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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Social Media Threat Increases Law Enforcement Presence at Ladue Schools

An Instagram account reportedly used the same profile picture as that of the shooter in the Newtown, CT school shooting.

  Information was provided by the Communications Department of the Ladue School District. This is the message that went out by email last night: "Wednesday evening, January 16 a broad threat to the Ladue School District community was posted on social media. Although no specific action was specified, law enforcement presence will be increased at all schools during the day today.  There is a strong possibility this is over-reaction.  However, district officials are taking the situation very seriously and are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our students and our staff.  We will provide additional information during the day, as necessary."   FOX2 news reports that the threat came in the form of an Instagram account. Patch was …

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Editor's Notebook

10 Creve Coeur Storylines We're Following In 2013

From the leadership change at Ladue Schools to the Senior PGA Championship at Bellerive, here's a look at some of the places and faces we're interested in as we head into 2013.

Welcome to 2013. I guess the Mayans were wrong, huh?  As we embark on a new year, here's a look at 10 storylines we'll be following. Think we've missed something? Tell us in the comment section. Creve Coeur faces a tricky balance of how to handle business and development interests with nearby residential concerns. The poster-child for that in 2012, Delmar Gardens' plan for Ladue Road near Interstate 270 figures to make news on that front again in 2013. The proposal, which received a negative recommendation from Creve Coeur Planning and Zoning officials, will be back before City Council members January 14.  A prominent vacant space figures to have a new tenant in March, when ALDI moves into part of the former Borders Bookstore at Olive …

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Before & After? Ladue School Board to Review Building Plans Monday

These pictures from a December 2011 presentation to the Ladue School District show what students have now — and what could be. What do you think of this vision?

The Ladue School Board meets in a work session on Monday evening to discuss, among other things, the master plan presentation board members received in December. Monday's discussion is expected to review how the district might finance the plan, according to a memo in the board agenda circulated on Friday. Like Creve Coeur Patch on Facebook "The administration will present a draft of relevant financial background information, as well as a possible model for moving forward with financial implementation of the Master Plan," wrote Jason L. Buckner, the district's assistant superintendent for business and finance. "The administration will be seeking input from the Board of Education in an effort to finalize the financial section of the Master …

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The Week Ahead In Creve Coeur

The Week Ahead: Chickens, A School Tax Levy & The Book Festival

A look at what's going on in and around Creve Coeur Patch this week.

Welcome to another full week of news and information at your fingertips here on Creve Coeur Patch. Here's a sample of what we'll be following, and where and when you can find it. Monday night, Creve Coeur's City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Among the items on the agenda include: Monday night, the Ladue School board could vote to approve language which would put a tax levy increase on the ballot in February. The increase, is described as follows by district documents: "$0.49 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation for the purpose of paying for costs of educational programs, school supplies and equipment, student transportation, employee salaries, utilities, maintaining existing facilities, and other operational expenses of the District…

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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 ›

What To Do With Westminster: Ladue School Board Decision Could Come Next Month

Board members had hoped a decision on the future of the Creve Coeur campus would be decided before April's election and a new school board.

Proposals have been made; plans have been studied; financial impacts have been explored, and parents have been heard. Now, the Ladue Board of Education is facing a decision on how the school district will utilize the Westminster Christian Academy building for needed new classroom space. After hearing from a team of planners during the board’s March 28 regularly scheduled work session, the board may be ready to make a decision during its next public session on April 11. At least a decision is on the board meeting agenda, according to Susan Dielmann, district director of communications. It could be delayed, she added. One thing is known for sure, said Dielmann. A decision on the use of the Westminster property will be made by a new board. At…

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From The Nurse's Office

Travel Safety Tips For Spring Break

Good advice for going by planes, trains or automobiles.

It’s spring, the schools are off and many families see this as an opportune time to spend some quality time together and head out on a family vacation. Depending on the size of your family and the distance of your destination, most families choose to either fly or drive to their ultimate vacation destination. If you choose to travel by air, there are many challenges that parents face when traveling with children. It is essential to plan ahead and make sure you have adequate supplies, snacks and activities for your children to keep them occupied and well nourished during the flight and any wait times or possible delays that you may encounter. Most airlines require children 2 or older to have their own seat. The airlines recommend using a …

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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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