Droney: I support the decision I also believe that students should be able to accomplish basic concepts independent of technology as well. What would you as a board member do to ensure this? Newer schools would need less financial expense to help increase security versus older properties. I think that that diverse background allows me to perhaps add a new perspective to help the district continue to grow.. We did score 99.6 percent this year., Vagen: Continuing to evaluate the data from a variety of sources, including our rollout of iReady, will help our educators pinpoint exactly where and when students are struggling and enable them to focus on where the problem is., Wolman: Use of tools to measure individual student performance, such as iReady, currently being rolled out, would help to far closely measure individual student performance. Board President Kevin Schartner and Director Larry Felton are not seeking another term, leaving two open seats. I would also welcome any requests for records under the law and would advise the district to comply with the records request. Deficit spending erodes a school districts fund balance. Prop S is intended to fund projects to ensure the safety of all of our students, through security entrances and accessibility for people with disabilities. Early childhood education is where we set the base for a successful academic career. Huegerich: I would first consider ways to meet these needs without asking taxpayers for a tax increase. At this time, it seems unlikely future budget cuts would be needed from the strong financial founding the district is in currently. in Jefferson Barracks, a school in the Mehlville School District, either the reached 1% or 1.5% trigger threshold and the District instituted a Trigger Mandate thatwill last u ntil at least May 20, 2022, and perhaps longer. Also I (we) have done a good job of engaging the community to seek their input on what they want to see moving forward and taking their suggestions for areas they think need improving. What would you do as a board member to ensure the boards compliance with this law? These reserves are necessary to complete all financial obligations through the end of year, thus, avoiding borrowing., Vagen: When a district is in a position to have increased reserves it is a positive sign., Wolman: The school board decided to increase the fund balance to ensure that it has an acceptable cash reserve on hand to deal with issues that may require a larger draw on those reserves than planned previously in the strategic plan.. We also need to work diligently to retain and recruit qualified teachers. As a result, Mehlville must keep enough of its budget in reserve to ensure it will have adequate cash flow to fund operations without borrowing money throughout the course of the year. 80.8% came from local sources, 16.0% from state sources, and 3.2% from federal sources. They are not accountable to their community, like a public school and a public school BOE is. Mehlville School District; At Home; Beasley Elementary; Bernard Middle School; Bierbaum Elementary; Blades Elementary; Buerkle Middle School; Forder Elementary; . Mehlville R-9 School District - TalentEd Hire. Present the positive outcomes to the community and a plan to provide transparency and let the community decide., Pretto: That is a decision we, as a community, will have to reach together., Vagen: Proposition P has provided the district with necessary funds to provide a critical investment in our districts facilities and operations and a no-tax-increase extension would continue to help us provide for our community., Wolman: There is significant evidence that extending Prop P in 2020-2021 would be a prudent move to continue to increase capital improvement in the district, which is always needed. School choice takes away attention from the real problems in our public schools poverty and funding equity. Hassler: Before any budget cuts are made, I would charge administration with researching if there was any wasteful spending and try to make cuts only to things that do not affect academics. Mehlville R-IX School District 3120 Lemay Ferry Rd St Louis, MO 63125 -4416 ( District boundaries shown in map) Rating : 6/ 10 Top 50% Tel: (314) 467-5000 Visit School District Website Top Rankings Mehlville R-IX School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Missouri for: Category Attribute Graduation Rate Financial professionals are best equipped to help understand budgets and can be a valuable asset to the board., Pretto: We should rely on their expertise to, first of all, let us know if the district has adequate funds to not only increase but maintain increases., Vagen: The board should consider advice and recommendations from the Finance Committee and all relevant sources in making decisions., Wolman: The school board should utilize the Finance Committees professional opinion when making major financial decisions, including approving salary increases and budgets.. The Mehlville school district is separated into two Locations, Mehlville and Oakville, Mehlville is more outdate and less popular, the streets aren't update and the schools are outdated and not accommodate for the larger amount of students. Huegerich: I am in support of the strategic plan but believe it is too early to properly assess our progress since we are only one year into it. Such recordings would be a closed record and not available to the public. Droney: When I say that I want to represent and listen to taxpayers and parents in the Mehlville School District, I mean it. I would like to see the district survey parents and students to hear their vision for academic programs and offerings. Unfortunately it is difficult for the drama students to travel to Nottelmann (Auditorium at Mehlville High School) from Oakville to practice there is a lack of storage space for them to keep their props at Nottelmann. Board members have to collaborate with each other and with the administration, but board members have an additional oversight responsibility beyond rubber stamping any and all ideas brought to them. The math interventionists are providing our students the resources they need to be successful early and ensure that they do not fall further behind., Wolman: The decision to hire math interventionists in the elementary schools is a good decision as it helps to provide additional math resources to the students that need it. his techniques for tracking information regarding student success have been instrumental in making decisions on curriculum and teaching practices., Unfortunately it is difficult for the drama students to travel to Nottelmann (Auditorium at Mehlville High School) from Oakville to practice there, (professional development); creating innovative, The district has made vast improvements of, g with the community to get input to see how they want the district to proceed and will build the next strategic plan based on this collaborative information., Keep the community informed, make fiscally responsible decisions, be approachable and available to talk to, always keep kids first in all decisions made, continued use of data driven and transparent communication in all ways possible. Clubs, after schools, et cetera., Vagen: The district has a solid financial foundation that should not require budget cuts., Wolman: Future budget cuts, if needed, would have to come from extracurricular programs and athletic programs first. Are you satisfied with the leadership of Superintendent Chris Gaines? Hassler: My feelings about the voucher system mirror those of the charter schools stated above. Director- College and Career Readiness at Mehlville School District 2w However, this is not happening. At Home Academy; At Home Academy Field Trip; Athletic Fees Unless there are multiple studies showing strong benefits to making this change, the school year should remain at its current length.. In recent years, an attorney gave the district his legal opinion that the Prop P tax originally scheduled to sunset in 2021 was set in stone when voters approved (2008s no-tax-rate-increase tax transfer) Prop T. However, despite that legal opinion, the district does not plan to continue to levy the Prop P tax without asking voters first. The Finance Committee audits the district books once a year to guarantee transparency and confirm funds are being spent as promised., Kenner: I think the board has a good plan for tracking, spending and communicating to the public how the money is being used. We dont have any direct way of funding the loss of the VICC revenue., Kenner: I support VICC with limits. We must make sure there is no waste we could eliminate and if, and only if we have examined all options and there simply is not enough money, then we would have to take some community polls to see if we felt the community would support another tax levy or bond and decide from there if it is something we would put on the ballot for the voters to decide., Kenner: Bonds, tax revenue and attracting more families capable of supporting/increasing tax base., Pretto: This would be a decision based upon options given to the board by the superintendent. This needs to be regularly monitored and discussed to ensure we are not reserving more than we really need so that funds are spent on the year intended on the continuous improvement of the district., Kenner: There should be enough in the fund balance to compensate for foreseen and unforeseen circumstances. There will be times when those positions may or may not align with political positions that does not always mean that a board member has a political agenda. Droney: No, I am not endorsed nor backed by any organization or supported in my campaign by any political action committee. Wright: I do support the districts decision to offer 1:1 technology/laptops. How should board members make decisions on issues? Wright: I do support the Mehlville Strategic Plan. When the plan has been considered and carefully designed the district should follow that plan. During the Prop R campaign, (the district) charged the Finance Committee with overseeing the funds, and they have set expected budgets against which to measure spending that is consistent with the promises communicated during the Prop R campaign. Additional revenue needs could be met by utilizing programs offering sponsorships for our athletic programs, renting out district facilities for events, or even subleasing district property for structures. Droney: When I decided to run for school board, I started attending Finance Committee meetings on a regular basis, so over the last few months Ive gained a lot of insight into the issues our district faces in terms of funding and revenue. This type of schedule benefits kids at all levels especially as we become more and more innovative in the way we teach. It will start from a much less adversarial position on both sides working towards a common wise decision instead of having it be a victory over the other side.. Do you support the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corp., or VICC, voluntary transfer program? If so, how would you fund the loss of revenue to the district? 404 were here. We should avoid deficit spending. Transparency with the community is of utmost importance and where feasible should always be available., Wolman: From information available about closed board meetings, it appears there havent been any issues in the past few years that would warrant recording closed session meetings. Providing students with the resources needed to recognize and address their mental health will help them achieve their own academic success, reduce behavior issues, and create an environment for learning that benefits all students. The Mehlville School District has approximately 12,000 students currently enrolled. Yes, the plan should be followed., Pretto: I very much support the plan. Therefore, early childhood education is very important. Do you believe sex education should be taught in school, including the various types of birth-control methods? invest in their professional development. Huegerich is the co-founder and managing partner of Aligned Media, a communications company that produces work for Fortune 500 companies. He and his wife Kelly both graduated from the district and have had three children do the same. Dr. Haug will replace Dr. Gaines, who has been serving as superintendent for the past 8 years and will be retiring this summer. How did you vote in the November 2015 election on the school districts tax-rate increase measure, Prop R? Incumbents Peggy Hassler and Jean Pretto, both of Oakville, are running for re-election. I believe that parents and taxpayers in our district have lost their voice in the education process. In order for Mehlville students to be competitive with the rest of the country, they need the best technology we can afford. This survey could be used to guide discussions about expansion of programs and development of new ones. Student data should be studied to determine if this would benefit the high schools in the district.. Decisions should be made after considering all factors involved and consideration must be made as to how it fulfills the Strategic Plan, does it align with board and school district goals, how does the decision affect academic performance, how does it affect ALL children in the district and the community as a whole and how does it affect the budget and is it being fiscally responsible to the taxpayer. Hassler: Yes I support the strategic plan. How should the district fund it? Grant Historic Site awarded for special project. and doors and windows are reviewed on a cyclical basis by our administrators, and the fire and police department. We will also continue to have, ittee audits the district books once a year to guarantee transparency and confirm funds are being spent as promised.. I am running to restore excellence in academics in our district, improved transparency and increased parent collaboration in Mehlville Schools. We have a team of administrators and teachers whose only goal is to help to make these improvements and I believe with the right drivers behind the wheel, we will continue to make improvements, bearing in mind that each time the state changes the test, we cannot keep accurate data to compare to prior years, making it that much more difficult to assess and the results and comparison data are skewed. Portrait of a Graduate If additional revenue is needed for the school district, how do you propose obtaining that revenue? Social and emotional well-being is also very important.. 2023-2024 School Year Coaching Opportunities-Mehlville High School Position Summary: To help each participating student achieve a high level of skill, an appreciation for the values of discipline and sportsmanship and an increased level of self esteem. Individual board members will have differing views on subjects and issues the board must resolve. What kind of relationship should a board member have with district teachers? If it became necessary to ask the community for additional funding, that would only occur with a full plan in place as was present for Prop R.. The next step would be to review options for additional community enrichment programs and summer school expansion, which has continued to improve and provide funds to the district. Measures of key leading indicators are necessary to understand how our children are doing with the expected standards in each grade. Hassler: I voted yes on Prop R because the district was struggling financially and there were cuts of over $4 million being made with the possibility of another $4 million Our per-pupil expenditure was the second lowest in the area, yet our academic achievement was in the middle of the pack, demonstrating that our district was giving an excellent education for the money being spent, but left you to wonder what could be done with more resources. Mehlville residents showed historic levels of support for the district in Proposition S in 2021. This is imperative to remain competitive!, Wolman: The districts decision to offer 1:1 technology through the Chromebook initiative is an excellent initiative for multiple reasons. The district has been focused on moving into the future with a focus on data and community involvement. How is the district doing in following the plan? In order to set the policy and govern the district, I will focus on data, process, the Strategic Plan and the board goals., Kenner: Not identifying my party affiliation and only making decisions based on needs of children, parents and staff., Pretto: The decisions we make as board members will always be determined by one thing: Is this the best thing for our students?, Vagen: Decisions should be made based around what is best for the students and if you start with that, politics should not enter the conversation., Wolman: Any decision-making process must be done only with fiscal responsibility review as its focus, as the board is a nonpartisan entity that is not part of the political process at the local or state level., Should the Board of Education record its closed sessions? The unity of the community is showing (in) the lives of the students where only 45 percent of kids feel a sense of belonging. Other issues you perceive in your race and your position on each: Hassler: I feel these should always be issues of the district and my position is that they should always be supported: Continuous improvement; Building trust between the community, school board and administration with clear communication and continued transparency; Fiscal responsibility and making sure that funds are spent carefully and responsibly; Following the strategic plan; Make sure Prop R and Prop A funds are spent as promised; Diversity in our administration, staff and students, bearing in mind diversity comes in many forms.. Interim principal but withdrew the application in order to remain in compliance with policy., Wolman: I have never previously applied for a position in the Mehlville School District.. And even more satisfied with the continual improvement of the same. I feel the district can do better in academic performance and my goal will be to evaluate all the factors that affect that should I be elected. The library should have material that is representative of the community it serves., Wolman: School libraries should have information about gay and lesbian lifestyles, as it is a lifestyle that some students may be part of. Properly funding parallel school systems would be incredibly wasteful and expensive., Kenner: Im not sure the voucher system is the answer. I wish to add my technology background into the school boards leadership for the future., What issue do you consider the single most important issue in this race and why? Mehlville R-9 School District - K-12 Social Studies Director. I voted that way even before I had children because I understand how a good education can change a persons life., Pretto: A big yes!! Unfortunately, the state is now telling districts when the school year should begin and how many hours are required., Wolman: At this time, the school year should not be extended. To protect the schools from future cutbacks and reducing property values in the district., Vagen: Yes. Wright: Mehlville NEA (teachers association), and COPE (South County Labor). How will you as a board member ensure that the money is spent as the board promised? Mehlville Senior High School (grades 9-12) 3200 Lemay Ferry Road St. Louis, MO 63125 SSD Contact: . Working to follow up the success of Prop R with another similar property tax increase would help to keep the district competitive with other school districts.. Director- College and Career Readiness at Mehlville School District 1mo Uncover why Mehlville School District is the best company for you. Also we need to bear in mind that we have over 50 languages spoken in the district so we have daily changing hurdles to jump as we accommodate our very diverse population. The district matches with another 14.5 percent. Should the district end its participation in this program? Unfortunately, Mehlvilles test scores have declined significantly over the past five years. In 1999, a revised settlement agreement was reached amongst the various parties which transformed the federally supervised program into a voluntary program under the jurisdiction of the Voluntary Inter District Choice Corporation (VICC). What do you need from your school that it does not provide today? Droney: I support all middle schools and all high schools having the same course offerings. An issue at the top of my list is school safety. With that being said, the goal of the Block Scheduling Committee formed a few years ago was to roll out a full schedule for the year 2018-2019 that had a flex of all classes built into it. Three candidates are seeking two open seats on the Mehlville Board of Education in the April 5 election. For example, when a teacher needs dry erase markers, I purchase or get together with a group of parents to address the issue., Vagen: My involvement has typically been more personal from giving art lessons when my daughter was in preschool, to now helping the kids in the classroom, to encouraging older kids and instilling a belief that they can accomplish their goals and more., Wolman: My biggest accomplishment for the district is to be involved with the PTO at Oakville Elementary School for one year and MOSAIC for three years. Introducing an easier way to access all of your TalentEd products. The recently approved plan to replace and improve the monitoring cameras across district buildings is certainly a good step forward to increase security efforts.. If so, please list them. Should the district allow transgender students to use the same locker rooms as the gender they self-identify as or the physical gender they were born with? Source: National Center for Education Statistics. It allows the district to have much better data collection on student performance through systems like iReady, as well as allows for a diverse educational model with the ability for non-paper classwork as well as providing students an exposure to technology they may not have at home due to household income. Because of this, I will make certain the district focuses on academic excellence and operational efficiency. I will be satisfied with the security efforts of the district if we are able to prioritize this work in a way that puts the safety of our students first. What would you propose to improve the districts communication? I would engage the community in the process and get their input on how they would like to handle the shortfalls. The district is thriving following the implementations of the plan., Vagen: I do. How is the district better because of your involvement? Its an example of the district embracing new ideas, being willing to adapt, and has provided tools and lessons that can be brought into other schools throughout the district. Upon information and belief, the District intends for summer school classes to be subject to the Trigger Mandate. Providing students with the resources needed to recognize and address their mental health will help them achieve their own academic success, reduce behavior issues, and create an environment for learning that benefits all students , Wolman: Continuing to enhance student improvement across the district.. Have you been endorsed by any groups, organizations, unions, et cetera? Newcomers Ben Droney, Scott Huegerich and Sarah Grace Wright are seeking office for the first time on the board. Do you believe that school libraries should have information about gay and lesbian lifestyles? The district has made vast improvements of keeping everyone informed whether it is by an email, a video or a download from the districts website. Sign up to receive email notifications for upcoming Board of Education meetings and committee meetings. Huegerich: My only focus will be on the operations of the district and the quality of education and care we are able to provide the students of the district, not politics. Droney: Unfortunately, due to last minute changes to my work schedule I was not able to vote in that election. Math and reading interventionists have proven successful and that should be expanded. Find out what works well at Mehlville School District from the people who know best. Students at Oakville Elementary participate in Kids Voting for the November 2018 election. On the other hand, some classes are better served on the traditional schedule time of about 50 minutes and some students benefit from seeing their teachers on more consecutive days for shorter periods of time. It will do nothing more than increase a social divide between students of different financial backgrounds, as well as taking away already limited public school resources into private schools. We work for the community., Pretto: Closed sessions are intended to discuss things that are better not known to others. Referencing Mehlvilles 2015 49-cent tax-rate increase, Proposition R, Pretto said she is seeking re-election because I would very much like to see many of the projects started with Prop R through.. Five candidates have filed for three open positions on the Mehlville School District Board of Education. Hassler: I believe we have made great strides in the last two years with our communication efforts. If we truly need the revenue, first we must look at all of the expenditures and budgets and see if there is any way we can make cuts without any adverse effects on academic achievement, or figure ways to squeeze the funds from the money we already have without robbing Peter to pay Paul. Hassler: After the Supreme Court made their historic decision regarding gay marriage it may be time for LGBT issues and curriculum to be spoken about in schools. Should the district deficit spend for recurring expenses such as salary increases? The St. Louis student transfer program was established to increase racial integration in metropolitan area public schools under a settlement agreement reached in the St. Louis desegregation case and approved by the federal court in 1983. The final decision needs to rest with the board because it is the elected body that is given this responsibility, but I am happy that someone with a financial background is there for guidance and advice as I would not want these decisions to rest solely on board members that might not have a financial background.