Ladue School District

The meeting included a presentation by the Superintendent's Advisory Council regarding their 'Flip the Script' campaign aimed at addressing the dangers of vaping, alcohol, and drugs among students, including presentation of three related PSA videos. The presentation cited statistics on youth tobacco and ecigarette use and discussed health risks associated with these substances and cannabis. The council outlined outreach plans including cafeteria TVs, billboards, lunch tabling, and collaboration with the middle school advisory group. The meeting also featured staff recognition, specifically the presentation of the Excellence in Education Award to Miriam Gartz, an occupational therapist at Alan Elementary, acknowledging her work on student well-being and fine motor skill development.

The session involved calling the meeting to order following a closed session delay. A moment of silence was observed for a student who died by suicide. Key agenda items included student and staff recognition, specifically honoring a ninth grader for co-presenting on using math games at a state conference and recognizing a seventh grader for demonstrating civic responsibility by successfully advocating for traffic calming measures in his neighborhood. The meeting also featured the presentation of the monthly Excellence in Education award to a first-grade teacher, Amy Rich, acknowledging her exceptional impact on students, staff, and parents through her dedication, empathy, and leadership. The teacher accepted the award by sharing her appreciation for her colleagues and students.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by student and staff recognition segments. A student, Zoe, was recognized as Missouri's recipient of the National World War II Museum's Billy Michael Student Leadership Award for co-founding Empower Ed and organizing career-building opportunities. Kevin Hyman, a fourth-grade teacher at Spady Elementary School, was honored with the Excellence in Education Award for his dedication, relationship-building with students, patience, and leadership roles. Superintendent updates included recognizing Conway Elementary School as a Gold Star School, and Reed and Spy Elementary Schools for winning the first annual Louisie Awards. Other highlights involved a financial aid meeting, introducing the incoming superintendent Dr. Jeff Macy to student advisory councils, congratulations for the high school theater performance of Legally Blonde, Black History Month activities including museum visits and a trivia assembly, and the successful professional development day. The Superintendent also recognized Dr. Derek Wallace, Dr. Tom Devit, and Dr. for their professional achievements.

The meeting included the recognition of a staff member, Katie McKenna, for the Excellence in Education award due to her exceptional service as an English as a Second Language specialist, demonstrating great flexibility and support across multiple school levels. The board also recognized the start of Ramadan, the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim, Holi, and Easter, emphasizing the importance of fostering an inclusive environment. In administrative updates, Board Appreciation Month was acknowledged. Discussions covered a podcast featuring a 'Leo Legend,' the dedication of staff pursuing doctoral degrees, and the success of the Early Childhood Program enrollment. The board celebrated an outstanding senior awarded a full-ride scholarship for American Sign Language studies. Action items involved approving several policies, including those related to district boundaries, the 169-day academic calendar, homeschooling declarations, virtual course access and participation in extracurricular activities, and updates on full-time virtual course enrollment responsibilities for host districts.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and recognized an employee, Kristen, for receiving the Excellence in Education award due to her exceptional work with two-year-olds, her role on the leadership team, and her initiative in writing a grant to enhance the toddler playground. Superintendent updates included gratitude toward parents and custodial staff for handling inclement weather challenges, recognition of student achievements in the recent play production of 'The Prom' and upcoming jazz concert, and congratulations to Coach Chad Anderson for achieving his 300th career victory. Key discussion points involved the productive meeting of the Facilities and Finance Committee regarding options for a new administrative center (rebuilding versus renovation). The Board Advisory Committee met to discuss legislative matters, focusing on the impact of current legislation, particularly tax reduction bills and Open Enrollment proposals, emphasizing the district's reliance on local funding. The meet and confer process between the administration and the employee association resulted in an agreement concerning health insurance cost management; specifically, an 8% increase in employee and retiree premiums was agreed upon to maintain benefit quality, with plans to bid out the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) and conduct Q&A sessions for smooth transition. Furthermore, the board acknowledged that Reed was recognized as a 2025 Missouri State School of Character distinction recipient and is pursuing national recognition. Finally, the meeting covered the appointment of two new board members and the upcoming retirement of a current member.