FOX2 Investigates Ladue Superintendent Contract

The station questioned the separation agreement with former Superintendent Dr. Marsha Chappelow.

As the Ladue School District moves forward with plans to hire a new superintendent, FOX2 is drawing attention to the agreement that has allowed Dr. Marsha Chappelow to retire and take leave early leave with full payment under her existing contract. Ladue leaders have defended the decision as being in the best interest of the district, and have pointed out that under the terms of the agreement, which don't allow either side to comment on why the parting actually came about, does call for Chappelow to make herself available to district staff when necessary up until June 30. Dr. Donna Jahnke, Asst. Supt. for Teaching and Learning told Patch Monday that the district has not needed those consulting services.

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January Is Key Month For Ladue School District's Leadership Vacancies

The district is looking for a new superintendent and a high school principal. You can share your thoughts at a community forum next week.

With the holidays now in the rear mirror, the Ladue School District faces an important month in moving forward in finding new leadership in January. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Judy Sclair, is acting as Interim Superintendent for the remainder of the 2012-13 academic year, following the school board's decision to grant Dr. Marsha Chappelow request for a leave of absence. According to a district e-newsletter, the district is hosting a Community Forum January 8 at Horton Watkins High School from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to get input from the public about qualities district patrons hope the new superintendent brings to the table. The application deadline for the superintendent's position closes January 21, and a timeline calls…

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The Artery: Several Important Ties to the Ladue School District

Owner Kim Good has operated this business in Olivette for 19 years.

The Artery has been in Olivette as a framing shop in the Olivette Shopping Center since November 1993. The shop at 9636 Olive St. has many ties to Ladue Horton Watkins High School and Patch dropped by to find out just how. Patch: If which ways are you connected to Ladue High School Kim Good, owner: In many ways. I am a 1984 graduate of Ladue High and my husband, Rob teaches social studies at the high school. We have a lot of connections there and many of their parents do their framing here. We support the school. We donate to all the fundraisers they have going on up there. We always advertise in the yearbook and the school newspaper. Patch: After 19 years in the same location, you must know a lot of your customers well. Good: We have very…

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Ladue Schools Appoints Pablo Flinn Director of Education Services

Appointment approved by the Ladue School District Board of Education.

  On May 14 the Ladue Schools Board of Education approved the appointment of Pablo Flinn as the Director of Education Services, beginning July 1, 2012.  Flinn comes to the Ladue School District from Special School District of St. Louis County where he currently serves as Area Coordinator for Separate Private School Services.  Prior to serving in this position, Flinn served Special School District as an Area Coordinator for University City Secondary Schools and as an Effective Practice Specialist.  He was also an Assistant Program Director and a classroom teacher at Epworth School in Webster Groves. Flinn received his Masters in Education Administration from Missouri Baptist University.  Both his Masters in Education as a Reading Specialist…

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Former Ladue Superintendent Resigns Similar Pennsylvania Position

Stunning development in Dallastown School District in Pennsylvania.

Ladue, Frontenac Hit With The First Snowstorm Of The Season

Travelers should check conditions before heading out of town.

Update at 10:00 a.m. Charlie Brennan of KMOX Radio is waging a one-person war with MoDOT, the St. Louis Street Department and IDOT, highly critical of the lack of advance preparation for the first snow storm of the year. With thousands stalled in their automobiles on the highways and byways, he was playing to many sympathetic ears. He said pre-conditioning of the roads overnight would have prevented the black ice buildup which was leading to countless accidents. Westbound I64/40 was so icy, the highway was shut down for two hours while cars were unable to climb up the hill in Ladue. By 10 a.m. Highway 40 was a glorified parking lot, jammed with countless cars and drivers. Manchester and Brentwood roads were in equally as poor conditions …

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James Baer

11:42 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012

I drove around Ladue, Brentwood, Clayton, U. City and it was a royal mess. Everyone tried to clog onto the roads all at the same time.   more ›

Deck Your House and Win $100,000 for Ladue Public Schools

Get out the lights and holly. Your decorating could net $100,000 to our schools. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to win a $100,000 gift to the Ladue Public Schools.

Patch.com is launching a nationwide contest to find the best dressed home in its Patch communities, and the winner’s school district will receive $100,000, no strings attached. Here’s how the contest works. Beginning on Dec. 8 and continuing through Dec. 26, you can nominate your home by uploading a photo to the contest entry form on the site. During that same time period you and your neighbors will also be able to vote for your favorite festive home. The winning entry will be forwarded to a national Patch judge that will select 24 finalists. Each finalist will receive $500 that they can apply to their December electric bill. From Dec. 30 through Jan. 8 you will be able to vote for the Best Decked House in all of Patch. The grand prize …

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Teaching Moment: Social Media Law Holds Lessons for Students, Teachers and Parents

As school gets underway in Creve Coeur and around the state, class is in session for a debate of the role of social media and email in education.

Missouri’s students are in new classrooms for a new academic year. Meanwhile, many of their teachers have a lot more than lesson plans and grades to consider.   Near the end of August, the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) sued the state over a new Missouri social network law that prevents students and teachers from having electronic conversations that cannot be accessed by school administrators and parents. As Town and Country-Manchester Patch reported, “this also means (students and teachers) cannot be friends on Facebook.” Talk about a real civics lesson in the virtual life. Adding Up the Arguments Many Missouri teachers say connecting with their pupils via Facebook and email is an important part of reaching today’s students …

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Holly Edgell

9:33 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Thanks for weighing in, Brian!   more ›

Ladue School Board Approves District Cost-Cutting Measures

The superintendent of schools issued an apology for the way teachers who were being terminated or reassigned were notified.

Despite an apology from the district superintendent and a barrage of criticism from parents and students alike, the Ladue School Board has approved a package of budget cuts that trims the equivalent of 28 teaching positions from district classrooms. Across the district, eight employees, including six teachers, will not be re-hired for next school year. An additional 40 employees will retire or resign; others will be reassigned, and yet others will see a reduction in the number of hours they work, according to district documents. In total, the district plans to slash about 45 positions, or ten percent, from its organizational total of 476 full-time positions. “Every employee in the district will be affected in some way,” said Superintendent…

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Ladue Schools Wrestle with Budget Deficit and Climbing Enrollment

Facing a budget shortfall and rising student census, Ladue schools officials consider options to cut costs and accommodate more students.

Ladue school district officials are considering revamping student bus service, re-aligning grade school and middle school configurations, and eventually asking voters for a property tax hike to combat a projected $3.4 million budget deficit and spiking student enrollment. District parents can discuss school realignment options with school officials during a town hall session set for 7 p.m. Thur. Jan. 27, and district residents can comment on the district’s budget plans during a second forum scheduled for 7 p.m. Wed., Feb. 23. Both town hall sessions are being held in the cafeteria at Ladue High School, 1201 S. Warson Rd. In a financial report made available during its Jan. 24 meeting, the Ladue Board of Education said that it “cannot keep …

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