3.75 Percent Pay Raises for Ladue Teachers, Administrators

Board is taking measures to remain competitive with neighboring school districts.

The shakedown cruise for the successful Prop 1 .49 cent tax levy in Ladue didn’t launch quite as smoothly as expected. Ladue parents, Kelly Waller, 617 High Hampton Rd., Ashley J. Margulis, 46 Picardy Ln, and Jill Moore, 8989 Moydalgan Dr. took turns questioning the 3.75 pay raises to be given to certified staff and administrators. The collective speakers felt monies could be spent in other areas like reducing the size of classrooms. They visibly showed their disappointment while taking turns at the podium during public speaking sessions of the Ladue School District Board meeting Monday night. Each said they were strong supporters of Prop 1 but probably wouldn’t be in four more years when the district comes back with another request for …

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Kelly Waller

1:58 pm on Thursday, April 26, 2012

Robin, Thank you. You did not offend me. I just wanted everyone reading on this to be sure to understand that there were some miscommunications in the above, that is all. It was great to see a few parents at the last meeting. I hope that is the start of more parent involvement. Our board deserves to hear from caring, concerned parents. It can only benefit the district and the kids in the long run…   more ›

Prop 1 Results Prominent at School Board Meeting Monday Night

Ladue's CFO to review facts and figures with passage of Prop 1.

The Ladue School Board meeting Monday night, 7 p.m. might be one worth attending. Results from the successful Prop 1 campaign will be a featured item on the agenda. For one the district’s director of finance Dr. Jason Buckner will discuss the administrative’s recommendations for a 3.75 percent pay salary increase for employees; approximately $700,000 or 10 percent of the additional money raised by the successful tax levy. Of course, all of this is subject to board approval. Buckner has outlined some of the key things that will be triggered because of the passage of Prop 1. Later this week, the Ladue-Frontenac Patch will break down the voting results, precinct by precinct.

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The Baer Facts

Move the Teachers Around, Not the Students

Some after-thoughts of the successful Prop 1 vote in Ladue.

Looking back, from the massive amount of comments on our site, and from the sheer number of votes involved with election polls, there was supreme interest in this blistering red-hot topic. I really think some of the comments reflect views of people who aren’t as informed about public education as they might believe they are. Remember, its hard to build up, and easy to tear down. Arm chair quarterbacking is much easier than being in the barrel and running the day-to-day operations. Like us on the Ladue-Frontenac Facebook page. The critical comments spanned a wide range;  everything from the superintendent being paid too much, to offering unnecessary bus service to allowing the teachers to be paid on merit and having tenure. Sorry, but I …

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CreveCoeurDad

3:54 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

You are too easily offended. The piece was merely a well-intentioned, but empty-headed attempt at stating a way that schools could be improved. It repeats the talking points that teachers unions and ed schools have spouted for years, that we need better (meaning better-paid) teachers and more money in failing schools and that will solve the problem. It's an interesting starting point, but one …   more ›

Moving On: Ladue Schools Passes Operating Tax Levy Increase

Fifty-three percent of voters voted for the 49-cent levy.

On Tuesday voters in the Ladue School District approved Proposition 1, a ballot initiative adding 49 cents to the district’s operating tax levy, bringing it to $3.24. The initiative was passed with 52.77 percent voter approval and with a higher voter turnout than the district has experienced for any ballot initiative in at least 10 years.   The district’s request came after district property tax revenue dropped 8 percent over the last five years, during which time the district made over $7 million in expenditure reductions. The approval of Proposition 1 will allow the district to forego $2.1 million in additional expenditure reductions for the 2012-13 school year.  These reductions would have included the elimination of 17 positions, …

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James Baer

7:15 pm on Thursday, April 5, 2012

Flashback Fridays begin tomorrow on Patch. You certainly won't want to miss what I have to say about fallout from the Prop 1 results. Whatever you do, don't miss these comments.   more ›

Prop 1 Rolls to Resounding Victory in Ladue by 506 votes

The .49 cent tax levy passes with nearly 53 percent of the vote.

The passage of Prop 1, a .49 cent tax levy on residents of the Ladue School District touched off a wild celebration at the Frontenac Hilton Hotel. Ladue won a resounding victory with 4,580 yes votes (52.92 percent) to 4,074 no votes (47.08 percent). Passage means Ladue will have enough operational funds for four years; numerous teaching positions and key programs were saved in the process. “We are thrilled. This is wonderful. I can’t thank all the people who worked so hard to make this happen,” said Dr. Marsha Chappelow, the district’s superintendent of schools. Special recognition went to Diane Patershuk who headed up the parent’s campaign and recognition went to Susan Dielmann, the district’s communication director and to Dr. Jason …

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Last Chance to Cast Your Ballot This Time Around

Missourians head to the polls Tuesday, April 3.

Polls will be open all over St. Louis City and County Tuesday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Be sure to cast your ballot. Here is the latest up to the date information where to vote, etc. from the League of Women Voters. For more local information check out the Ladue-Frontenac, Crystal Lake Park, Huntleigh Manor and Olivette voters guide that ran this week. The mailings will stop. The yard signs will come down. Replacing them will be watch parties throughout the county. The biggest issue to be decided is Ladue's Prop 1 ,a .49 cent proposed tax levy on the ballot. However you feel on this issue, be sure to cast your vote. The next election will be the August primaries, and the national election in November.

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Prop 1: 49 cent Tax Levy Goes to the Voters Tuesday, April 3

Voters will decide the fate of Ladue School District for years to come.

Drive through the city of Ladue, Creve Coeur, Olivette or other communities feeding into the Ladue School District and you will see more campaign signs than tulips blooming in this unseasonably warm, mild spring. On the ballot Tuesday, April 3 is the .49 cent tax increase, dubbed Proposition 1. If this proposition passes, Ladue tax payers will pay .49 cents for every $100 of assessed valuation. That figures to be $465.50 for a half million dollar home; and $931.00 annually for a million dollar home. Passions are riding high on both sides of this issue, with the Take Back the Ladue Schools campaign and with Commit2Ladue.org. The Take Back Ladue Committee has been very firm in their opposition. They previously worked to defeat a previous tax…

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Patch Blogger Has an Opinion on the Prop 1 Tax Levy

Gloria Bilchick has strong views on this hotly-contested issue.

  Ladue Prop 1: Is the tax hike "excessive?" Let's see... The answer depends on what your definition of “excessive” is.  As voters in the Ladue School District debate the merits of a proposed 49-cent increase in the operating tax levy, some opponents say it’s too much and a waste of money. As I’ve written here previously, many of the “NO on Prop 1” signs are planted on the spacious front lawns of some of the biggest homes in the district. And that makes me wonder, how much would the tax increase actually cost homeowners, and what else might they be buying with that money if they didn’t have to fork it over for the schools? First, I learned that the median value of a home within the boundaries of the city of Ladue, in 2009, was $822,000. (…

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Stl Today Finally Weighs in on Ladue Tax Levy Issue

Note the totally outdated photo. From at least two years ago.