School Board Talks Greenhouse Funding, Top Officials' Departure

The Clayton Board of Education closed out the 2010-11 school year Wednesday night, holding its last public meeting until the start of the 2011-12 school year in August.

In addition to wrapping up budget and curriculum concerns, the board and .

The meeting began with a spirited public comment session concerning the new greenhouse at . One of the night’s action items concerned additional funding for the greenhouse, for which the board had already allocated $350,000. Faculty and staff lamented the need to ask for more money but insisted that it is necessary to maintain the facility.

Board director Dr. Brad Bernstein questioned why the high school even needed to offer a plant biology class in the first place.

“I’ve called Washington University, UMSL and Saint Louis University and asked them when they offered plant sciences,” he said. “Those classes aren’t offered to freshmen or sophomores, only the higher levels. How are we going to integrate this into a high school curriculum?”

Faculty in attendance said integration would be key. They said the greenhouse will complement not only a plant-sciences course but existing biology courses. A Washington University adviser who spoke in conjunction with the faculty said plant science is part of the foundation for studies into biology.

After some faculty members in attendance said the greenhouse would change the science course for the better, board director Omri Praiss moved for a vote. The board passed the measure unanimously.

Also Wednesday, the board heard a presentation on the district’s counseling programs. Sharmon Wilkinson, assistant superintendent of human resources and student services, led the discussion.

The two primary subjects: students' top concerns and the timing of college counseling.

Wilkinson said stress has surpassed bullying as the No. 1 concern among students. Surveys indicate 71 percent of students in the district are more concerned about stress than bullying. While bullying will remain a prevalent part of counseling programs, stress will now receive greater attention.

The presentation stated that Clayton High has long considered itself a college preparatory school whose counselors are akin to those at a private school. But school officials are worried that constant attention to what students need to do to get into college can drive up their levels of stress.

Officials also have questioned the timing of such conversations.

“How early is too early for talking about college?” said Carolyn Blair, a counselor at Clayton High School, during the presentation. “There’s a fine line there we have to be careful about. In the district, we start no earlier than a student’s freshman year in high school, but the conditions could be different at home.”

Board members said that while they understand the role stress plays in a student’s life leading up to college, they don't want to forget the district’s expectations.

“It’s good we’re recognizing stress, but we need to acknowledge we’re a college prep district and we have high expectations,” board President Sonny Buttar said.

The board also approved:

• the purchase of 74 computers from Apple Education at a cost of approximately $93,000
• the district’s budget for the 2011-2012 school year
• the health/physical education curriculum review
• a raise in 2011-12 meal prices
• the implementation of the revised math curriculum from summer 2011 through spring 2013.

The board ended the meeting by bidding farewell to two district leaders, including Stockwell, the district's CFO. He submitted his final school year budget to the board Wednesday night, and the board thanked him for his service.

“Clayton is a one of a kind community, and while I know this move is best for me, I still have some conflicted emotions on leaving,” Stockwell said after his presentation. “It’s been an honor working with every one of you.”

Herrmann will leave the district later this month after serving during a tumultuous year: She saw the district through such events as and the .

“This is an incredible place, and looking at you moving forward, I want you to maintain your focus and innovation,” Herrmann said. “We are preparing students for their futures, and not just on a regional scale, but global. That’s where we always need to look, on a global scale. Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve. I will miss you all very much.”