MehlvilleMessenger - Forder Elementary

MARCH 2011
Mehlville Messenger
A Mehlville School District Publication
Project ENGAGE Teaches the Power of Service
H
ow have you engaged?
This question has become common within the
Mehlville School District since the launch of
the district-wide service learning program,
Project ENGAGE, on Jan. 14. Centered on
the idea of giving back to those in need while
developing positive character traits, Project
ENGAGE
(Enriching
Neighborhoods
through Generous Actions, Growth and
Empowerment) encourages students and staff
members to volunteer as individuals,
classes, schools and as a District, and
to follow their service with a period
of reflection to consider the impact
their contributions have had on the
community.
“As educators, our role is to educate
the whole child. Developing character
and citizenship in our students is
part of our call as educators,” said
Deputy Superintendent and Project
ENGAGE organizer Dr. Eric Knost.
“Project ENGAGE allows the Oakville Elementary fourth grader Emily Grey gets to know a
Mehlville School District community resident at Nazareth Living Center as part of her class’ Project
ENGAGE Saturday volunteer visit at the Center.
to learn about our surrounding
community, and it also helps us to
staff volunteers will feel empowered to continue
teach our students how to find the value in
these acts of service far beyond the reaches of
helping others.”
Project ENGAGE.”
Service learning is a key component of Project
ENGAGE; students and staff across the
District participate in acts of service regularly
throughout the year, but Project ENGAGE
encourages volunteers to reflect on their
actions and how their service impacted their
community.
Oakville Middle School seventh grade art student
David Chopin creates a soup bowl for the school’s
Empty Bowl luncheon on Feb. 17. The fundraiser
attendees enjoyed a prepared lunch and were able
to take home their student-created bowl for a $10
donation, which benefitted Feed My People.
“Every project, regardless of how large or small,
should include a component of reflection to
give students an opportunity to actively think
about how it feels to give back and serve their
community,” said Knost. “By reflecting upon
the impact their time and service can have on
others and on themselves, these student and
Every school across the District has been
developing unique ways of reaching out to those
in need, and the creativity and variety among
the projects is remarkable. The students and staff
are working to fill niches across the community,
including people and animals – both young
and old. For examples of how the District’s
individuals of character are at work in the
community, visit www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.
com and click on the Project ENGAGE logo
on the left.
Project ENGAGE will culminate during the
National Week of Service held April 17-23.
mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 1
Board of Education
Tom Diehl
President
Venki Palamand
Vice President
Larry Felton
Secretary
Drew Frauenhoffer, Ph.D.
Director
Micheal Ocello
Director
Erin Weber
Director
Executive Staff
Mr. Terry Noble
Superintendent
Dr. Eric Knost
Deputy Superintendent
Dr. Lisa Counts
Assistant Superintendent
– Human Resources
Dr. Connie Hurst-Bayless
Assistant Superintendent
– Curriculum
Dr. Brian Lane
Assistant Superintendent
– Supervision of Schools
Dr. Vicki VanLaere
Assistant Superintendent
– Supervision of Instruction
Dr. Scott Hayes
Executive Director of
Special Services
Mr. Noel Knobloch
Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Emily McFarland
Director of Communications
The Mehlville Messenger is published by the
Communications Department six 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
314.467.5153
[email protected]
F RO M THE BOARD PRESIDENT
W
henever people start to discuss public education,
someone inevitably asks, “Why can’t they just run
our schools like a business?” The implications being that our
public schools are wasteful, inefficient bureaucracies that are
out of touch with the times.
Business success or failure is commonly measured by return
on investment (ROI). For each dollar you invest, how much
do you earn for what you spend? One Washington, D.C.,
think tank decided to study public education and determine
which districts succeed and which ones fail to deliver a
positive return for your tax dollar. The goal was to measure
a district’s academic achievement relative to its educational
spending. The Center for American Progress gathered
data on every school district in America with more than
250 students. Their work built on research done with the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Standard & Poor’s School
Evaluation Service and the American Enterprise Institute.
They examined more than 9,000 school districts serving
over 85 percent of all public school students.
When stacked against the 523 Missouri school districts
studied for the report, the Mehlville School District is
tied for the top in two of three measurement categories
including Basic Return on Investment and Adjusted Return
on Investment. Some districts may achieve higher test scores
or graduate a higher percentage of students, but they spend
much more money per student. Other districts may spend
less than Mehlville (though not many), however, they don’t
achieve the level of success that we do.
Think about it. No school district in Missouri provides a
bigger “bang for the buck” than Mehlville. This conclusion
isn’t mine, or our superintendent’s, but the opinion of an
independent organization examining thousands of school
districts across the country.
on outcomes. They are willing to
make tough choices. They place
a priority on quality instruction.
They are not top-heavy in
administrators. They use data
wisely. Anyone who follows the
Mehlville School District knows
we do all of these and more.
Our teachers, administrators and all support personnel give
their best for our kids everyday. They make sure our children
are challenged to be the best that they can be. They put in
the extra effort to make sure our children are safe, well-fed
and healthy.
Each year, our district passes its audits with the highest
rating possible. We have built our financial reserves to the
highest levels in the district’s history. For the past five years,
the Mehlville School District has received the state’s highest
honor, Distinction in Performance. And now, we have been
recognized at the top for cost effectiveness in Missouri.
Do we still face challenges? Yes, we do. The state’s funding
formula and unfunded federal No Child Left Behind
mandates require our ongoing attention.
Locally, we know there is always room for improvement. We
need to provide a more extensive early childhood education
program. Our technology is quickly becoming outdated.
We need to keep and attract teachers who will continue our
track record of success.
The true mission of public education is to prepare young
people to meet life’s challenges. We do that day in and day
out. And no one provides a better return on your educational
investment than the Mehlville School District.
What attributes did they identify in the nation’s most
productive school districts? Successful districts are focused
F RO M THE SUPERINTENDENT
I
n the Mehlville School District, our staff works tirelessly
to provide the best quality education possible for our
students while helping them to grow as individuals of
character. As a result of our schools’ character education
efforts, our students and staff continue to receive recognitions
from the Character Education Partnership (CEP) each year.
In February, we received an especially exciting piece of news:
six of our schools earned recognition in the CEP’s school
of character program, including Trautwein Elementary,
which was honored with the prestigious Missouri School
of Character award. This impressive recognition qualifies
Trautwein to be considered for the National School of
Character Award – the CEP’s highest honor.
I am incredibly proud of our students and staff for
continuing to make strides in character education, and I
Page 2
Tom Diehl, Board President
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2011 | August 2009
Terry Noble, Superintendent
encourage you to read more
about our schools’ character
education accomplishments on
page 10. Teaching our students
to grow and become individuals
of character is taking place in
every school throughout our
District, especially through
the implementation of Project
ENGAGE. Our goal with this program is for every student
in the District to contribute one hour of their time serving
someone else. By encouraging our students to give back, we
are teaching them the value and ease with which they can
help others – a lesson that we hope will remain with them
for the rest of their lives.
Knost to Succeed Noble as the District’s Next Superintendent
M
ehlville School District Superintendent
Terry Noble announced at the Board of
Education meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 1, his
decision to retire following the completion of
his current contract on June 30, 2011. Mehlville
School District Deputy Superintendent Dr. Eric
Knost has been selected by the Board to replace
Noble as superintendent, signing a three-year
contract effective July 1, 2011.
great strides as a District in the past several
years, and I couldn’t be more pleased with this
opportunity to help our students achieve even
greater success in the future.”
Prior to his role at OHS, Knost served as an
assistant principal in the Parkway School District
and assistant principal and band director for the
Rockwood School District. He began his career
in education as a band director in the Windsor
School District. Knost’s leadership attributes,
strong work ethic and teambuilding approach to
accomplishing goals have led to his professional
success throughout his career and within the
Mehlville School District.
“I believe Dr. Knost to be a great choice to lead our
District into the future,” said Noble. “His selection
will ensure a seamless transition.”
Born and raised in South St. Louis County, Knost’s
familiarity with the community, in addition to his
23 years of experience in the field of education, led
to his selection by the Board for the superintendent
position.
Following his promotion to the position
of Mehlville School District’s North Area
Superintendent in July 2005, Knost advanced
further to his current role as Deputy Superintendent in November 2006.
In this position, Knost has been successful in carrying out a wide range of
responsibilities directly related to each area of the District, leading to an
increase in student achievement.
Dr. Eric Knost
“I’m honored and excited to continue my career with Mehlville as the
Superintendent,” said Knost, who joined the Mehlville School District
staff in July 2002 as principal of Oakville High School. “We have made
Giving Back: In their own words...
Blades Elementary fifth grader Kiara Frauenhoffer and Bernard Middle sixth grader Joey Sullens share how they have been serving those in need.
O
n Thursday Jan. 27, 2011, for Project ENGAGE, Blades Elementary
students participated in a school wide activity called 100% Giving
Day. That day some volunteer
organizations in the community
came and taught students what
they do and what we can do to
help. Some organizations were
St. Patrick’s Center, Nurses for
Newborns, Annie’s Hope, Girls
on the Run and many more.
Our school learned so many
things and valuable lessons that
will help us in the future. One
organization that touched me
was St. Patrick’s Center. The
presentation helped me realize
that people who go there for
help are just like me but need
the extra boost to get their life
up and going. My class is going
Kiara Frauenhoffer
to help St. Patrick’s Center. The
students are going to have a pajama party fundraiser. Each student will
bring in $.50 to donate to the organization. Blades Elementary thanks
all the volunteers for coming to the 100% Giving Day and helping us
learn ways to fill others “buckets” as well as our own.
M
y name is Joey Sullens, and I am a sixth grader at Bernard
Middle. I have an older brother, Robbie, who has been
hospitalized approximately 11 times due to a liver transplant.
I have been helping my mom around the house with Robbie
since about 2007. My chores include getting different things
for Robbie such as food and drinks. I also hook up the wires to
his video game system so he will have something to do when
he is sick. Many times I help my mom by organizing Robbie’s
syringes and assisting with one tube feeding. Sometimes I feel
sad about Robbie’s condition. My Uncle John was the liver
donor for Robbie. This whole liver transplant condition has
been a family affair. My wish for Robbie is that he will get
better and have no more problems. I wish him the best!
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Robbie (left)
and Joey
Sullens
Page 3
DIS T IN C T I O N S
Oakville High Teachers Honored by University of Missouri
Three Oakville High School teachers were nominated as outstanding teachers
by one of their former students who is currently a first-year honors student at
the University of Missouri-Columbia. In recognition of their contributions,
teachers Jeff Kuchno, Angelia Moore and Carol Robinson each received a
certificate of appreciation.
Teacher Earns National Board Certification
Becky Brophy, eighth grade math teacher at Oakville
Middle, earned her National Board Certification.
Becky Brophy
Fourth Grader Performs with Missouri Ballet Theatre
Katie Pickens, Rogers Elementary fourth grader, performed with the
Missouri Ballet Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker” in December 2010.
Students Qualify for National History Bowl Competition
Two teams of Oakville High School students qualified for the National
History Bowl held in Washington, D.C., based on their scores at the first
annual National History Bowl state qualifier for the Missouri-St. Louis
Region. The team consisting of juniors Tim Cliffe, Brandon Daake and
Michael Wiethop, and sophomore
Nick Popielewski, won the event,
while an additional Oakville team
of seniors Tony Barbieri, Justin
Bayer, Molly Kostecki, Ryan
Moyie, Mark Richter and Nick
Street also qualified for nationals.
Wiethop was named the MVP for
Pictured (l-r): sponsor Rodney Gerdes, Nick Popielewski, the state qualifier.
Michael Wiethop, Brandon Daake and Tim Cliffe
Middle School Students Selected for All-Suburban Honor Band
Seven District middle school band students competed against 500 of their
peers from across the region for a spot in the St. Louis Suburban Music
Educators Association’s All Suburban Honor Band. Congratulations to
seventh graders Devon Blanton, Amber Hupperts and Sara Ravens, and
eighth graders Maggie Mazzola, Rick Raaf, John Matthew Revilla and
Janelle Schaefer.
Students’ Portfolios Earn Top Honors in
Stock Market Competition
The stock portfolios of two teams of
students from Bernard Middle School
have earned the rank of first and second
in their respective regional division in
the Fall Missouri Stock Market Game
sponsored by the Missouri Council on
Economic Education. The eighth grade
team of Irma Alagic, Christoph Lorenz
and Leah Meissner created a portfolio
that earned the top-rated spot in the St.
Louis Middle School III region, while
the portfolio of seventh graders Nick
Barry, Iain Bennett, Mitchell Elliott
and Daniel Golob was ranked second in
the St. Louis Middle School IV region.
Page 4
Speech and Debate Team Earns Third Place in Region
Despite its small size, the
Oakville High School Speech
and Debate Team was a strong
competitor at the Greater St.
Louis Speech Association’s
finals competition held Jan. 14
and 15 at Ladue High School.
After competing against more
OHS Speech and Debate Team
than 30 teams of students from
across the area during the fall season, the OHS team not only qualified for
finals but earned third place overall.
Bowling Club Members Set National Record
Four members of the Oakville High School
Bowling Club and one member from a
Pacific Bowling Team competed in the St.
Louis City/County Bowling Tournament at
King Pin Lanes, where they set the record
for the highest series in the nation with a
3,410 series. Holly Hutton, 2010 graduate,
and seniors Dan Helldoerfer, David
Rohlmann and Michael Weaver were
honored for their achievement at the St.
Pictured (l-r): Michael Weaver, Dan
Louis US Bowling Congress Association’s
Helldoerfer and David Rohlmann
Hall of Fame Banquet.
Kindergartener Earns Award for her Smart Actions
Hagemann Elementary kindergartener Sofia
Hatzigeorgiou was honored for her smart, decisive
actions by the Do The Right Thing Program of Greater
St. Louis at its January recognition ceremony.
Sofia Hatzigeorgiou
Students and Staff Honored for their Support of
Juvenile Diabetes Research
Wohlwend Elementary first grader Brooke Yost,
fifth grader Rebecca Short, school nurse Kasia
Hasch and PE teacher Martha Meinershagen
were honored at the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation’s Walk Awards Celebration for their
outstanding efforts to raise money for diabetes
research during Wohlwend’s Diabetes Walk.
Back Row (l-r): Kasia Hasch, Carlos Perea of BJC Healthcare and
Martha Meinershagen. Front Row: Brooke Yost (left) and Rebecca Short.
Pictured above (l-r): Christoph Lorenz, Leah
Meissner and Irma Alagic
Pictured below (l-r): Iain Bennett, Mitchell
Elliott, Daniel Golob and Nick Barry
Assistant Principal Earns Statewide Award
Bierbaum Elementary assistant principal Jeremy
Booker recently was named one of the Missouri
Association of Elementary School Principals’
(MAESP) Assistant Principals of the Year
for serving the Mehlville School District, its
community and the state as an exemplary new
elementary school administrator.
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2011 | August 2009
Jeremy Booker
Eighth Graders Honored by House of Representatives
F
ifty-six Mehlville School District
eighth grade students traveled to
Jefferson City, Mo., on Monday, Feb.
7, to receive honors from the Missouri
House of Representatives for exhibiting
a strong work ethic and dedication to
academics. Each student was presented
with a Glory of Missouri Award for
representing one of the 14 virtues
engraved in the House Chamber.
Bernard Middle School
Jacob Lipina,Knowledge; Lukas Grbesa,
Liberty; Sophia Donjon, Equality;
Samantha Robert, Law; Nathan
Schlechte, Justice; Sandra Jasarevic,
Fraternity; Antonio Scott, Education;
Estefani Lozano-Cervantes, Progress;
Mark Hampton, Honor; Loren Berner,
Truth; Tyler Boggs, Virtue; Alexander
Viera, Temperance; Abigail Dorsam,
Enterprise; and Hannah Paule, Charity
Margaret Buerkle Middle School
Huihua He, Knowledge; Edita
Sabaredzovic, Liberty; Almedina
Hadzikadunic,
Equality;
Austin
Spurgeon, Law; Julianna Nguyen,
Justice; Colin Sides, Fraternity;
Emily
Helterbrand,
Education;
Kelsie Tinnea, Progress; Erin Martin,
Honor; Christopher Hanak, Truth;
Nicole Stillman, Virtue; Emina
Karaibrahimovic, Temperance; Sean
Van de Reit, Enterprise; and Fatima
Jahic, Charity
Oakville Middle School
Noah Antle, Knowledge; Antonia
Frankovic, Liberty; Austin Lininger,
Equality; Donald Rabin, Law; Rachel
Hensel, Justice; Jordan Michalski,
Fraternity; Alyssa Norberg, Education;
Jared Wallace, Progress; Brad Burton,
Honor; Corbyn Jakubeck, Truth; Katie
Reed, Virtue; Brian Pohl, Temperance;
Sylvia Lin, Enterprise; and Alyssa
Needham, Charity
Washington Middle School
Joseph Schulte, Knowledge; Venz
Almeria, Liberty; Ian Fyfe, Equality;
Ronald Hutson, Law; Makenzie
Berhorst, Justice; Rose Schmitt,
Fraternity; Megan Haislar, Education;
Mary Kidwell, Progress; Danielle
Scherrer, Honor; Meghan Ruhl, Truth;
Kayla Kennedy, Virtue; Jacob Zak,
Temperance; John Revilla, Enterprise;
and Leah Frommer, Charity
DIS TIN C T I O N S ( c o n ti n ue d )
Seniors Named National Merit Finalists
Mehlville High seniors Mark
Messler and Ben Smith and
Oakville High senior Michael
Weaver have been named Finalists
by the National Merit Scholarship
Program and are among only
15,000 students from across the
country to have received this
prestigious award for the 2010- Above: Ben Smith (left)
11 school year.
and Mark Messler.
Prize Patrol Delivers Mini-Grants
T
he Mehlville-Oakville Foundation’s Prize Patrol was on the move
on Tuesday, Dec. 14, surprising 27 teachers in 12 schools across the
District with mini-grant checks. The Foundation awarded the grants,
valued at as much as $500, to teachers to fund projects that demonstrated
innovation and would enhance the curriculum for a particular grade level
or subject.
Margaret Buerkle Middle School science teacher Beth Rivera was surprised
with a balloon and check to fund her mini-grant application for “A Very
Tank-ful Classroom,” which will allow Rivera to have several real minihabitats in her classroom for her students to observe.
“What classroom couldn’t use a little life? Through being introduced to
such Life Science topics as Communities, Populations and Ecosystems by
observing the River Tank system, students at Margaret Buerkle Middle
School will have the amazing opportunity to study the natural interactions
of plants, animals and a flowing river system – right in our classroom!” said
Rivera.
The Foundation awarded $8,000 in grants this year intended to assist
teachers in creating a more inviting and challenging atmosphere for the
students in their classes. Foundation members Sandy Maulin and Judy
Compton serve as the mini-grant chairpersons. Grants are evaluated by a
selection committee consisting of former teachers, Superintendent Terry
Noble and current and former Foundation board members.
Right: Michael Weaver
Seventh Grader Honored for his Integrity
Oakville Middle School
seventh grader Luke
Lowry was celebrated for
his integrity and honorable
actions by the Do The
Right Thing Program at its
recognition ceremony held on Thursday, Dec. 16, at
Luke Lowry
the St. Louis County Council Chambers.
Luke Lowry
John Cary Early Childhood principal Kathie Fuchs (far left) is pictured with
her staff members (l-r) Johnna Norton, Sarah Veninga and Shannon Quinn,
who were surprised by the Foundation Prize Patrol co-chairs Judy Compton
and Sandy Maulin (far right) with funding for their grant, Art for Everyone.
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 5
2009-10 Annual Report Card
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has posted the 2009-10
annual report cards on its website for all of the public school districts in Missouri. The report cards
include information collected through the end of the 2009-10 school year for each district. In this
section of the Mehlville Messenger, statistics from the Mehlville School District’s report card have
been included. To access the Mehlville School District’s report card in its entirety, please visit
http://dese.mo.gov/planning/profile/arsd096094.html.
Students..............................
Graduation Rate
88.5% 91.1% 91.0% 89.9% 88.1%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Post Secondary Education
Students entering a fouror two-year college or a
technical school after
graduation
Attendance Rate
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
89.6%
88.7%
86.0%
85.1%
78.0%
ACT Results
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Percentage of Graduates Taking ACT
Graduates’ Average Composite ACT Score
72.2% 64.0%
21.8
21.8
68.7%
21.5
Enrollment
A total of 10,816 students in grades
kindergarten through 12 attended
4.3%
classes in the Mehlville School District
during the 2009-10 school year. District 10.3%
enrollment for the 2008-09 school
year was 10,788, and 10,987 students
attended District schools during the
2007-08 school year. Of the 10,816
students who attended classes in the
85.4%
District during 2009-10, 85.4 percent
were Caucasian, 10.3 percent were
African American, and the remaining
4.3 percent of enrollment was
Caucasian
comprised of Asian, Hispanic
African American
and Indian students.
Asian, Hispanic & Indian
Page 6
Mehlville
Messenger
| March
2011 2009
Mehlville
Messenger
| August
63.7%
22.0
69.0%
22.2
2010
95.0%
2009
95.2%
2008
95.2%
2007
95.3%
2006
95.2%
Staff...................................
Staffing Ratios
This ratio represents the number of students in kindergarten through 12th
grade in the Mehlville School District in comparison with the number of
regular classroom teachers, excluding special education, remedial reading,
Title I and vocational teachers.
2006
Students to
20:1
Classroom Teacher
2007
2008
2009
2010
20:1
19:1
18:1
18:1
Years of Experience
(average years of professional staff)
Mehlville Professional Staff.........................................................................12.5
Missouri Professional Staff..........................................................................12.4
Finances.......................................
Professional Staff with Advanced Degrees
65.1% 72.3% 71.6% 71.5% 72.1%
Expenditure Per Student
Mehlville:
Missouri
Average:
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Average Staff Salaries
Regular Term
Salary
Total Salary
$8,344
$9,751
Sources of Revenue
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
$47,463
$48,678
$50,255
$49,550
$51,639
$48,564
$49,810
$51,505
$50,910
$52,724
The Mehlville School District is proud to be the largest
employer in South St. Louis County.
District Earns Distinction in
Performance Recognition
B
ased on the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education’s Annual Performance Report,
the Mehlville School District once again has qualified for
the state’s Distinction in Performance recognition for high
achievement during the 2009-10 school year. The District
has received this prestigious designation seven times since
the award’s inception in 2001 and consecutively for the
past five years.
Distinction in Performance is based on the 14 academic
performance standards that serve as the basis of the
state’s accreditation program for all school districts. The
standards are based on scores from the state-mandated
MAP tests, graduation rate, attendance, ACT scores and
other indicators. The Mehlville School District met all 14
standards again during 2009-10.
“We continue to meet all 14 standards,” said
Superintendent Terry Noble. “To qualify for Distinction
in Performance, a school district must be achieving at
a high level or making consistent progress at all grade
levels. Our students and staff have worked hard to achieve
this recognition.”
Under the state’s accreditation program, each school
district is evaluated at least once every five years. Since
Distinction in Performance is based on the same standards
as the accreditation program, the honor provides an
annual confirmation of a district’s status and state-level
recognition of its overall performance.
A
6.1%
12.6%
Local
81.3%
State
Federal
The Mehlville School District relies
on its local community to provide
81.3 percent of its annual revenue.
The District receives 12.6 percent
of its yearly revenue from the state
of Missouri and 6.1 percent from
federal sources.
National Report Lists Mehlville at Top
recent study has the Mehlville School District tied for top in the state when measuring
Return on Investment. According to a national report from the Center for American
Progress, a Washington, D.C., based think tank, Mehlville has a great return on investment.
When stacked against the 523 Missouri school districts studied for the report, the Mehlville
School District is tied for the top in two of three measurement categories including Basic
Return on Investment and Adjusted Return on Investment. The study, a district-by-district
evaluation of U.S. education productivity, is the culmination of a yearlong effort to evaluate
the efficiency of the nation’s public education system and includes the first-ever attempt
to measure the academic achievement a school district produces relative to its educational
spending, while controlling for factors outside a district’s control, such as cost of living and
students in poverty.
“Our plan in the Mehlville School District is and always will be to do the very best we can
with what we have,” stated Deputy Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost. “Ultimately our goal is to
advance student achievement regardless of obstacles.”
Nearly all U.S. public school districts with a total enrollment of 250 or more students were
evaluated in the study. Out of the 523 districts in Missouri, 41 were included in the top
tier. Only two Saint Louis County districts were listed in this elite group for their student
achievement per dollar spent – Mehlville and Rockwood.
“Our study found that Mehlville provided an above average bang for its buck relative to other
districts in the state on most of our metrics,” explained Ulrich Boser, the report’s author.
Displayed on the interactive map and graph located at www.americanprogress.org, visitors
can see how the Mehlville School District measures against other Missouri districts. Basic
ROI is calculated utilizing a formula displayed in the report. The results for Mehlville place
the district at the top of the highest of six tiers, shown in dark green.
“This study is strong validation of the fact that our staff, administration and Board work
together to produce the highest achievement at the lowest cost,” stated Knost.
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 7
MEH LV IL L E SC H O O L D IS T R IC T BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES
These nine individuals are vying for the three open seats on the District’s Board of Education, which will be determined by
the April 5, 2011, election. For additional information about each candidate, please visit the District’s website at www.
mehlvilleschooldistrict.com and click on the Board of Education tab. District residents also are invited to attend the Mehlville
Legislative Information Network’s Candidate Forum to be held on Wednesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. in the Mehlville High School
library, located at 3200 Lemay Ferry Road. For more information about the Legislative Information Network, visit the LIN page
on the District’s website.
Page 8
Full Name:......................................... Marea Kluth-Hoppe
Date of Birth:................................................ Sept. 16, 1952
Address:............................................. 5315 Oaklawn Drive
St. Louis, MO 63128
Telephone:..................................................(314) 894-2206
Spouse:............................................................. Ray Hoppe
Children:.................. Carla Hoppe. She attended Bierbaum
Elementary, Margaret Buerkle Middle School, and
graduated in 2004 from Mehlville Senior High School.
District Resident:...................................................29 years
Occupation:.........Volunteer and Small Business Proprietor
Where:...................... Volunteer: Mehlville School District,
Concord Trinity United Methodist Church, Girl Scouts
and other community groups; Employer: Booth at South
County Antique Mall
Previous Jobs Held:............International Shoe Company –
14 years – Merchandise Manager, Branded Women’s
Division; Zion Preschool – 3 years – teacher
Public Office(s) Held:.............. Mehlville School District –
Board of Education – Director 2002-2005, Secretary
2003-2005
Full Name:.......................... Johnnie ( John) Earl Roland Jr.
Date of Birth:............................................... March 5, 1965
Address:......................................... 3715 Pinon Pine Court
St. Louis, MO 63129
Telephone:..................................................(314) 265-3315
Spouse:..........................................................Holly Roland
Children:......................... Courtney Roland (18) and Adam
Roland (14), who both attend Oakville High School.
District Resident:...................................................21 years
Occupation:............................................ Financial Advisor
Where:.................................... Edward Jones, 1999-present
Previous Jobs Held:.....................Executive Housekeeper Castleton, 1996-1999; Assistant General Manager Courtyard by Marriott, 1989-1996
Public Office(s) Held:................................................ None
Full Name:............................................ Deborah Langland
Date of Birth:......................................................................
Address:...................................... 2823 Spring Water Drive
St. Louis, MO 63129
Telephone:..................................................(314) 846-6953
Spouse:........................................................ Terry Crowley
Children:...................................Megan (22) and Matt (18).
Megan graduated from OHS as a valedictorian in May
2007 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric
Sciences with a Minor in Math from the University of
Missouri-Columbia, where she is enrolled in a masters
program. Matt graduated from OHS in May 2010 and is
enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University.
District Resident:...................................................24 years
Occupation:...................................................... Real Estate
Where:..................................... Coldwell Banker Gundaker
Previous Jobs Held:.............. Over 22 years in Information
Technology, primarily in the financial industry, as:
programmer/analyst, systems analyst/programmer,
consultant, project leader, team leader and manager.
Public Office(s) Held:................................................ None
Full Name:.................................................... Elaine Powers
Date of Birth:................................................ Sept. 11, 1967
Address:........................................ 5123 Suson Oaks Court
St. Louis, MO 63128
Telephone:..................................................(314) 306-0813
Spouse:.......................................................Edward Powers
Children:......................................... Abigail (13) is enrolled
in eighth grade at Washington Middle School and Andrew
(11) is a sixth grader at Washington Middle School. Joseph
(6) attends Hagemann Elementary and is in first grade.
District Resident:...................................................17 years
Occupation:...........................................Executive Director
Where:.......Lemay Child and Family Center, 2002-present
Previous Jobs Held:............................. St. Louis Children’s
Hospital Foundation, 1992-2002; Development Dynamics
Group, 1989-1992
Public Office(s) Held:................................................ None
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2011 | August 2009
Full Name:.................................... Richard (Rich) E. Franz
Date of Birth:................................................. Born in 1958
Address:........................................... 4937 Lockbriar Court
St. Louis, MO 63128
Telephone:..................................................(314) 956-2349
Spouse:......................................................................Karen
Children:....................One son (27) and one daughter (25);
neither attended Mehlville schools.
District Resident:.................................................... 7 years
Occupation:............................. Corporate Security Advisor
Where:................................................................ Monsanto
Previous Jobs Held:........................Police Officer – City of
Kirkwood, Mo., 1981-2007; Police Officer – St. Louis
Community College District – Meramec campus, 19932010; Police Officer – City of Bridgeton, Mo., 1979-1981
Public Office(s) Held:................................................ None
Full Name:...............................................Michael E. Doyel
Date of Birth:............................................. March 22, 1960
Address:.................................................2905 Meramar Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63129
Telephone:..................................................(314) 517-7436
Spouse:........................................................ Hope F. Doyel
Children:................... Michael E. Doyel, Jr.; Amy L. Doyel;
and Jordan E. Doyel. Michael and Amy graduated from
Oakville High School; Jordan is a freshman at Oakville
High School.
District Resident:................................................10.5 years
Occupation:.......................................................... Attorney
Where:.................... Law Office of Michael E. Doyel, LLC
Previous Jobs Held:.................. Sergeant, Springfield, Mo.,
Police Department
Public Office(s) Held:................................................ None
Full Name:...................................................... Mark Stoner
Date of Birth:..................................................July 14, 1960
Address:.............................. 5452 Butler Hill Estates Drive
St. Louis, MO 63128
Telephone:..................................................(314) 416-1688
Spouse:............................................................ Terri Stoner
Children:...........................................Son, Cameron Stoner,
attends Mehlville High School.
District Resident:...................................................14 years
Occupation:.................................... Director of Operations
Where:............. Document Imaging Systems Corp (DISC)
Previous Jobs Held:........................... Owner, E.C.S., LLC
Public Office(s) Held:................................................ None
Full Name:................................. Franchesca Peters Gindler
Date of Birth:................................................ Aug. 20, 1975
Address:.............................................. 2729 Ashrock Drive
St. Louis, MO 63129
Telephone:..................................................(314) 894-4433
Spouse:......................................................... Mike Gindler
Children:....................................Samantha Gindler (8) and
Michaela Gindler (6), who both attend Mehlville schools.
District Resident:.......3.5 years (moved here in May 2007)
Occupation:........................ Owner of an in-home day care
and volunteer
Where:........................... Self-employed and volunteer with
the Mehlville School District and Girl Scouts of America
Previous Jobs Held:..........Nanny, teacher, customer service
representative
Public Office(s) Held:................................................ None
Full Name:............................................ David Alan Wessel
Date of Birth:................................................. April 3, 1978
Address:.............................................. 3053 Armona Drive
St. Louis, MO 63129
Telephone:..................................................(314) 846-9625
Spouse:...................................................................... Tracy
Children:...............A.J. (3, almost 4 he’ll tell you) and Abby
(1). A.J. currently attends John Cary Early Childhood.
District Resident:.................................... Roughly 25 years
Occupation:.................................... IT Manager (I manage
a team of IT Engineers who are responsible for designing,
implementing, and maintaining the computer equipment
that run our reservation system, online presence, and other
business applications.)
Where:...... Enterprise Holdings Inc. (Enterprise, National,
Alamo, and WeCar Car Rental)
Previous Jobs Held:............Similar IT professions for May
Department Stores
Public Office(s) Held:................................................ None
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 9
SCH O O L SP OT L IG H T
Forder Elementary Involves the Entire Family in Each Student’s Education
F
order Elementary School has come a
long way from its humble beginnings as
a two-classroom building when the school
opened in 1934. Though several significant
changes have been made to the exterior of
the school since its early days, the quality
of education and variety of opportunities
offered to Forder students remains strong.
Forder Elementary boasted one of the first
drum and bugle corps, bands and vocal
choruses in the District; today, Forder
students still have ample opportunities
to participate in extracurricular activities.
From sports to fine arts to academics,
Forder offers clubs that could pique any
student’s interest.
Forder Elementary
As a school rich in cultural diversity, Forder provides its students with a global
perspective and teaches them to embrace and learn from each other’s cultural
differences and heritage. Annually, the school hosts a multi-cultural fair for
the families of English Language Learner (ELL) students.
In addition to providing extra guidance for ELL students, Forder staff
members also utilize Response To Intervention (RTI) to maximize student
achievement by identifying, monitoring and providing interventions for atrisk students. The implementation of RTI allows the staff to ensure they are
meeting the needs of every Forder student.
Forder Elementary also understands the importance of involving the entire
family in a child’s learning experience, which is why the school partnered
with the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC) to provide a
“Day in the Life” event for the parents of VICC students. Fourteen parents
attended this year’s first-ever event, where they spent the day with their
child by participating in classroom lessons, touring the school and seeing the
curriculum firsthand.
By providing students with opportunities
to expand their learning potential and
become even more engaged, Forder
Elementary is developing its students into
well-rounded members of the community.
The work of the school has been recognized
by the Character Education Partnership
for the past two years with Promising
Practices in Character Education, and
Forder staff members continue to provide
students with learning experiences that
teach them the importance of bettering
their community through service to
others.
Mehlville School District
Distinguished Service Award
The Mehlville School District’s Distinguished Service Award
(DSA) is an annual award recognizing
excellence in performance, service, character
and contribution to the Mehlville School
District. District parents, residents, business
people, civic groups, former employees and
former Board of Education members are
eligible to be nominated for the DSA.
For additional details and to download a
nomination form, visit the DSA page on the District’s website at
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com. Nominations are due by April 1,
2011.
Trautwein Elementary Honored as a Missouri School of Character
T
he Mehlville School District is proud to announce that six of its schools
have been recognized by the Character Education Partnership (CEP)
for their efforts in character education, with Trautwein Elementary earning
the prestigious Missouri School of Character award for 2011. Trautwein’s
impressive recognition qualifies the school to be considered for the CEP’s
highest honor: the National School of Character designation.
“Trautwein Elementary’s continued character education efforts have been
outstanding, and I knew it would only be a matter of time before the school
was honored as a Missouri School of Character. The Trautwein students, staff
and community are very deserving of this prestigious award,” said Deputy
Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost.
The CEP’s 2011 Missouri Schools of Character program also honored
Bierbaum Elementary and Point Elementary as Emerging Future Schools of
Character, and Blades Elementary, Oakville Elementary and Oakville Middle
Page 10
with Honorable Mentions for their continued character education efforts. An
Honorable Mention is the award given prior to the State School of Character
distinction.
“Each year, our District’s schools continue to earn awards for their character
education programs, including Promising Practices Awards in Character
Education, Champions of Character Awards, and now, the Missouri School
of Character Award. These recognitions highlight the united effort to advance
character education across the Mehlville School District,” Knost said.
The State Schools of Character program recognizes schools for embedding
the CEP’s Eleven Principles of Effective Character Education into their
daily practices. After receiving an Honorable Mention in last year’s program,
Trautwein Elementary was honored with its Missouri School of Character
designation this year following an in-depth application process and site visit
by the CEP.
Mehlville
Messenger
Mehlville Messenger
| March
2011 | August 2009
mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
ALUM N I N OT E S
Mehlville Taught Alumnus to Strive for Nothing Less than his Personal Best
S
ome college students look
forward to spending their
summer break relaxing by the
pool or making some extra
cash by working a part time
job. But for 2009 Mehlville
High School graduate Alex
Stuckel, the break between
his sophomore and junior
year at the University of
Missouri – Columbia will be
life-changing – and anything
but relaxing. The biochemistry
major will be spending 71 days
on his bike this summer as he
makes the 4,000 mile trek from
Seattle to Washington, D.C.,
to raise awareness and money
for disabled individuals.
they will visit with and get to know people with disabilities by playing
games together, going to a park, or taking them fishing. Organizations in
each town will sponsor the riders by giving them food and lodging during
their visit.
Through his Pi Kappa Phi
fraternity’s national philanthropy, Push America, Stuckel will participate
in the Journey of Hope, an event that raises more than $500,000 each year
while giving college students an opportunity to meet and interact with
people in communities across the country.
“Those five teachers prepared me to always do my best,” Stuckel said. “No
one knows the quality of our teachers until they’ve been in a class with one
of them. They teach us the necessities and expect top quality and effort from
all of us – nothing less.”
“Journey of Hope is a way to raise awareness about the severely handicapped
while giving us young men an experience to connect with and possibly
change the lives of people with disabilities,” said Stuckel, whose personal
fundraising goal is $6,000. “I have decided to do this because I feel that
this is an extraordinary event that I do not believe I will be able to do after
college.”
After riding his bike about 70 to 80 miles each day, Stuckel and his teammates
will stop in various cities across the country for “Friendship Visits” where
2011-12 Academic
Calendar Approved
T
he Mehlville School District’s Board of
Education approved the District’s academic
calendar for the 2011-12 school year at its Feb.
10 meeting. The calendar was developed by a
rotating committee of teachers, administrators,
parents and support staff from across the District,
who considered a variety of factors when creating
the calendar. Visit the District’s website at www.
mehlvilleschooldistrict.com to access a copy of
the calendar and a list of frequently asked questions about the calendar development process.
On his journey, Stuckel will meet people from a variety of backgrounds
and cultures. According to the MHS graduate though, his experiences as a
student in the Mehlville School District have prepared him for accepting
and respecting individuals who are different than him.
“I believe Mehlville has taught me how to interact with a wide variety of
cultures and that people are different everywhere you go, but they’re all the
same,” said Stuckel, who acknowledges that his time with the District taught
him other life lessons as well. “As far as college goes, I believe Mehlville has
prepared me to find it in myself to handle the new location and different
curriculum college offers.”
According to Stuckel, his path since high school has been molded by
several of his MHS teachers, including Tony Brown, Karl Rushing, Michael
Ghormley, Frau Needham and John Lavoie.
Stuckel’s 4,000 mile journey will test his determination to live these values,
and he will spend his summer putting forth his best effort to support a
group of deserving individuals across the country.
To support Stuckel’s journey across the US, visit www.pushamerica.org/
events/JOH/ and click on his name under the “2011 Roster & Profiles” tab.
To join the Mehlville School District Alumni Association or for reunion
information, please visit www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com and click
on the alumni link in the left column.
Snow Day Make Ups
Due to an extremely cold and snowy winter, the
Mehlville School District experienced six snow days
(at the printing of this newsletter). As a rule, snow days
are made up at the end of the school year. Please visit
the District’s website at www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.
com for information about the last day of school.
The District’s Community Education Department
is offering classes for the whole family this
spring. Visit www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com or
call (314) 467-7822 for details.
These classes fill up quickly, so register today!
www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com
Page 11
ECRWSS
Attn: Postal Patron
Permit No. 1804
St. Louis, MO
PAID
Board of Education Candidate Forum, 7 p.m.,
Mehlville High School library
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m., Andre’s
Banquet Center, 4254 Telegraph Road
Spring into Health Wellness Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
Mehlville High School gymnasium
Senior Citizen Prom, 6 to 9 p.m., Margaret Buerkle
Middle School
Saturday Morning Cafe Session with the
Superintendent, 9 a.m., St. Louis Bread Co.,
130 South County Center Way
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p,m., Administration
Building
60plus Club Barbecue, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.,
Beasley Elementary
Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m., Administration
Building
No School - Professional Development/Workday
No School
March 23
March 24
March 26
April 8
April 9
April 13
April 20
April 21
April 22
April 25
Talk to experts to learn more about how
you can stay mentally and physically
healthy, plus win great prizes for attending! Visit the Wellness Page at www.
mehlvilleschooldistrict.com for more details and a list of exhibitors.
Mark your calendars for the Mehlville School District’s free Spring Into
Health Wellness Fair on Saturday, March 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the
Mehlville High School Gymnasium,
3200 Lemay Ferry Road.
Spring Into Health Wellness Fair
No School - Spring Break
March 14-18
Find District event information at www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com.
IMPORTANT DATES
3120 Lemay Ferry Road
St. Louis, MO 63125
(314) 467-5000
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage
MARCH 2011
Project ENGAGE................................................................... Page 1
Board President Note.......................................................... Page 2
Superintendent Note.......................................................... Page 2
District News.................................................................. Pages 3-7
Distinctions................................................................. Pages 4 & 5
Annual Report Card.................................................... Pages 6 & 7
Board of Education Candidates................................ Pages 8 & 9
School Spotlight................................................................Page 10
Alumni Notes & Community Education............................Page 11
IN THIS ISSUE
Trautwein Elementary first grader Daniel Hemm waves an
American flag as he participates in a patriotic song with
his classmates during the school’s “A Patriotic Salute”
event for the District’s 60plus members on Feb. 9.
Mehlville Messenger
A MEHLVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLICATION