The information below includes highlights from the Ladue Schools Board of Education Business Meeting on April 13, 2026–this summary is an unofficial record. The official minutes of each Board meeting can be found on the district website under About Us/School Board/Diligent Community. Upon request, meeting minutes are also available for viewing at the Administrative Center following Board approval (typically two weeks after the meeting).

Video recording of the April 13 Business Meeting

Student and Staff recognition:

Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke, Board President Marissa Rosen, and Director of Communications Kimberly McKenzie recognized two Ladue Middle School students who are using cutting-edge technology to ensure their peers can navigate the digital landscape with confidence. Sixth graders Dhruv Rohatgi and Lucas He were recently recognized as 2026 Presidential AI Challenge State Winners for their innovative project, “Identifying and Addressing Gaps in Student Web Literacy using Transparent AI.”

The Presidential AI Challenge is a first-of-its-kind national initiative coordinated by the White House to encourage young innovators to solve real-world problems using artificial intelligence. Dhruv and Lucas were selected as one of only 328 state-level winners from a massive pool of more than 2,500 submissions nationwide.

Dhruv and Lucas identified a critical problem facing students today: the difficulty of discerning credible information from misinformation online. To address this, they developed WebLiteracy.com, a transparent, AI-assisted platform designed to help students evaluate the credibility of webpages. Unlike "black box" AI tools, their platform uses "Transparent AI" to provide an explainable rubric and guided reflections, teaching students how to evaluate bias and author credibility themselves.

Following their state-level win, the duo advanced to the Regional Competition on Saturday, April 4, representing Missouri against teams from 10 other states. Congratulations to Dhruv and Lucas for this incredible achievement and for representing the "Ladue Way" on a national stage!

Board President's Remarks

• Shared a personal note of gratitude, expressing that it has been a true honor and privilege to serve as Board President for the last two years.
• Thanked fellow Board members and the Superintendent’s Cabinet for their partnership in making "great strides forward" in an already excellent district.
• Offered sincere congratulations to the incumbents on their successful re-election to the Board of Education and shared her excitement for continuing the district’s work alongside her colleagues.

Superintendent’s Remarks

• Recognition of Leadership: 
  • Congratulated Kisha Lee, Pablo Flinn, and Peter Gariepy on their recent election results and their continued commitment to serving the Ladue Schools community.
• Appreciation for School Leaders: 
  • Recognized the district’s assistant principals in honor of National Assistant Principals Week, thanking them for their daily dedication to student success.
• Legislative Advocacy
  • Commended Dr. Geoff Macy and Board Member Amy Hammerman for traveling to Jefferson City to advocate for the future of public education regarding House Bill 2780.Employee Celebrations: 
    • Congratulated Tammy MacLean on being named the District Teacher of the Year.
    • Honored Reva Davis (age 92) as the third-ever Ladue Legacy Award winner.
    • Thanked the Communications and Human Resources departments for a successful evening celebrating Teachers of the Year, service award recipients, and retirees.
• Community Engagement: 
  • Highlighted the success of STEAM Fest and praised Dr. Patricia Brown for her remarkable work in coordinating STEAM Fest, noting it as a testament to the power of community building.
  • Noted the upcoming Parent University event on Wednesday, April 15, and all the work Dr. Derrick Wallace and his staff have put in to make it another successful event. 

Below is an overview of action and information items from the agenda for the April 13, 2026, Board of Education business meeting. To view the agenda, updates, and presentations, visit the district’s website: Ladue Schools Diligent Community page.

ACTION ITEMS

Administration of the Oath of Officers

Kisha Lee, Pablo Flinn, and Peter Gariepy were sworn in as members of the Ladue Schools Board of Education.

Election of Officers 

The Board approved restructuring of its officers for the next term, as follows:

• President: Jennifer Growe Soshnik
• Vice President: Peter Gariepy
• Secretary: Kisha Lee
• Treasurer: Amy Kuo Hammerman
• Director: Pablo Flinn
• Director: Marissa Rosen
• Director: Robert Snidman

Readoption of Policy BBFA

The Board approved the readoption of policy BBFA. 

2026-27 and 2027-28 Academic Calendars

The Board approved the amendment to the 2026-27 and 2027-28 Academic Calendars.

INFORMATION ITEMS

Ladue Fifth Grade Center Presentation School Presentation

Dr. Patricia Wilson and Levi Rutherford presented a comprehensive update on FGC’s School Improvement Plan. 

LHWHS Cooling Tower

Dr. Geoff Macy provided an update and proposals for a refurbishment program to address the areas of need.

LHWHS and Reed Elementary Roof Replacement

Dr. Geoff Macy provided an update and proposed work for both projects.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Our next Board of Education meeting will be on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. All information regarding that meeting will be posted on the Ladue Schools Diligent Community homepage.