by Dr. Geoff Macy met for the first time. This is where we start to break down and analyze a new five-year plan for our facilities. We had several of our Board members there along with Dr. Macy and Mike Noonan and I want to thank Dr. Macy for his leadership and we look forward to many more meetings.

• I have student advisory committees that meet at both the middle school and high school. We can anticipate significant contributions from these student groups because we are going to work on some critical issues surrounding drug and alcohol use and vaping. These initiatives are part of our commitment to providing students with a well-rounded and informed education.

ACTION ITEMS

S.M. Wilson Presentation, Change Order Requests, and Pay Application

Representatives from S.M. Wilson provided updates on construction progress and Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary, along with the latest change order requests and pay application.

Wachter Presentation, Change Order Request, and Pay Application

Representatives from Wachter, Inc. provided updates on construction progress and Conway Elementary and Reed Elementary, along with the latest change order requests and pay application.

2024-25 Board of Education Meeting Schedule

The Board voted to table a vote on the proposed Board of Education 2024-25 meeting dates until January 24, 2024.

Candidate Filing Agreement

The Board voted to reject the candidate filing agreement with the St. Louis County Board of Elections.

Board Policy Updates

The Board approved updates to policies BBF, BBBA-1, AC, and EF.

Right at School

The Board approved a partnership with Right at School to provide before- and after-school enrichment programs for the district.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Counselor/SEB Team Presentation

Members of the district’s Social/Emotional/Behavioral Team and school counselors provided updates on the district’s counseling and SEB initiatives.

2023-24 SSD Partnership Agreement

Dr. Wallace gave a presentation on the 2023-24 Ladue Schools partnership agreement with Special School District.

Student Enrollment and Projections

Dr. Wallace gave a presentation outlining student enrollment for the current school year.

2023-24 Budget Update

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Geoff Macy provided an update on the 2023-24 budget.

Spoede Roof Top Unit Replacement

Director of Facilities Mike Noonan shared information about replacement of the two roof top air conditioning units above the Spoede Elementary gym. Administration recommends awarding the work to Jarrell Contracting for the installed cost of $78,661 for both units.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the September 27, 2023 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.

View a recording from the September 27 Business Meeting

Board President Remarks

• This is Homecoming Week and there are a host of activities that will take place for those festivities. Last night, the field hockey team took on Parkway South in the stadium and tonight, the boys’ soccer team takes on Parkway Central. Tomorrow is Blue and White Night in the stadium where all fall sports will be recognized and the annual Powderpuff Game will benefit Operation Food Search. That kicks off at 7. Friday night the Ladue football team takes on Lafayette at 7 p.m. so we hope everyone will come out to the Homecoming Game on Friday. The Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday at the high school.

• The SSD Governing Council met on Monday, Sept. 25 via Zoom. This was our orientation meeting for any newly appointed members of the council. All but three of the 22 partner districts were represented. The SSD Parent Advisory Council is also looking for additional representation and Ladue is one of the underrepresented districts. Since we do not currently have a district PAC, which used to be SEPC, any parent of a student who receives SSD services is eligible to attend SSD PAC meetings. All meetings are held virtually. The next meeting is Oct. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. and the address can be found on the SSD website at ssdmo.org.

• The MSBA Advocates Committee meeting was held Tuesday, Sept. 19 where we set advocate position statements for the upcoming legislative session. I am the Advocacy Chair for Region 7. The MSBA Annual Conference will take place in Kansas City from Nov. 2-4. All Board members are encouraged to attend. Here in Ladue, we will host the MSBA Region 7 Fall Meeting on Oct. 4 here at the high school.

• On Saturday, Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon we will host Prop L Progress Tours, where you will have the opportunity to tour the middle school, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary. Details are on our district website.

Superintendent Remarks

• I want to congratulate Reed Elementary on being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School – that’s quite an accomplishment.

• I also want to mention LHWHS senior Beau Dolan. We often get to see what our athletes do on the field, but we don’t often see what they do off the field to give back to the community. Beau and his sister, who is no longer a student here, started Ladue Night Lights which provides students of all abilities a chance to run up and down the football field to fans cheering. That happened last week and I want to thank Beau for his leadership, what a tremendous senior he is, and all of our staff that participated. I think we had some Board members who attended and I want to thank them for that support of our students.

• Our high school has 21 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists which is quite an accomplishment. Ladue, although we are a smaller high school compared to some, we continue to outperform most private and public high schools in terms of our turnout of NMSC Semifinalists, which means not only are we doing great things in our high school, but we have great families and a great community supporting our students.

• On Saturday, Oct. 7 we have the LEF ‘Due Run. If you’re not registered and you want to come out and run with me, it’s for everybody. We always have a lot of kids participating. Whether you are running or walking, it’s a fun time. And it’s paired with the opportunity for Prop L tours. Any of our community members can come out and see the progress we’re making with Prop L. Director of Facilities Mike Noonan and I will serve as tour guides. Mike knows this project like the back of his hand and hopefully I will be able to provide some insight as well. Our community will soon receive a postcard promoting this event.

• I want to recognize that our community is still reeling over the loss of Demetrious, Johnnie, and Deion. I want to thank President Lee for her leadership and our entire Board for your support. I want to thank our community which has rallied to support these families which makes me proud to be a part of Ladue.

ACTION ITEMS

2023-24 Operating Debt Tax Levies

Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Geoff Macy presented, and the Board approved, the 2023-24 operating debt tax levies.

S.M. Wilson Presentation, Change Order Requests, and Pay Application

Representatives from S.M. Wilson provided updates on construction progress and Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary, along with the latest change order requests and pay application.

Wachter Presentation, Change Order Request and Pay Application

Representatives from Wachter, Inc. provided updates on construction progress and Conway Elementary and Reed Elementary, along with the latest change order requests and pay application.

West Campus Plaza

The Board approved awarding the West Campus Plaza project to C. Rallo Contracting Co. for the total cost of $904,000, which includes a standing seam metal roof.

INFORMATION ITEMS

2024-25 Board of Education Meeting Schedule

President Lee discussed proposed 2024-25 Board of Education meeting dates.

Candidate Filing Agreement

Dr. Wipke discussed the Board of Education candidate filing agreement.

Board Policy Updates

The Board discussed several proposed policy updates.

Right at School

Director of Student Services Dr. Derrick Wallace provided information about Right at School’s before- and after-school enrichment programs.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the September 13, 2023 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.

View a recording from the September 13 Business Meeting

Board President Remarks

• I would like to start tonight’s meeting by honoring the lives of the three Ladue students who will remain forever 15 following the tragic car accident last week in University City: Demetrius “Meechie” Ingram, Deion Robinson, and Johnnie Ursery. Please join me in a moment of silence to honor these three students.

• I have received a number of condolences from neighboring school districts as well as the Missouri School Boards’ Association; all send their condolences and prayers to our entire Ladue Schools community. I hope we will continue to keep the families, students, staff, and community in our thoughts and prayers. It’s the beginning of the school year and this was a blow to our community, but we will get through this together and be stronger for it because we are Ladue.

Superintendent Remarks

• I also would like to recognize Demetrius, Deion, and Johnnie and tell you that our thoughts and prayers are with the families and will be for quite some time.

• I want to extend my compliments to our staff that has worked tirelessly to be there for our students who are still struggling. We have a Social Emotional Behavior Team that has worked around the clock, our counselors have worked around the class, and so has our staff and administration. It does take a village to raise a child and it will take a village to get through the loss of three. I also want to thank our Board for its support of our staff. I want to thank President Lee for her leadership throughout this tragedy – you’ve done an outstanding job so thank you for that. We will continue to reach out to the families and offer support. Typically in my update, I try to share all of the positive things that are happening in Ladue Schools, and there are a lot of amazing things happening, but in light of everything that has taken place, I will leave it at that.

ACTION ITEMS

LEF Memorandum of Understanding

The Board approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the district and Ladue Education Foundation.

Reed and Conway Window Project

The Board approved a contract submitted by Performance Solutions in the amount of $5,734,786 to complete window replacement projects at Reed and Conway Elementary Schools.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Board Member Participation at Board Planning Meeting

The Board discussed future participation in Board Planning Meetings.

District Tax Rate Discussion

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Dr. Geoff Macy discussed the proposed 2023 tax rates which will be submitted for Board approval at its Sept. 27, 2023 business meeting.

West Campus Plaza (MOVED TO ACTION)

The Board approved an amendment to the West Campus Plaza memo to include a standing seam metal roof instead of asphalt shingles.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the August 23, 2023 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.

View a recording from the August 23 Board Meeting

Board President Remarks

• I had the opportunity to greet students and families at the FGC and LECC on Tuesday for the first day of school. Fifth-graders were excited to see old friends and interested in making new ones as this is the first experience for all elementary students to come together.

• This is our first Wednesday Board meeting. Last year, we voted to move Board meetings to Wednesdays in an effort to support the schedules of Board members and district administrators.

• MSBA has reached out to Ladue about hosting the Fall Regional Meeting for Region 7. Stay tuned for more information on this meeting in the coming weeks.

• You may have noticed Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke on KSDK yesterday making his morning debut, along with LHWHS Principal Brad Griffith, and senior Will Feng, student body president, as a kickoff to the new school year.

• This is a reminder that this is a meeting of the Board of Education and our meeting is held in public.

Superintendent Remarks

• That was a lot of fun on KSDK, and even more fun seeing the Senior Sunrise, where more than a third of the senior class got up early on the first day of school just to be with each other and watch the sunrise, so that was really cool.

• I want to thank the Board for attending our Convocation held on August 16 where we welcomed all of our staff back into our buildings. We held a Convocation in my first year here, but because of COVID it has been virtual since then. It was great to get the entire staff here together again at the high school where we had breakfast together then made our way to the Performing Arts Center. We had an amazing show for everyone and I want to thank Kimberly McKenzie and the Communications Department for all of their hard work. I want to thank the LEF for co-sponsoring our keynote speaker John O’Leary, a renowned author. He gave us an inspirational message that we will carry throughout the year. We are reading his book “On Fire” as a staff and there are a lot of life lessons that he taught us. We will carry his message about the Power of One this year which will have an impact on our students as well. Along with our Communications Department, there were other people involved in putting together an event this large like our Technology Department. Patricia Brown and her entire team including Adam, Curtis, and Les. Marteana Davidson at the high school as well. We also had a student worker, Ella Hamlin, who helped us with the lights at the PAC and Activities Coordinator Greg Kendall helped out. Missouri Central Shuttle Service and Chartwell’s also contributed. We had a lot of student groups take part: Strolling Strings, the LHWHS Band, LHWHS cheerleaders, Sparkle, and Laduettes. Then we had a Health and Wellness Fair afterward and it was really well-attended. Our staff had a chance to visit 27 different vendors and learn how to stay healthy throughout the school year. LEF helped sponsor this event, Marco Printing helped sponsor and gave door prizes, ABBCO Services, BRS, Hoener, S. M. Wilson, Tueth Keeney all contributed and I wanted to make sure everyone in the room who helped support our back-to-school kickoff knows how much we appreciate it.

• The Prop L projects are moving right along and we feel very fortunate that Old Bonhomme and Spoede are nearing completion; we still have a little bit of work to do, but they’re getting closer. We have a couple of months of work remaining at Reed and Conway to complete their gyms and then tonight we’ll get into the window work that needs to take place at those schools. Although the middle school looks terrific, there are some hallways still under renovation and that will be the case throughout this semester and probably through the month of February. Our teachers have been incredible and gone above and beyond as they balance so much on the first day and week of school.

• Our first day of school was Tuesday and it was an awesome day; there were plenty of smiles and overall things ran really smoothly.

• The third annual Ladue Night Lights will be Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at the high school; it’s an awesome event if you’ve never been before. It’s a unified football game that provides a fun experience for students who receive special services and their families. Visit our website for more information.

• I want to give a shoutout to two of our students because of their accomplishments with Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. Sophia Saleeby, a 2023 LHWHS graduate, and Jessica Steinberg, a current junior, both earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. It is earned through giving back and putting in community service hours. It’s really remarkable.

• I want to thank the Board of Education for visiting schools on the first day of school. It meant a lot to our kids and staff, but it really meant to our principals that you take the time to do so.

ACTION ITEMS

S. M. Wilson Presentation, Change Order Requests, and Pay Applications

Representatives from S. M. Wilson provided a construction update on the projects at Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary. They also shared the latest change orders and pay applications for June and July.

Wachter Presentation and Pay Application

Representatives from Wachter, Inc. provided a construction update on the projects at Conway and Reed Elementary Schools. They also shared the latest pay application.

INFORMATION ITEMS

LEF Memo of Understanding

Dr. Wipke led a discussion and review of this year’s MOU with the Ladue Education Foundation.

Reed and Conway Window Project

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Dr. Geoff Macy and Director of Facilities Mike Noonan recommended the Board move forward with a proposal submitted by Performance Solutions, Inc. to replace windows at both Reed and Conway. It was also recommended the Board authorize district administration to review and revise the contract and attachments with legal counsel.

Before and After School Kare

Director of Student and Community Services Dr. Derrick Wallace shared updates on the district BASK program related to enrollment, staffing, and marketing.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the June 26, 2023 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.

View a recording from the June 26 Board Meeting

Board President Remarks

• Due to audio quality, both Board President and Superintendent remarks could not be transcribed

Superintendent Remarks

• Due to audio quality, both Board President and Superintendent remarks could not be transcribed

ACTION ITEMS

2023-24 Preliminary Operating Budget

Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance Dr. Geoff Macy presented, and the Board approved, the Fiscal Year 2024 Preliminary Budget.

2023 District Goals

The Board approved 2023-24 District Goals as presented.

Board Policy Changes

The Board approved several policy changes.

S. M. Wilson Presentation, Change Order Requests, and Pay Application

Representatives from S. M. Wilson provided a construction update on the projects at Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary. They also shared the latest change orders and pay application.

Wachter Presentation and Pay Application

Representatives from Wachter, Inc. provided a construction update on the projects at Conway and Reed Elementary Schools. They also shared the latest change orders and pay applications (first and second).

2023-24 Early Resignation Notification Incentive Plan (ERNIP)

The Board approved the ERNIP for the 2023-24 school year.

Missouri Central Contract Amendment

Dr. Macy presented, and the Board approved, an amendment to the district’s contract with Missouri Central.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Board Policy Change (MOVED TO ACTION)

After moving the item to action, the Board approved a revision to policy BDDH-1.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the May 15, 2023 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.

View a recording from the May 15 Board Meeting

Board President Remarks

• I would like to remind the Board that the MSBA Summer Summit is June 16 and 17 in Branson.

• I would like to congratulate our Ladue Schools community as the school year comes to an end. As many can attest, the two best days of the school year are the first day and the last day. We just wrapped up Teacher Appreciation Week last week and I would like to thank our teachers and staff members who work diligently to ensure our students are prepared to excel in anything they pursue, as you have seen here tonight. I also want to congratulate our amazing students at all levels for all of their awe-inspiring accomplishments. The future of our students is bright.

• As we prepare for graduation this Sunday – which is one of my favorite events – and our seniors finish their time with us here in Ladue Schools, I also want to give a shoutout to our parents. As I’m sure some around this dais can attest, this point of transition causes parents to reflect on and remember when their babies entered kindergarten and maybe just like me wanted to follow the bus and stay with them all day. But you didn’t, and they turned out just fine. They moved through their K through 12 education, and while there may have been an occasional bad day, or an ER visit, an extra hug, or a stern talking to, they made it, and we are all so very proud of them. I would simply remind the Class of 2023 and our entire community that “Once a Ram, always a Ram” and We Are Ladue.

• I would also like to remind you that the meeting of the Board of Education is an opportunity for the Board to hold its meeting in public.

Superintendent Remarks

• I want to start out by saying happy Mother’s Day to all of our moms – thank you for all that you do.

• We held a successful Board retreat on April 27. I appreciated the dialogue and everyone’s willingness to discuss topics like our district goals, safety of our schools, committee structures, budgetary items, and future planning, just to name a few. I look forward to our next Board retreat on June 15.

• Speaking of safety, I appreciate the Board’s support with hiring a new Safety and Security Coordinator this evening. We’ll make an official announcement to our staff and community on Tuesday. I also want to thank our Board for its initial support of Ladue police officers at our middle school. Lastly, we will share information about Centegix with you tonight, and a potential contract which is also directly connected to safety and security of our students.

• There are so many wonderful things happening in our district, and many of them were highlighted tonight during Student Recognition. You may have already done so, but if you haven’t, please thank our Communications Department for all of its hard work in putting that together.

• I also want to thank Don Goble for his work on all of our Excellence in Education videos this year. They are absolutely phenomenal.

• Our Human Resources Department is very busy with hiring and interviews this time of year and I’m excited about who we’re adding to our Ladue Schools family.

• Each week we move closer to completion of our Prop L projects. This summer will be very important for us to hit our deadlines in February.

• I was fortunate enough to receive a private tour of our Robotics Department here at the high school – it’s pretty remarkable.

• I also want to highlight LEA, the Ladue Educators Association. I’m proud to work with the LEA and we are good partners. We’ve been meeting all year long, at least once per month, to have conversations.

• I want to share a story with you about a student who reached out to me as an example of the high-quality kids we have here in Ladue Schools. Noah Temple reached out to me, and he has started his own coffee company called Junior Java. It’s pretty remarkable, and when I say he started his own company, it’s a legitimate operation. If you’re looking for a good cup of java, I know where you can go. I’m very proud of Noah for reaching out to me – he had questions about how he might partner with the LEF and different organizations within our school structure. Everything he has raised is given to organizations that help kids who can’t afford school supplies. He’s a remarkable young man.

• We had our Ladue African American Student Alliance Brunch on May 6. It was very well attended and very nicely done.

• Preparation for graduation is ongoing for the Class of 2023 and on May 21 we will see another set of amazing students walk across the stage.

• President Lee and I attended the Red Carpet Rams ceremony today at our middle school, which was a great way to recognize our students.

• It’s been a wonderful year and I want to thank our parents, students, and amazing staff for making it all happen. 

ACTION ITEMS

S. M. Wilson Presentation, Change Order Requests, and Pay Application

Representatives from S. M. Wilson provided a construction update on the projects at Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary. They also shared the latest change orders and pay application.

Wachter Presentation and Pay Application

Representatives from Wachter, Inc. provided a construction update on the projects at Conway and Reed Elementary Schools. They also shared the latest pay application.

INFORMATION ITEMS

2023-24 Board Meeting Calendar Revision (MOVED TO ACTION)

The Board discussed and approved moving 2023-24 meetings from Mondays to Wednesdays.

Board Policy Changes

The Board discussed proposed changes to polices BDDB-2, IGDCA, and IGCD.

High School Scoreboard

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Dr. Geoff Macy recommended the Board approve a proposed agreement with Digital Scoreboards to purchase and install new scoreboards in the LHWHS Aquatic Center.

Self-Insured Medical Plan Broker Selection

Dr. Macy discussed the interview process for a new provider of Employee Benefit Consulting Services.

Centegix Contract

Dr. Macy discussed Centegix and its incident alert system for schools.

Mediaworks Contract

Director of Communications Kimberly McKenzie discussed the district’s current partnership with Mediaworks and recommended entering into a new contract for its services.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Monday, June 26, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.

This information includes highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education at the April 24, 2023 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.

View a recording from the April 24 Board Meeting

Board President Remarks

• The MSBA Summer Summit: Learning and Leading for Student Success is June 16 and 17 in Branson. If you’re interested in registering, please let Fern know; she can get you registered.

• Mark your calendars on November 2 for the MSBA Annual Conference.

• I’d like to congratulate Eric Fan and Bohan Pan for winning the state championship in Public Debate Forum at the Missouri Speech, Debate, and Theater Tournament.

• I would like to remind the public that a meeting of the Board of Education is an opportunity for the Board to hold its meeting in public.

Superintendent Remarks

• We held our Seal of Biliteracy ceremony at the high school and I want to congratulate our World Languages Department which does an amazing job with our kids. We had over 40 students receive their certificate for Seal of Biliteracy.

• On Wednesday the 12th, the high school supported and ran events for Special Olympics. We had students from across the St. Louis County area at our high school participating, as well as a ton of student volunteers.

• I’m pleased to mention that the cafeteria loft is now open in the middle school allowing more students to eat together. Although the new furniture surprised some of our middle schoolers, it is a very nice setup.

• On Thursday the 13th I had the opportunity to speak to the new inductees of our National Honor Society at our high school.

• On Friday the 14th I had the pleasure of interviewing former superintendent Dr. Donna Jahnke on my podcast. Although we went a little longer than we planned, don’t let that scare you; be sure to tune in and listen to Dr. Jahnke as she walks us through her thoughts on leadership and takes us down memory lane.

• A few highlights from this past week: I had lunch with the LECC staff and really enjoyed that. We had a meeting with the mayor of Olivette, along with Dr. Derrick Wallace and Dr. Stacy Carlock, to discuss our early childhood program. We held a student-sponsored event, Ladue Night Lights, that allows students to score some touchdowns under the lights and I think they got a big kick out of it. We had our Robotics Open House, Senior Awards Night, and I’d be remiss if I did not mention the LEF Gala held at CityPark which was a ton of fun. I appreciate all the LEF does. Lastly, we held a successful high school prom on Saturday. This time of year is very busy for our administrators, teachers, and staff as they spend countless hours trying to make the end of the year exciting and fun for our students.

ACTION ITEMS

S. M. Wilson Presentation, Change Order Requests, and Pay Application

Representatives from S. M. Wilson provided a construction update on the projects at Ladue Middle School, Old Bonhomme Elementary, and Spoede Elementary. They also shared the latest change orders and pay application.

Wachter Change Order Request and Pay Application

Representatives from Wachter, Inc. shared the latest change order request and pay application related to construction at Conway and Reed.

Conway Playground

Director of Facilities Mike Noonan recommended, and the Board approved, playground improvements at Conway Elementary.

Old Bonhomme LECC Furniture

Dr. Macy recommended, and the Board approved, purchase of furniture for the early childhood classroom space at Old Bonhomme Elementary.

INFORMATION ITEMS

No information items on agenda

UPCOMING MEETINGS

The next Board of Education regular business meeting is Monday, May 15, 2023. The Meeting ID will be posted on the Featured tab of BoardDocs when the meeting information is officially posted.