Ladue Schools Reach Settlement with Feds Over 'Senior List' Controvery

A few months after an angry parent filed a complaint with the federal government over the so-called "senior list" — an offensive student-produced list targeting Ladue High girls — the Ladue School District has pledged to take steps to stop the practice.

That pledge comes in the form of an agreement between the district and the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civl Rights, which became involved in the flap after Ruth Ahlemeier, whose children attended Ladue Horton Watkins High School, filed the complaint.

In the agreement, district officials said the steps ranged from counseling offended students to creating a student committee to air concerns about sexual harassment issues.

The civil rights office summarized the steps outlined by the district:

1. Offer counseling services to (seven) students identified in the 2011-12 senior list;
2. Issue a statement, to all high school students, parents and staff and printed in the high school's and/or district's newsletters stating the District does not tolerate acts of harassment;
3. Establish a student committee to provide a forum for students to discuss matters concerning discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, increase student awareness of the District's anti-harassment program, and suggest measures for improving the effectiveness of the District's program;
4. Develop and conduct a school climate survey to be used on an annual basis for students and staff to assess the presence and effect of harassment training for annual presentation to the District's high school students;
5. Develop and deliver discrimination training for annual presentation to the District's high school students;
6. Ensure high school administrators, and other high school staff at the District's discretion, receive training on what actions or behaviors may constitute unlawful harassment;

Ahlemeier, of Olivette, brought the complaint first to the district soon after the last list emerged at the end of the 2011-12 school year.

Unhappy with the district's response, she took it to the federal government after learning that it was something of a long-time tradition among students at Ladue High—acknowledged by school officials at least as far back as 10 years ago.

The list targets selected students and describes in unflattering terms students' sexual and hygenic practices; school officials have said they have never condoned the practice and have been unable in the past to stop the actions of a few nere-do-well students who are determined to break the rules.

For her part, Ahlemeier was happy with the resolution.

"I am proud of Ladue School District for coming to terms with what was once a long tradition and realizing that it is now time to make changes," she told Patch in an email. "Many parents and residents have thanked me for speaking out about bullying. Numerous people have sought me out through the Internet, telling me stories of how they were bullied growing up and nothing was done to stop their suffering."

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