Ladue Board To Talk School Security, Activity Fees and Start Times

The Ladue school district, which responded to the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting last month by making one quick change at Horton Watkins High School to lock doors during the day, will outline other measures at Monday's school board meeting which could still be taken to improve school security.

A more thorough conversation on security is planned for board discussion next month. Awareness of issues surrounding school security at Ladue schools has been heightened in recent weeks. An Instagram account discovered recently featured a profile photo of the shooter in the Newtown shooting and prompted school leaders to ask for a ramped up police presence.

Police have reportedly issued a search warrant for Instagram in hopes of tracking down the person responsible for the account, in addition to an earlier one which hosted pictures of middle school students and crude comments about them. School administrators have not been successful in getting students to admit responsibilty for the accounts.

School board members are also scheduled to take the next step in revamping bell times and bus schedules in anticipation of the opening of the Fifth Grade center in the fall. The board will vote on whether the 5th Grade and High School should start first, or if it should be the Middle School level starting first, likely at roughly 7:40 a.m. Exact bell times will be voted on later this year.

The board will also vote on a plan to institute a $75 activity fee for "students participating in one or more Missouri State High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA) affiliated activities for the 2013-14 school year," according to district documents. A student could participate in more than one activity for a single fee, and a $150 maximum would be set for each family. The fee could be waived for students receiving free or reduced school meals.

The board meeting starts in open session at 7 p.m. at 9703 Conway Road in Ladue.