Clayton Board of Education Breaks Ground on New Wydown, Learns Delay is a Possibility

The Clayton Board of Education broke ground on the new Wydown Middle School this week, and construction is scheduled to begin May 2. A fall 2013 completion date is planned. But just as the prepares to welcome its newest addition, an official with the project announced Wednesday that a delay is possible.

Drew Raasch of SM Wilson, the general contractor on the project, was on hand at the board's Wednesday meeting to give members an update on the progress of Proposition W, which will be used to fund the new school. An existing alley will have to be rededicated on the site and falls under the city’s definition of a major redevelopment. This will require plans to be submitted and approved by the Clayton Board of Aldermen in order to receive the necessary permits.

The approval must come before a public meeting of the board, and appearances must be scheduled 15 days in advance of such a meeting. That means the earliest date at which the district could present the plans is April 12. Although it's possibile that could force the district to push back the starting date, Raasch said, an absence of further problems and a smooth review by the aldermen should allow workers to make the original start date.

Bidding for the first Wydown work package came in under budget, Raasch said. The first work package will cover site demolition, grading and utilities. The board budgeted the cost of this at $1.8 million. Castle Contracting won the contract for $1.6 million with a $125,000 owner-contract allowance in the event that there are unforeseen costs. That brings the total possible price from Castle to approximately $1.77 million. The board voted unanimously to accept the bid.

Also on Wednesday, parents and board members expressed worries about whether the district is going in the right direction with the review and evaluation process of its new math curriculum. A vote is planned April 27.

Dr. Mary Herrmann, the district's outgoing superintendent, said she understands frustrations with the current six-year template for conducting curriculum reviews. She proposed putting administrative staff to work on devising a new process for conducting program reviews and evaluations in the future.

Board President Sonny Buttar made it clear that she thinks the issue should be a priority for the board. But board member Steve Singer expressed concern that the issue could detract from finishing the current review of the math curriculum. A majority of the board appeared to share that sentiment. The board took no action on the issue.

The board also heard the latest on lab-classroom programs designed to improve student achievement while strengthening professional practice. Four district teachers said that embracing this philosophy has improved and expanded their teaching.

Patti Rosenkranz, a 37-year education veteran who teaches kindergarten at Captain Elementary School, praised the constant development she said the program instills in students and teachers. She brought writing examples from her classes dating back to 2009 to show how expectancy levels have risen. At one time, students wrote about such topics as their friends. Now, students form narratives expressing their individual voices. Rosenkranz's students now called themselves writers, she said, and they have a basic understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Josh Meyers, a member of the social studies department at Clayton High School, spoke about embracing the “enduring knowledge” approach to teaching. He said he wants his students to remember and understand material, not just memorize it and forget it at the end of the semester.

“The lab classroom program has fundamentally changed everything I do as a teacher,” Myers said.

The board expressed interest in looking at how the teachers can share their experiences with others in the district.

“I’m impressed with this program energizing teachers who already have such high levels of expertise,” Board Vice President Jane Klamer said following the presentation.

The board ended the night with a presentation from Mark Stockwell, the district’s chief financial officer, and Bridget Jordon, the district’s food services director. Since January 2010, the two have worked with a group of parents to improve the nutritional value of school lunches.

They presented a list of nine recommendations to the board, including moving recess before lunch at the elementary level and increasing the price of lunch. Lunches cost $2.65 and the two proposed raising them to $3 at the elementary level and $3.25 at the high school level. The move would be aimed at ensuring the district can buy the necessary raw, unprocessed foods to keep lunches healthy.

Board member Omri Praiss applauded Stockwell for going above and beyond his job description during the process of his review. While he agreed that making sure children are eating healthy at school is important, he said he doesn't want things going overboard.

Board member Brad Bernstein agreed with Praiss. He expressed concern about the cost of some of the recommendations and said he is opposed to increasing the price of lunch at the elementary level. He said he fears that the increase would cause more parents to pack their children a lunch rather than buy one from the district.

Board member Steve Singer also bid goodbye to the board after nine years of service. He declined to run for re-election, instead running for a seat on the Clayton Board of Aldermen. The board recognized and applauded him at the end of the meeting.