In addition, the high school weight room and swimming facilities will be open for community use during winter break as follows:

• Friday, Dec. 21, 2012—5:30-7:15 a.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 22—1-5 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012—1-5 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 28, 2012—5:30-7:15 a.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012—1-5 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012—1-5 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 31, 2012—5:30-7:15 a.m

On Tuesday, December 11, 2012, at 8 a.m. the Ladue School District began accepting declarations of candidacy from those interested and qualified to run for one of the two Board of Education director positions opening in April 2013.  The filing period will continue until January 15, 2013 at 5 p.m.  Each director will serve a three-year term.

Persons interested in candidacy in the April 2, 2013, election may file at the Ladue School District Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road, St. Louis, MO 63124.  Regular business hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The Administrative Center will be closed December 21-31, 2012 and on January 1, 2013.  Filing also will not occur on any days the school district’s offices are closed due to inclement weather.

Candidates must file a Declaration of Candidacy form, available at the Administrative Center, stating the candidate is a citizen of the United States, is at least 24 years of age, is a resident taxpayer of the Ladue School District, has resided in Missouri for one year preceding the election, and is not serving a sentence or period of probation for a felony or a crime that if committed in Missouri would be a felony.

Candidates must comply with Election Campaign Expenditures Law filing procedures.  Missouri Statute establishes the filing times and dates for Board of Education candidates.

The Board of Education took the opportunity at one of its recent Work Sessions to review the financial status of the Ladue Early Childhood Center (LECC) in detail.  Like nearly all preschool centers, construction of the LECC building was funded with district-level resources.  Specifically, the new building on the Ladue Schools West Campus which opened in the fall of 2011 was funded through Proposition O, a bond levy passed by district voters in 2010.

At the November 12, 2012 meeting, the Board reviewed the revenue and expenditures over the past several years and found the center to be self-sustaining from an operational standpoint.  Revenue for the center is derived from tuition paid for early childhood preschool programming, the Parent and Child Together (PACT) program, the LECC’s summer camp and the district’s after school programming (BASK/TAS.)   In addition, the district currently receives approximately $308,000 annually from the Missouri Early Childhood Capital Cost Program due to Special School District’s use of portions of the facility.  Operating costs for the facility include salaries, contracted services, utilities, repairs and maintenance, and averaged approximately $1.89 million a year over the last three years.

At the December 10, 2012 Business Meeting, the Board of Education approved a 1% increase in overall tuition for the 2013-14 school year.  In addition, the Board approved minimal additional tuition increases for specific programs due to increases in the days these programs are being provided, as the center continues to work toward mirroring the remainder of the school district in attendance days.

Tuition costs at the LECC are currently comparable to other districts, but reaching the top end of the scale.

The Board has expressed concern regarding the inability of many district residents to afford the cost of sending their children to the district’s preschool.  The administration is continuing to research opportunities for obtaining additional financial support for the center in order to increase scholarship opportunities within the Ladue Schools community.

The physical and mental safety and security of students and staff members are top priorities in the Ladue School District. Unfortunately, school districts around the country were recently reminded how unexplainable, horrible tragedies, such as the one that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT on Friday, December 14, 2012, can occur despite every effort made to secure a school building.

The Ladue School District, like all other schools around the country, both public and private, will use this as a reminder of how very important it is to be diligent in keeping schools secure and to continue exploring ways to improve security wherever possible.

Thank You to Our Law Enforcement Officials

The Ladue School District publicly extends our sincere thanks to law enforcement officials in the cities of Creve Coeur, Ladue and Olivette.  These police forces have been even more visible than usual at our school buildings recently and have vowed their continued support as we all work together to further enhance our security procedures.

Security Systems Around the District

All elementary and middle schools in the district have utilized external security doors for many years, requiring employees to use security cards for entry and for visitors to be “buzzed in” after having identified themselves through a security camera and intercom system.

In addition:

• The district employs five supervisory assistants at the high school, as well as a School Resource Officer, who is stationed at the high school.  The sole responsibilities of these individuals are student and staff safety.
• There are more than 200 surveillance cameras positioned throughout the schools which can be monitored by administrators and supervisory assistants in each building, as well as by the School Resource Officer.
• 125 two-way radios are used throughout the day across the district to coordinate and communicate regarding student and staff safety and other needs.

Ramping Up After the Sandy Hook Incident

Beginning the Monday morning following the incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the high school also began utilizing the outside security doors throughout the school day, locking all doors to the school at the ringing of the first bell.  The district had plans underway to institute this change at the beginning of the 2013-14 school year, but made the decision over the weekend following the shootings to institute these procedures immediately.  In addition to making these immediate changes at the high school, there is also discussion of expediting enhanced security measures in the high school parking lots.

The Board of Education and administration will no doubt be reviewing safety and security procedures in the coming weeks.  Recently, the Ladue Schools administrator in charge of safety, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jason Buckner, was asked by a local television station on camera if arming school personnel was being considered.  Given there are both strong proponents and opponents to this type of measure, Dr. Buckner responded it could become part of the discussion.  However, during the interview, there was no indication given the district’s administrators or the Board had taken a position on this issue or that classroom teachers might become involved in any way.

Copies can also be obtained at the Administrative Center, 9703 Conway Road or by calling the Communications Office at 314-994-7080.

View Annual Report

• Conway: 314-993-2878
• Old Bonhomme: 314-993-0656
• Reed:  314-991-1456
• Spoede:  314-432-4438

If you are not sure which Ladue School District elementary school your child will attend, please call 314-983-5331 for more information.

The following information must be presented at the time of enrollment:

• a photo ID
• a state-issued certified birth certificate
• immunization records
• three items establishing district residency or residential property ownership

A list of acceptable items, as well as the attendance area/boundary map can be found on the district’s website

For the last several years, the Ladue School District has been researching and working toward the implementation of the One-to-One Learning Initiative, a program providing a laptop computer to each high school student.  The purpose of the program is to allow for consistent and broad access to educational materials, teaching and learning techniques, and other educational opportunities via computer software and the Internet.

The district, through the Ladue Education Foundation, had recently been pursuing the private and corporate funding needed to move this program forward during the 2013-14 school year without impacting the district’s overall operating budgets for the next two school years.  In addition, the district has been aggressively pursuing instructional training for staff at all levels to prepare for the implementation of this initiative.

However, recent media attention has some parents concerned about Internet safety within schools, and the district would like to take the opportunity to address those concerns prior to launching the initiative.  In addition, due to the recent decisions by the district’s superintendent and the high school’s principal to leave the district at the end of the 2012-13 school year, two key administrators, who would have been supporting this project when it was implemented, are not currently in place.

“This gives us an opportunity to provide additional education about this program to our students and parents,” explains Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Dr. Donna Jahnke.  “It was an incredibly difficult decision to postpone the project because so many had put so much into this initiative up to this point.  However, we now have the opportunity to step back and thoroughly explain the benefits of a One-to-One initiative to our parents and community.   There is solid reasoning and educational value behind our decision to move forward with the program at some point, and we want to educate our parents and community in order to create an environment conducive to a successful implementation of a One-to-One program.”

Learn more about the One-to-One Learning Initiative

The decision to postpone the program was reached jointly, with full agreement, by the administration and the district’s Technology Board Advisory Committee.  The recommendation was put forward to the Board of Education on December 10, 2012 and met with full agreement.

The Ladue School District will begin the 2013-14 school year with a new superintendent, as well as a new principal at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.  Plans are well underway to fill both positions and those selected will assume their responsibilities at the beginning of the 2013-14 school year beginning July 1, 2013.

“Changes in leadership often bring new opportunities, as well as fresh perspectives to a school district,” states Acting Superintendent Dr. Judy Sclair.  Dr. Sclair is maintaining her responsibilities leading the district’s Human Resources department, as she also fills the role of Acting Superintendent through the remainder of the 2012-13 school year which ends June 30, 2013.

Filling the Superintendent Position

The district’s Superintendent Dr. Marsha Chappelow announced her retirement at the end of the 2012-13 school year on September 24, 2012, subsequently requesting “professional leave for personal reasons” beginning December 1, 2012 which was granted by the Board of Education on November 30, 2012.

The Board of Education has selected McPherson & Jacobson, LLC to assist the Board with the search and interview process for the next superintendent.  The process will include the opportunity for representative parents, students, teachers and other staff members to provide input into the characteristics, skills and knowledge they believe will be essential to the success of the next superintendent.

In addition, all residents of the Ladue Schools community are invited to attend a Community Forum in the Ladue Horton Watkins High School cafeteria on January 8, 2013 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to share their views regarding the qualities required of a successful superintendent for the Ladue School District.

The Board of Education, along with the search firm, will begin screening applications after the January 21, 2013 application deadline, with finalists being selected by the Board of Education by February 5, 2013.  Interviews are currently scheduled to take place in mid-February, with the Board of Education making their selection and announcement of the new superintendent by the February 28, 2013 Board of Education Meeting.

Filling the High School Principal Position

On November 12, 2012 the Board of Education accepted the resignation of Dr. Bridget Hermann at the end of the 2012-13 school year, ending June 30, 2012.  The district posted the position on December 18, 2012, with a closing date of January 11, 2013.

Initial screening of applicants will begin immediately after the closing date for applications.  However, a final decision on the selection will not be made until after the district’s new superintendent is selected, so he/she may take part in the final selection process.

Parents, teachers, administrators and other staff members will participate in the selection of the next high school principal by participating in a “critical attributes process.”  Using this process, representatives from these groups will define the qualities and characteristics needed to successfully fulfill the role of principal at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.