March 2016 - Mehlville School District

O
District Residents Asked to Consider Proposition A
n April 5, which is election day
across Missouri, residents of the
Mehlville School District will cast their
ballots on the issue listed as Proposition
A. Proposition A is asking voters to
consider raising the capital projects
fund by 4 cents, while at the same time
reducing the debt service fund by 4 cents.
The net impact on property owners in the
District is no increase in their taxes.
Prop A Ballot Language
S
hall the Board of Education of the
Mehlville R-9 School District, St.
Louis County, Missouri, be authorized
to increase the operating tax levy of the
District by $0.04 per $100 of assessed
valuation for the next ten years (10 year
period of 2016 through 2025) for the
purpose of paying costs of the repair and
replacement of roofs and HVAC systems
resulting in the estimated total tax levy of
the District remaining unchanged due to
an expected reduction of $0.04 per $100
of assessed valuation to the debt service
levy of the District? If this proposition is
approved, the adjusted operating levy of
the District is estimated to be $4.2288 per
$100 of assessed valuation.
The 4 cents that District residents
currently pay is the remaining tax rate to
pay down general obligation bonds that
voters approved in 1992-1993. That debt
is about to be paid off so moving that
amount to the capital projects fund will
help fund roof projects as well as heating
and air conditioning replacement at
schools throughout the district.
“A roof protects the structural integrity of an entire building,” said Mehlville School District Facilities Director Steve Habeck. “Due to limited resources we have
delayed some roofing projects and done some short term fixes on other roofs. Relatively small problems can become very large, expensive problems if you ignore
early signs of trouble.” Prop A has a ten year sunset written into the ballot issue so residents can review the impact that those funds are making and decide if
they wish to continue paying that tax. To see a list of the projects Prop A will help fund, see page 8.
Summer School Programs Add New Classes, Full Day Elementary
T
here are some exciting new changes for Mehlville School District students
who take classes during the summer of 2016. The most obvious change is a
name change—it is now known as the Summer Acceleration Program. As the
name suggests, summer classes will not only help students who might need extra
instruction but there are also higher level learning opportunities for students who
want to expand their knowledge base. The Summer Acceleration Program begins
on Monday, June 6, and runs through Thursday, June 30. As in past years, classes
will not be held on Fridays. Meal costs and payment methods are the same as the
District uses during the regular school year.
Elementary School Summer Acceleration is a full day program, running from
8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will be offered at Trautwein Elementary and Wohlwend
Elementary. Breakfast and lunch will be available to students. Classroom
instruction will consist of English Language Arts, Math, Science and Social
Studies. All students from kindergarten through 5th grade will participate in
enrichment opportunities. A pre-K option will be offered for the first time.
Middle School Summer Acceleration will be in session from 8 a.m. until noon at
Bernard Middle School. The day will focus on a combination of 6th to 8th grade
core subjects and enrichment activities. In addition, two-week 5th to 8th grade
STEM camps will be offered to get students excited about the subjects of science
and math. Breakfast will be available to students.
At the high school level, four core area courses for graduation requirements are
being offered as well as electives in art, business and physical education. Oakville
High is hosting Summer Acceleration and hours are 8 a.m. until noon. Lunch
will be available to students.
There is also a pre-K summer program at each elementary school. The first
session runs from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. and the second session will run from noon
until 3 p.m. Parents are encouraged to send snacks to school with their children.
If you have any questions about the Summer Acceleration Program, call:
Karen Bridges - Elementary School
Julie Durham - Elementary School
Trent Sauer - Middle School
Rodney Gerdes - High School
467-6343
467-6571
467-7538
467-7278
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 3
1
Board of Education
Venki Palamand
President
Larry Felton
Vice President
Samantha Stormer
Secretary
Dr. Lisa Dorsey
Director
Jamey Murphy
Director
Jean Pretto
Director
Lori Trakas
Director
Executive Staff
Dr. Chris Gaines
Superintendent
Dr. Brian Lane
Deputy Superintendent
Dr. Jeff Bresler
Assistant Superintendent
– Supervision of Schools
Dr. Tina Plummer
Assistant Superintendent
– Curriculum, Assessment
and Professional Development
Mr. Marshall Crutcher
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Mark Catalana
Executive Director
– Human Resources
The Mehlville Messenger is published
by the Communications Department
four times a year for Mehlville School
District residents, businesses and
families. Its purpose is to inform the
public of District news, student achievements and community involvement
activities. Please submit questions,
letters and comments to:
Communications Department
3120 Lemay Ferry Road
St. Louis, MO 63125
(314) 467-5000
[email protected]
FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT
“
Just 3 ½ years ago, the Mehlville
Board voted to implement tuitionfree Full Day Kindergarten (FDK).
Since the Fall of 2013, an additional
one thousand 5 year olds have
received the “Gift of Time” - the
On behalf of the Mehlville School District, I want to thank
benefit of 500 hours of additional
our voters and taxpayers for their strong support. November 3,
instructional time. Those students are only now in 2nd grade.
2015 was a new day for the Mehlville School District. The
passage of a 49 cent tax increase - the 1st operational increase Prop R, along with the Board’s decision to start FDK are
in 17 years - will provide an improved foundation for students game-changers for Mehlville. We are also investigating the
to learn and be college and career ready, upon graduation.
possibility of opening a new type of Elementary School, one
I don’t believe what I just saw!!!” Those words, emphatically
spoken by former Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck during
Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, likely expressed the
sentiment many Mehlville/Oakville residents felt after the
overwhelming passage of Prop R.
At the heart of the plan is an investment in 16 additional
specialists for elementary students, to provide the instruction
needed, in order to help them read at grade level. Increased
teacher training, with around one million dollars budgeted
for our 700+ classroom teachers, is another foundational
component of Prop R. This will positively impact instruction
in the years ahead.
We will also be investing an additional $1 million per year
(on average) in curriculum materials. Old, worn out textbooks
will be replaced, along with adding new learning materials
to support the classroom. We will be upgrading heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning equipment (HVAC), so
that students will have an improved, more comfortable
environment in which to learn.
FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
I
t’s hard to believe it’s springtime. The school year has
been moving quickly and a buzz of activity. The work
around Prop R, our strategic plan, finding areas to save and
Prop A has been fun and rewarding. There is still quite a bit
to do, however.
centered around “Problem-Based” learning. Only one other
district in the state offers such an option.
Whether you are a parent with students at Mehlville or
a resident taxpayer who helps support our schools, the
future is bright for our Mehlville/Oakville schools and
community.
Back in 1988, Kirk Gibson’s home run against future Cardinal
Dennis Eckersley, propelled the LA Dodgers to a World
Championship just one week later. While it will take us a
few years to build a solid educational foundation, as promised
with Prop R, Mehlville/Oakville residents can look forward
to a better, more innovative school district with improved
outcomes for students.
Dr. Chris Gaines
Textbooks and instructional support
materials were a big piece of
Prop R. Materials for K-5 English
Language Arts, middle school math,
and high school science are being
piloted and selection will be made
soon so that we have these resources
in August.
We recently sent out a second update on Prop R progress.
I’m pleased to report that the 16 positions added with Prop R
funds have been filled for next year. Many of them were filled
by internal candidates so we’ve been hitting the teacher job In January I laid out a plan centered around student
fairs at several universities to seek out high quality candidates. engagement, continuous improvement and innovation that
An extensive staff development plan centered around student included opening a new elementary school of choice, as well
engagement and continuous classroom improvement has as expanding early childhood opportunities.
been laid out over the next several years. That work will begin In December we asked folks how we could save money
this summer.
because people said during the Prop R campaign that the
Budget development is in full swing and we’ve restored the district wastes money. A separate article (see pages 6 and 7)
$50,000 in building supply budgets that were cut. We’ve also addresses a piece of what we learned and our list of actions
allocated $200,000 to restore a full complement of clubs to moving forward will come out in the next few weeks.
the buildings. Lastly, $550,000 in Prop R funds has been Prop A will be decided by voters on Tuesday, April 5. The
allocated to technology so that all of our high school students projects funded by Prop A are outlined in a separate article
will have a device next year.
on page 8.
In February the Board of Education approved the purchase
of 10 buses with Prop R funds. Earlier this month they
approved fire alarms bids for Bierbaum Elementary, Oakville
Middle and Washington Middle and several other projects
are out to bid.
Page 2
Venki Palamand
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2016 | August 2009
Thank you for allowing us to serve the children of our
community.
Check out our YouTube Channel for more details of district
happenings.
T
District Selects Leaders for New Innovative Elementary School
he creation of the new Choice School of Innovation now has the solid
foundation of a principal to lead the school and the formation of an
Implementation Team to help build the school from the ground up.
The new elementary school is the centerpiece of a plan by Superintendent Dr.
Chris Gaines to expand the educational rigor in the district and to introduce
student-centered teaching techniques to improve academic performance. The
innovative elementary school will be located in the St. John’s school building,
which currently houses the SCOPE alternative education program. Children
throughout the Mehlville School District will be able to apply to attend the new
school. A random lottery will be used to select students. “The innovative school
brings so many benefits to the District,” said Dr. Gaines. “It will obviously help
with student performance, but it will also make Mehlville a destination district
for great teachers and growing families. And that could have a positive impact
on property values.”
Dr. Scott Clark, who is currently the principal
of Forder Elementary, was picked by Dr.
Gaines to oversee the development of the
school. Dr. Clark has two Master’s Degrees in
education from Lindenwood University as well
as a doctorate from Maryville University. He
began his education career as an art teacher in
Vienna, Austria. Dr. Clark later taught at Point
Elementary and became an Assistant Principal
at Bierbaum Elementary before being hired as
Forder Elementary’s principal in 2009. “This
is an extremely exciting time for the Mehlville
School District,” said Dr. Clark. “Parents across
T
Dr. Scott Clark
Mehlville App Update
he District is getting nothing but positive feedback about the Mehlville
School District app that is now available for both Apple and Android cell
phone operating systems. One of the most popular functions will surely be the
two Calendar functions. You can now access the 2015-2016 and the 2016-2017
school year calendar, which should help with any vacations or trips families might
be planning.
the country are demanding better academic results from their schools, and
the creation of this new innovative school will give us the flexibility to utilize
the very latest educational strategies to improve the performance of Mehlville
School District students.”
Dr. Clark selected five District staff members and five community members
to serve as the Implementation Team for the Choice School of Innovation,
which will spend the next 18 months researching and exploring the positive
impact Personalized and Problem-Based Learning has on student success. The
Implementation Team members are:
Staff
Erin Nichols – Forder Elementary/Rogers Elementary - Librarian
Chad Dickemper – Oakville Elementary - Principal
Lisa Meyers – Rogers Elementary - Kindergarten
Sarah Bradley – Wohlwend Elementary - Fourth grade
Amanda Wyatt – Forder Elementary - Fourth grade
Parents/Community
Mike Sita – Oakville Elementary
Kara Hanak – Rogers Elementary
Jason Rooks – Mehlville High, Forder Elementary
Laura Roeseler – Forder Elementary
Arijana Baskot – Trautwein Elementary
The Implementation Team will provide continuous updates on its progress
toward the goal of opening the new innovative school in the fall of 2017.
Because there was so much interest in the Implementation Team, the District
will be forming an Advisory Team that will provide occasional assistance and
feedback for this important project.
Paul Westbrook Named IT Director
T
he Mehlville School District has selected
Paul Westbrook to be the new Director of
Technology Services for the District. Westbrook
has replaced Steven Lee, who retired following a
34 year career with the Mehlville School District.
Paul Westbrook served as Assistant Principal at
The other calendar function lets you add school events to your personal calendar. Bernard Middle School for the past four years. He
On the home page of the app, you will see a gear-like icon on the top right of the previously taught science for ten years at Bernard.
page. Click on the gear and you can select which school calendars you wish to Westbrook has a B.S. Degree in Education from
Southern Illinois University, a Master’s Degree
access. After you have made your selection(s), return to the calendar tab on the
in Administration from Southeast Missouri State
app home page, click on it, and then click on the Events tab. Each individual University and an Ed.S Educational Specialist
school event has a +Add To Calendar option that lets you put the event on your Degree from Lindenwood University.
personal calendar.
Paul Westbrook’s background in education will
Mr. Paul Westbrook
Unfortunately, the Tyler SIS function does not yet work. Tyler SIS is working be a key component as efforts continue to better
to upload student data from school districts across the country, and they have integrate technology and curriculum in the
not yet uploaded Mehlville School District data. When that happens, parents District. “I am excited to help continue the good work that the IT department
will be able to access information about their students and also deposit money is accomplishing,” said Westbrook. “I believe that I can help serve as a bridge to
into their lunch accounts. When the Tyler SIS function is working, we will let identify the balance of concerns from the department while maintaining focus on
the educational goals of the district.”
the public know.
T
District Bus Fees Eliminated
he Mehlville School Board voted on January 7th to stop charging a bus fee to families that live less than one mile from their schools, and to refund the money
that has been collected during the school year. The bus fee of $218 a year was included in the budget package that eliminated $4 million in spending for the
2015-2016 school year. Because of continued control over expenses and favorable balances in some spending accounts, the board voted 5-2 to eliminate the bus fee.
While there were no incidents reported during the first half of the school year, board member Jean Pretto cited her concern for student safety as her main reason
for restoring free bus service for all students.
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 3
W
District Voters to Elect Two School Board Members
ith the three year terms of school board members Larry Felton and Lori Trakas set to expire, Mehlville School District residents will cast their votes on
April 5th for the people they want to hold those seats. Both Felton and Trakas are running for re-election, while district resident Kevin Schartner will be
the third name on the ballot.
Page 4
2
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2016 | August 2009
T
Forder Elementary Celebrates New Playground
here is something new, big and blue outside Forder Elementary School and it is making Forder students and nearby residents very happy. On Saturday,
March 5, an army of volunteers built a new playground at the school.
Volunteers dig, measure and construct new playground; overhead view of the new equipment.
The old playground was small with limited things
for children to do. And, it was not handicap
accessible. “This new playground has opportunities
for all students to enjoy,” explained Dr. Scott Clark,
the Forder principal. “There is a special ramp that
will allow children in wheelchairs to get up on the
equipment. There is also an area for slides, a place
for children to swing, musical instruments will be
attached to it and there is even a rock climbing wall.”
Playgrounds are expensive, and the one at Forder
Elementary cost $40,000. But every dollar for the
project was donated by the Forder PTO, by members
of the community and by the congregation at Faith
Lutheran Church. “When we heard that this playground is not just used for the
school but also the community I knew that we needed to take care of that,” said
Faith Lutheran Pastor John Brunette. “We want to be like Jesus, who came not
to be served but to serve.”
The long list of donors of time and money include the Forder PTO, Faith
Lutheran Church, Great American Corporation, Mr. & Mrs. Juso Kuljancic,
Mr. & Mrs. John Schroeder, Mr. Remy Edwards, Mr. & Mrs. Enver Subasic and
the Girl Scouts troop at Forder.
C
JCECC Earns Character Honors
ongratulations to director Ann Westbrook and the John Cary Early
Childhood Center for being honored as a State School of Character.
JCECC Director Ann Westbrook said, “This is something that is earned by
our entire staff. It shows their dedication to creating a caring, nurturing and
positive learning environment for the children of our community. ”
H
undreds of special education students from throughout St. Louis County
filled Oakville High on Friday, Feb. 19, to participate in the annual Special
Olympics at Oakville High. Oakville High students served as buddies for their
guests and helped them enjoy a day that started with a ceremonial torch run,
and then included basketball, dancing, games and lunch.
Oakville High principal Jan Kellerman said, “It’s an honor for us to be a continuing part of Special Olympics, and it’s wonderful OHS students welcome
to see how the event benefits both the special athletes Special Olympics athletes
and our students who spend time
with them. It truly is a win-win
situation.”
Since its inception, Character.org has awarded more than 500 schools with the
distinction of State School of Character. Criteria for the designation are based
on Character.org’s 11 Principles of Effective Character Education, which
includes providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering
shared leadership and engaging families and communities as partners in
character-building efforts.
Sen. Sifton Checks Out School Lunches
M
issouri State Senator Scott Sifton joined students for lunch at Blades
Elementary on Friday, Feb. 19, to learn more about how food and nutrition
services are operated in public schools.
OHS Hosts Special Olympics
T
District Recruits Girls for Science,
Technology Classes
he Mehlville School District is making a special effort to encourage female
students to sign up for classes that tend to be dominated by male students—
science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM) classes.
Mehlville School District Director of School Food and Nutrition Services Katie
Koester walked Sifton through the food line and pointed out the healthy menu During the past couple of
choices offered to students, many of which are now mandated by the federal months, the curriculum
government’s
National
department hosted STEM
School Lunch Program
breakfasts at each of the
(NSLP). During the past
District’s middle schools.
few years the NSLP has
Female students were invited
increased the emphasis on
to the breakfasts, and they got
fruits, vegetables and whole
the opportunity to sit down
grain foods. While the state
with women who either have
of Missouri does not oversee
jobs in those fields or are
school
food
programs,
doing graduate college work
elected officials like Sifton
for careers in those areas.
Middle school students meet with mentor.
can take local concerns to
Attendance at each breakfast
the federal regulators who
was very high, and the adult mentors enjoyed sharing their work experiences and
set food and nutrition standards. Senator Sifton enjoys lunch with Blades students. providing education tips for the students as they move toward high school.
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 3
5
District Analyzes Potential Areas of Savings
Y
ou might recall that in December the Mehlville School District surveyed employees, parents and community members to identify areas of financial savings for
the District. Despite voter approval of Proposition R, we kept hearing that the District is wasting money so we gave folks an opportunity to tell us how.
The survey was opened and started 1,006 times, but 402 gave no response. That left 604 responses that District personnel have been reviewing. After checking to see
if an item was actionable, legal, and didn’t violate regulations, we were left with 433 ideas. The items were then put into categories and duplicate ideas consolidated
to yield about 170 distinct ideas. The two largest categories are printing/paper and utilities.
District personnel are working on action steps on a number of ideas and we hope to announce those in late March or early April. We have, however, launched an
incentive program for individual schools in regards to utility savings.
As we’ve combed through the suggestions there are some great ideas, many comments that the District operates very lean, some things that can’t be done, some
things that are illegal to do, several inaccurate perceptions, and some things that would actually increase costs.
Perception
Reality
Use student service hours or volunteers to do janitorial and landscaping work.
PTOs and parents can fully fund athletics and activities.
Students are not allowed to operate the machinery/equipment involved in some
of these processes. It would also take significant personnel time to manage
student service hours and volunteers.
Many PTOs are funding clubs and the District recently increased athletic
participation fees. The cost to parents to fully fund athletics would be unheard
of in the region and decrease student participation.
Don’t let employees who live outside the District bring their kids to the Mehlville These students are actually a revenue generator for the District because the state
School District.
treats them as resident students.
Go to a pay-to-play summer school rather than it being free.
Stop busing kids at all.
Stop paying school board members.
Eliminate the position that was added in the food service office.
Have a book drive to save on the cost of library books.
The District pays for cabs for kids coming outside the District.
Limit large retirement benefits for administrators.
The District owns three homes at OHS.
Administrators have District-provided cell phones.
While we do offer some fee-based courses through our Community Education
program in the summer, summer school is generally a revenue generator. The
District will be expanding summer school to generate additional revenues to
support the remainder of the school year.
State law requires transportation of kids living more than 3.5 miles from a school
building.
Board of Education members do not receive a salary for their service. These are
volunteer positions.
In the fall of 2015 there was a college student doing a one-semester internship
in nutrition in the food service office at no cost to the District.
We aren’t confident that a book drive would yield the necessary titles and
numbers for our libraries to be in compliance with state standards.
The costs are generally not paid by the District, but rather the Voluntary InterDistrict Choice Corporation (VICC). The District has budgeted roughly
$30,000 for activity transportation for students coming to Mehlville from
Riverview Gardens. This comes out of the $680,000 received from Riverview
Gardens.
All Mehlville School District certified teachers and administrators are in the
same state-wide retirement system. The District does not provide additional
benefits. Employees may voluntarily contribute to a 403(b) retirement savings
plan, but there is not a District match.
The District owns one home on the south side of OHS, not three.
The District does not provide cell phones to administrators. The maintenance/
custodial staff does have about six cell phones and a number of push-to-talk
devices.
Some of our buildings are over the capacity numbers developed in 2008. It
The District has too many schools and should consolidate elementaries, middle
would take new construction to consolidate buildings resulting in millions of
schools, and the high schools.
dollars in construction costs.
There are too many custodians.
Page 6
2
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2016 | August 2009
The average square footage a Mehlville custodian covers is 26,555. That falls to
26,250 in Rockwood, 26,000 in Lindbergh, and 23,500 in Kirkwood.
Teacher salaries being too high were mentioned a few times. In reviewing teacher salary data we compare to the districts we lose the most teachers to and make those
comparisons at distinctive stages across a career. For a salary to be competitive it has to be within 3% of the average.
When we do these calculations we find that we are not competitive with comparison districts early in a career or at the end of a career. We are somewhat competitive
mid-career, but those numbers are offset by the multiple salary freezes Mehlville teachers have had.
Start
36,059
40,746
43,000
38,750
37,119
BA Step 5
38,685
43,213
45,445
40,750
40,853
MA Step 10
51,489
53,779
56,514
50,900
51,137
MA Step 15
60,607
62,866
69,001
62,200
57,685
MA Step 17
65,835
67,071
71,115
67,150
60,546
Max
77,810
74,444
99,672
86,750
89,130
Median
38,750
37,588
No
(1,529)
40,853
39,627
No
(942)
51,489
49,944
Yes
1,545
62,200
60,334
Yes
273
67,071
65,059
Yes
776
86,750
84,148
No
(6,338)
Average
39,135
37,961
No
(1,902)
41,789
40,536
No
(1,851)
52,764
51,181
Yes
308
62,472
60,598
Yes
9
66,343
64,353
Yes
1,482
85,561
82,994
No
(5,184)
Mehlville
Rockwood
Kirkwood
Lindbergh
Fox
97%
Competitive
97%
Competitive
One perception was mentioned more than any other. It is the belief that there
are too many administrators and they are paid too much. To determine if this
is an accurate perception or not we turned to state standards on principals and
assistant superintendents. Two tables are provided that show our current staffing
levels, state minimum standards, and the variance.
School
Beasley Elementary
Bierbaum Elementary
Blades Elementary
Forder Elementary
Hagemann Elementary
Oakville Elementary
Current
State Minimum
Principal FTE
Standard
1
1.5
2
1.5
1.5
1
1
1
1
1.5
-0.5
1
1.5
-0.5
1.5
-0.5
2
0
Trautwein Elementary
1.5
Elementary Total
1
12.5
Bernard Middle
2
Oakville Middle
2
Buerkle Middle
Washington Middle
Middle School Total
Mehlville High
Oakville High
High School Total
Overall Total
0
-0.5
1.5
Wohlwend Elementary
0
1.5
Point Elementary
Rogers Elementary
2
Variance
-0.5
1.5
1.5
15
0
0
0
-2.5
2
1.5
0.5
2
1.5
0.5
4
5
-1
8
9
-1
31
-2.5
8
4
28.5
2
7
4
0
1
0
Central Office
Current FTE
Assistant Superintendents
Directors
Overall
3
2
5
State Minimum
Standard
7
7
Variance
-4
2
-2
From these two tables we find that the District is 2.5 principals and 2 assistant
superintendents below the state minimum standards. In other words, the District
is understaffed at administrative levels.
In terms of salary we looked at the average salary by position across St. Louis
County. The table below shows where Mehlville salaries rank in the order from
high to low.
Position
Assistant Superintendents
Chief Financial Officer
Director of Human Resources
Elementary Assistant Principal
Elementary Principal
Facilities Director
Food Service Director
High School Assistant Principal
High School Principal
Middle School Assistant Principal
Middle School Principal
Technology Director
Transportation Director
Rank
17 of 20
19 of 22
16 of 19
15 of 17
16 of 23
8 of 12
5 of 6
18 of 22
15 of 23
15 of 19
17 of 22
7 of 9
7 of 8
Seven of the thirteen positions rank in the bottom 20%. Ten of the thirteen
positions rank in the bottom 25%. Twelve of the thirteen rank in the bottom one
third. All thirteen rank in the bottom 35%.
There were a lot of ideas submitted on which we will be taking action. We plan
on announcing those in early April. We want to thank everyone who took time
to submit their ideas.
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 7
I
Proposition A Projects Identified
n November district voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition
R and recently we provided an update
on our progress relative to those funds.
As the Board was deciding to put
Prop R on the ballot last summer, it was
recommended that 4 cents be placed on
the April ballot. The Board decided to
move forward in January and placed
Proposition A on the April 5 ballot.
The 4 cents may seem like an odd
number. It is the remaining tax rate
paying down general obligation
bond debt that voters approved in
1992/1993. We are about to pay off
that debt and are asking to keep the 4
cents to fund roof projects and heating
and air conditioning projects across the
district.
Bus Inspections Get Grade of 99%
Roof Projects
Year
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
School/Building
Forder Elementary
Estimated Cost
Beasley Elementary
Point Elementary
Wohlwend Elementary
Oakville High
Jefferson Barracks
Trautwein Elementary
Wohlwend Elementary
Point Elementary
$438,000
$144,000
$283,000
$67,000
$425,000
$140,300
$41,000
$445,000
$185,000
Mehlville High
$1,500,000
Bernard Middle
Buerkle Middle
$604,000
$670,000
Bierbaum Elementary
Oakville Middle
T
he buses that transport Mehlville School District children to
and from school every day just received another outstanding
grade from the Missouri Highway Patrol. Every bus in the fleet
of 101 vehicles gets inspected every March, and 100 of the buses
passed. The Highway Patrol identified a problem with just one bus,
and that problem was cosmetic and not mechanical. Transportation
Director Dan Gilman said, “You earn a grade like this by doing
things right every day of the year. With a bus fleet the size of
ours, and because safety is our top priority, we just aren’t willing to
do less than our best for the families we serve.”
Members
of the
Missouri
Highway
Patrol
gives each
bus a
thorough
inspection.
$585,000
$495,000
Prop A asks voters to increase our 2024 Oakville High
$1,400,000
capital projects fund by 4 cents, with a
$345,000
subsequent reduction in the debt service 2025 Washington Middle
fund of 4 cents. It has a 10-year sunset
and over that time period we would be working on the above listed roof projects. These could
move forward or back in time as projects are bid and we see costs relative to our estimates.
Saturday
April 2
Presented by the Mehlville School District Wellness Committee
Everyone Invited!
Free community event.
Health education &
demonstrations.
• Blood Drive
• Bike helmet fitting
• Car seat installation
• Health screenings
• Kid fitness activities
9 a.m. to Noon
Mehlville High Gym
3200 Lemay Ferry Road
• Dental hygiene tips
• Vision screenings
• Recreation facility info
• Skin & beauty care
• Counseling professionals
Come early...get moving
• Summer camp info
• Healthy food booths
• Attendance prizes
• Bike raffles
• And much more!
8:30 a.m. Fun Walk/Run
Gather your family & friends for a stroll, brisk walk or run around the
Mehlville High track before heading over to the Wellness Fair.
~ Rain or Shine ~
Canned food
donations
accepted to
support
‘MHS
Gives Back’
For more information visit our website www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com or call 314-467-5250
Page 8
2
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2016 | August 2009
Wohlwend Supports Heart Health
S
tudents at Wohlwend Elementary raised $6,125.10 in February
by participating in the American Heart Association’s annual Jump
Rope For Heart fundraiser. Seventeen students each raised more than
$100. Rylee Rafferty donated more than $700, including money she
had been saving to purchase an iPad.
T
T
Mehlville High Student Joins Arts Education Advocates in DC
he Missouri Alliance For Arts Education selected Mehlville High School
senior Danny Bitter to travel to Washington, D.C., during the first week
of March to serve as an advocate for keeping and expanding the arts as part of
school curriculum.
Bitter and other students from across the country took part in Arts Advocacy
Day, where they got a chance to meet with members of Congress and explain
T
MHS Leadership Team Flood Relief
he Mehlville High School Leadership team collected $2,322 for the American Red
Cross Flood Relief to help those who were affected from the flooding on the Meramec
River in December 2015. The group sold “Making a Difference on the Meramec!” t-shirts
throughout the district.
Alumni Association Opens Office
he Mehlville-Oakville Alumni Association (MOAA) recently opened
the MHS OHS Alumni Connection Store & Office at 2625 Telegraph
Road, St. Louis, MO 63125. Alumni and community members gathered for
a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Feb. 29. The building space will be
used for meetings, special gatherings and display of MHS and OHS alumni
merchandise. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If
anyone has any MHS/OHS memorabilia, yearbooks, jackets, cheerleader
uniforms, football jerseys, Varsity letters, photos or newspaper clippings,
please send an email to [email protected]. The MOAA is
looking to use these items as décor in their new location. MOAA meetings will
now be held in the office at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month.
how music, art, theatre and other creative endeavors have been a positive part
of their education. Bitter is the president of the afterschool theatre troupe at
Mehlville High School and a member of the
Mehlville High Student Choir Association.
To be selected for the Washington, DC, trip,
applicants had to write an essay about their
devotion to the arts and they needed letters
supporting their work. Mehlville High Theatre
Director Alex Moore praised Bitter’s passion
at school board meetings as he countered
claims by some residents that investing in a
new auditorium and fine arts curriculum was
wasteful spending. “Danny truly represents the
best that Mehlville has to offer and applies the
Thespian Motto ‘act well your part’ in everything he does,” said Moore. “Danny
works to create a troupe that fosters growth and respect for every student and
every position in a production.”
Danny Bitter was the only student in Missouri who was chosen for the
Washington, D.C., arts advocacy trip.
District Board Room
Named for Dan Fowler
T
he board room in the District’s Central Office
has been officially renamed the Daniel S.
Fowler Board Of Education Room, in honor of the
long time resident and district supporter. Fowler was
a board member for ten years, and served as board
president for two years. Most recently, Dan Fowler
was a member of the citizen committee that worked
to get Proposition R passed in November.
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 3
9
All-Suburban Honor Band
Seven Oakville High students were named to the All-Suburban Honor Band.
Students Earn Journalism Honors
Seniors Thomas Gholston, Amber Hupperts, Jacob Kauffmann, Sara Ravens
OHS students earned national awards in the Write-Off Contest in November. and sophomores Conrad Bucholtz, Karissa May, Lauren Zygmont.
Senior Caroline Tank earned a Superior rating in Newspaper Commentary.
Junior Veronica Mohesky earned an Excellent rating in Broadcast On-Air Calendar Contest Winners
Reporting. Honorable mention awards were given to OHS Journalism students Blades Elementary kindergartner Cayden Judd and first grader
Addison Evans won the St. Louis County Department of Public
seniors Johanna Carrigan
Health “Healthy Living Poster/Calendar Slogan Contest.” Their
for Online News Package,
artwork will be featured in a calendar.
Jacque Dreppard
for
Cayden Judd
Artwork Chosen for Art Exhibition
Online News Package,
Mehlville High art students had their artwork accepted into
Kassidy
Ham
for
the SIUE Annual High School Art Exhibition. Seniors Haris
Online News Package,
Brka, Grace Chlanda, Greycen Hogan, Kirk Suter and Aaron
Hannah Hoffmeister for
Tuong and juniors Morgan Rapplean and Adele Raquepaw.
Newspaper Sports Writing,
Mollie Kohler for Broadcast Commentary and junior Cassidy Vuylsteke for Golden Girls Celebrate in Orlando
Addison Evans
Yearbook Copy and Captions: Clubs.
The Oakville High Golden Girls had success at the NDA
Senior Earns Gold Medal for Writing
Nationals in February. In pom the girls finished in second place
Oakville High senior Hannah Hoffmeister received a Gold Medal for Best out of 23 teams from across the country. In jazz they finished fourth out of 31
Book Series (Chapter Book) at the 2015 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards teams. They also received two NDA Unleashed awards for most unique and
ceremony in November. Hannah was honored for her five-book series titled, entertaining routines - one for pom
“The Dream Ring Series.”
and one for jazz. This is the first time
Rhiannon Creighton
Student Cast in All State Show
Oakville has received special judges’
Mehlville High junior Rhiannon Creighton has been selected
recognition at this level.
OHS
Golden Girls
for the cast of the Missouri State Thespians - Missouri All
Artist Showcase
State Show in 2017. She will be playing Iphigenia in Iphigenia.
Oakville High art students had their
Student Receives Leadership Award
artwork accepted into the St. Louis
Mehlville High junior Sydney Scott was awarded the Missouri
Artist Guild Young Artists’ Showcase
State Thespians Leadership Award at the Missouri Thespian
2016. This show is juried so only a select
Conference in January.
few were accepted. Those selected are
Sydney Scott
All-State Choir Honors
seniors Courtney Becker, Kourtney
Five high school students were named to the All-State Choir.
Burchfield, Heather Sheppard, Sam Howard, Lauren Jones, Madison Powers,
From OHS: seniors Alec Boeschen and Shannon McFarland
Micaela Staggs and juniors Phoebe Ackerman, Megan Cox, Whitney Miller.
and juniors Ronni Jones and Noah Thompson. From MHS:
senior Danny Bitter (2nd Alternate).
Mehlville-Oakville Foundation Awards Mini-Grants
All-Suburban District Honor Choirs
n Monday, Nov. 23, the Mehlville-Oakville Foundation (MOF) had two
Students auditioned for and were selected to the Saint Louis All-Suburban
prize patrols visit schools to award 25 mini-grants worth $8,620 to district
District Honor Choirs. From Mehlville High: 11/12 Honor Choir - Soprano: teachers for innovative ideas and teaching strategies. It was so rewarding to see
Jensen Friess, Amelia Hamilton; Alto: Makaylah Allen, Abigail Carr, Emily the excitement and happiness on the faces of the teachers who will use these
Murawski; Tenor: Quincy Nguyen, Kirk Suter, Brandon Walker; Bass: Daniel funds to enhance the lessons for their students. The MOF is a not-for-profit
Bitter. Women’s Honor Choir - Soprano 1: Cassidy Hayden, Kailey Thompson; corporation, organized by community members in 1989 to promote and sponsor
Soprano 2: Lauren Nickles, Molly Gibbs; Alto 1: Emilea Bullen; Alto 2:
educational activities not included in the Mehlville School District budget.
Alexis Jones, Gabrielle Forchee. 9/10 Honor Choir - Soprano: Angela Davis,
Shelby Bouren; Alto: Ashley Alexander; Tenor: Garrett Sheahan; Bass: Ben
Teacher Wins Excellence in Teaching Award
Hamilton, Dustin Mana. Qualified for All-State Auditions - Abigail Carr,
order Elementary fourth grade teacher Amanda
Emily Murawski, Brandon Walker, Daniel Bitter. From Oakville High: 9/10
Wyatt was recognized in November with the Emerson
Honor Choir - Hannah Mueller, Eric Throm, Grace Steinke, Tori Jones, Madi
Excellence
in Teaching Award for her commitment to the
Sheppard, Lindsey Meeks. Women’s Honor Choir - Morgan Allen, Audrey
Chopin, Bekah Mayfield, Emily Ratcliff, Kristin Steinbrueck. All-Suburban field of education and dedication to her students. Wyatt
Honor Choir - Alec Boeschen, Rachel Eschbacher, Ronni Jones, Bryan establishes positive relationships with her students and
Kuchno, Alec Lininger, Shannon McFarland, Noah Thompson, Dan Throm. their families. Her classroom is a true learning community
Qualified for All-State Auditions - Alec Boeschen, Ronni Jones, Bryan Kuchno, where all students feel comfortable to learn and push
themselves to greater achievements. She embeds STEM
Alec Lininger, Shannon McFarland, Noah Thompson.
activities in her classroom that extend her students’ thinking and creativity.
Five District Students Named National Merit Scholarship Finalists
D I S T IN C T IO NS
O
F
Mehlville High senior Andrew Eschete and Oakville High seniors Iain Bennett,
Abby Menkhus, Madelyn Reinagel and Caroline Tank (left to right) have earned
the distinction of being named National Merit Scholarship Finalists.
Page 10
2
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2016 | August 2009
Mehlville High Principal Honored for Arts Support
M
ehlville High principal Dr. Denise Swanger
has been named the Missouri State Thespian
Outstanding Administrator Of The Year by the
Educational Theatre Association. This honor is given
to a school administrator for his or her dedication and
efforts to support educational theatre in their building,
district and community. Dr. Swanger was recognized
at the Missouri Thespian conference in January.
Page 3
COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT SUMMER CAMPS & OTHER PROGRAMS
D
on’t miss out on the following summer camps being offered by the Mehlville School District Community Enrichment Office. Camps will be held Monday through Thursday
at Blades Elementary School located at 5140 Patterson Road, St. Louis, MO 63129. All information can be found online at community-educat.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com.
Classes are added throughout the year so check the website often. For more information call 314-467-5280.
~ SUMMER CAMP - SESSION 1: JUNE 6 - JUNE 9 ~
Abra-Kid-Abra - Circus Skills Camp (Ages 6-12) Walk on stilts! Ride a unicycle! Balance
on a rolla bolla board! Learn juggling, plate spinning, clown acts, animal balloons and
more. New juggling and balancing skills are aslo being introduced. Camp culminates with
the students performing an amazing circus for their family/friends. 9 a.m. to noon; $80.
Camp MehlOak (Ages 6-12) This popular camp consists of sports, art activities, low-key
recreation and indoor/outdoor games. There will be a large variety of both active and quiet
activities in one camp. 9 a.m. to noon; $60.
Cheer/Pom (Entering K-7) Students will have the opportunity to learn routines and
develop individual skills. A pom pon routine will be taught which the students will perform
on the final day of camp. There will be two 2-week sessions. 9 to 11 a.m.; $40.
Chess (Entering K-12) Each week will consist of instructive chess lessons adapted to the
skill levels of the students. All chess material can be covered if necessary. There will be
competitive play and games for fun. Camp will be operated by Jason Clark, a chess coach
for 10 years and currently ranked in the top 8% of the country. 8:30 a.m. to noon; $96.
Storytelling (Ages 4-6) Each day the children will listen to a story and then do a creative
activity about the characters and events of the story. Children will participate in art activities
(wear old clothes), crafts and dramatic plays. 9 a.m. to noon; $60 (sessions do not repeat).
Summer Fun Days (Ages 4-6) For children entering their last year of preschool or starting
Kindergarten this Fall. Children will have fun doing crafts and language arts activities
while learning readiness skills. Class size limited to 12 students. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; $60.
~ SUMMER CAMP - SESSION 2: JUNE 13 - JUNE 16 ~
Abra-Kid-Abra - Mind Reading and Other Cool Tricks Magic Camp (Ages 6-12) Read
a spectator’s mind! Defy gravity! Cause a selected card to appear in Chicago! You’ll get your
own magic box and new tricks to put in it daily. Twist animal balloons and learn comedy
magic skits. Camp culminates with students putting on a show for their families. Goals are
to develop presentation skills, build confidence and have fun! 9 a.m. to noon; $80.
Babysitting (ages 10-15) Learn work guidelines, basic first-aid, safety/accident prevention,
telephone technique and how to care for the child. Sessions repeat. 9 to 11 a.m.; $50.
Camp MehlOak (Ages 6-12) This popular camp consists of sports, art activities, low-key
recreation and indoor/outdoor games. There will be a large variety of both active and quiet
activities in one camp. 9 a.m. to noon; $60.
Chess (Entering K-12) Each week will consist of instructive chess lessons adapted to the
skill levels of the students. All chess material can be covered if necessary. There will be
competitive play and games for fun. Camp will be operated by Jason Clark, a chess coach
for 10 years and currently ranked in the top 8% of the country. 8:30 a.m. to noon; $96.
Storytelling (Ages 4-6) Each day the children will listen to a story and then do a creative
activity about the characters and events of the story. Children will participate in art activities
(wear old clothes), crafts and dramatic plays. 9 a.m. to noon; $60 (sessions do not repeat).
~ OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED ~
~ SUMMER CAMP - SESSION 3: JUNE 20 - JUNE 23 ~
Abra-Kid-Abra – Balloonatics (Ages 6-12) Calling all Balloonatics - learn to create over
20 balloons animals, spin out with UFO balloons and make a balloon helicopter that really
flies! Each day campers take home a different novelty balloon. Camp concludes with the
Balloonatics showing off their skills in a balloon twist jam for their families. Come join the
fun in this unique, creative camp! 9 a.m. to noon; $80.
Babysitting (ages 10-15) Learn work guidelines, basic first-aid, safety/accident prevention,
telephone technique and how to care for the child. Sessions repeat. 9 to 11 a.m.; $50.
Camp MehlOak (Ages 6-12) This popular camp consists of sports, art activities, low-key
recreation and indoor/outdoor games. There will be a large variety of both active and quiet
activities in one camp. 9 a.m. to noon; $60.
Cheer/Pom (Entering K-7) In this camp students will have the opportunity to learn
routines and develop individual skills. A pom pon routine will be taught which the students
will perform on the final day of camp. There will be two 2-week sessions. 9 to 11 a.m.; $40.
Chess (Entering K-12) Each week will consist of instructive chess lessons adapted to the
skill levels of the students. All chess material can be covered if necessary. There will be
competitive play and games for fun. Camp will be operated by Jason Clark, a chess coach
for 10 years and currently ranked in the top 8% of the country. 8:30 a.m. to noon; $96.
Little Medical School (Entering K-5) This camp brings medicine, science and the
importance of health to children in an entertaining, exciting and fun way. Through handson demonstrations, crafts and games, kids learn how the body and organs work, how to
use medical instruments and tie knots like a real surgeon. Small classes led by a trained
instructor ensures individual attention. Diploma upon completion. 9 a.m. to noon; $145.
Mad Science: Secret Agent Lab (Entering K-5) Campers have the opportunity to check
out spy tech equipment and take home lots of gadgets like spy glasses! Uncover the science
involved in evidence gathering and analysis! Figure out the science of forensics in a handson look at crime scenes! Become a super spy and learn clever ways of performing tasks as
we take a hands-on investigation of the science that spies use! 9 a.m. to noon $130.
Storytelling (Ages 4-6) Each day children will listen to a story and then do a creative
activity about the characters/events of the story. Children will participate in art activities
(wear old clothes), crafts and dramatic plays. 9 a.m. to noon; $60 (sessions do not repeat).
~ SUMMER CAMP - SESSION 4: JUNE 27 - JUNE 30 ~
Abra-Kid-Abra - The Fun Factory Comedy Camp (Ages 6-12) Funny how much fun you
can have when you’re learning to be funny! You’ll master the secrets of stand-up, sketch and
improv comedy. Take home a new gag each day - rubber chickens, squirt rings, gag glasses!
At week’s end you’ll display your newly enhanced confidence, creativity, performance skills
and sense of humor in a show for family and friends. 9 a.m. to noon; $80.
Babysitting (ages 10-15) Learn work guidelines, basic first-aid, safety/accident prevention,
telephone technique and how to care for the child. Sessions repeat. 9 to 11 a.m.; $50.
Camp MehlOak (Ages 6-12) This popular camp consists of sports, art activities, low-key
recreation and indoor/outdoor games. There will be a large variety of both active and quiet
activities in one camp. 9 a.m. to noon; $60.
Storytelling (Ages 4-6) Each day the children will listen to a story and then do a creative
activity about the characters and events of the story. Children will participate in art activities
(wear old clothes), crafts and dramatic plays. 9 a.m. to noon; $60 (sessions do not repeat).
Coached Lap Swim (All ages with tryout) This is a time for coached lap swimming. A
coach/monitor will be present at each session with a prepared workout on the board. The
workouts can be adjusted depending on age/ability. $125. See website for more information.
Driver’s Education (Ages 15 & up) $200 residents; $225 non-residents. Session 1: May 24-June 9 / Session 2: June 13-June 28 Registration begins on April 1, 2016, at 8:30 a.m.
Swim Lessons (Ages 3 & up) Learn to swim/Advanced Swim classes are 50 minutes in length. Classes for children ages 3-5 have an approximate ratio of 6 students to 1 instructor. Classes
for children ages 6 and up have an approximate ratio of 9 students to 1 instructor. All instructors are certified by the American Red Cross. Learn to Swim classes are held at 7, 8, 9, 10 and
11 a.m. Advanced Swim classes are held ONLY at 7 and 11 a.m. Students must try out for the Advanced Swim Classes. $75 for residents; $90 for non-residents.
Swimnastics (Ages 18 & up) This is a time of exercise in the water. Classes run Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Session 1: Week of May 2 through week of June 27.
Session 2: Week of July 11 through week of August 29. One day session: $40 (age 60 & up, $25); Two day session: $50 (age 60 & up, $35).
Tae Kwon Do (Ages 5 & up) Youn Wha Ryu students will learn a martial art in a manner that is safe, fun and challenging. Participants will begin by learning the basics of Tae Kwon Do,
and over time will have the opportunity to advance and earn higher belts, progressing to more advanced techniques. Program stresses self-confidence, responsibility and respect, helping
every student achieve their personal best and beyond. Youn Wha is an inclusive program and can train anyone, regardless of their current physical condition. See website for details.
Tennis (Ages 4-15) This is a recreational Tennis program that will give students an opportunity to learn the game and have fun in the process. More information coming soon!
~ HOW TO REGISTER ~
• In person in room 215 of the Witzel Learning Center (located on the Mehlville High School Campus, 3100 Lemay Ferry Road, 63125).
• By mailing the enrollment form and payment to Community Enrichment, 3100 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63125.
• Through the School - simply send the enrollment form and payment to school with your child and the office will forward it to the Community Enrichment Office.
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page
Page11
3
ECRWSS
Attn: Postal Patron
Permit No. 1804
St. Louis, MO
PAID
Find District event information at www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
April 1
Buerkle Middle School Senior Citizen Prom, 6 p.m.
April 2
Spring Into Health Wellness Fair Event, see page 8
April 5
Election Day
April 5
No School - Teacher Workday
April 7-9
Mehlville High Theatre Arts presents Moon Over Buffalo, a comedy
by Ken Ludwig, 7 p.m., Nottelmann Auditorium
April 14
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m.
April 15
2-Hour Early Dismissal (PD)
April 28
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m.
May 12
SCOPE Graduation, 5 p.m.
May 12
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m.
May 14
Baby Mania Sale, 8 a.m.-noon, Mehlville High Parking Lot
May 20 & 23 Finals 6-12, 2-Hour Early Dismissal/Teacher Workday
May 23
Last Day of School
May 26
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m.
May 30
Memorial Day
June 5
Oakville High School Graduation, 2 p.m., Family Arena
June 5
Mehlville High School Graduation, 6 p.m., Family Arena
June 6-30
Summer Acceleration Program
June 9
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m.
June 23
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m.
IMPORTANT DATES
3120 Lemay Ferry Road
St. Louis, MO 63125
(314) 467-5000
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
MARCH 2016
Proposition A Information................................... Pages 1, 8
Board President Note/Superintendent Note............Page 2
District News..............................................................Page 3
Board of Education Candidates................................Page 4
School News........................................................ Pages 5, 9
Financial Savings Analyzed................................. Pages 6-7
Wellness Fair..............................................................Page 8
Distinctions.............................................................. Page 10
Community Enrichment.......................................... Page 11
IN THIS ISSUE
Special Olympics athlete
Scott, left, and his OHS
buddy Collin help
kick off the games.