ST. LOUIS • David Jackson entered the second-floor conference room in the central office of ºüÀêÊÓƵ Public Schools on Monday hoping for even the smallest sign that a shift was about to occur in the district’s governance.
Jackson, president of the elected school board that has no power, was about to meet with the members of the state-appointed board that has governed the school district for seven years.
It was the first time members of these two bodies had ever met about transitioning the district back to elected control. It was prompted by several letters between the two boards on the topic of a transition. Jackson’s expectation was that steps would be taken to move the 24,000-student district in that direction.
His expectation was dashed.
He and fellow board member Kathy Styer walked out an hour later, along with two members of the Special Administrative Board, Rick Sullivan and Melanie Adams.
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“Nothing really,†Jackson said when asked what had happened at the hour long meeting. “It was all legal.â€
Sullivan, president of the SAB, characterized it as “the pre-meeting to the pre-meeting.â€
“We’ll see where it goes from here,†he said.
It was the second meeting between the two bodies since 2013, when they met at central branch of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Public Library to discuss teaming up to urge the state to rethink how it accredits schools. They also met this fall to discuss issues at Vashon High School.Â
In 2007, the state gave the three-member Special Administrative Board the reins of the troubled district with the intent of creating stability in the district’s governance, improving its finances and academics.
All three have improved, though academics still suffer, and the district is now provisionally accredited. The elected board has continued to meet, but without microphones, budget or consequence, in hopes of returning.Â
The Missouri Board of Education has made it clear that it doesn’t intend to keep the district under appointed control forever. Last summer, it extended the life of the board by two years. It is to expire in June 2016.
In August, the elected board wrote the appointed board a letter with suggestions on how to prepare for a transition, such as allowing elected members to communicate with the district lobbyist, opening up access to district legal proceedings and giving one or two of them a seat at the table when the Special Administrative Board holds open meetings.
In December, the three members of the SAB responded.
“After carefully considering the (Board of Education’s) recommendations for transition, we believe the document can provide a foundation for the parties to begin the important work toward transition,†it said.
Sullivan said Monday’s meeting marked the start of a discussion. SAB vice president Melanie Adams was there, and member Richard Gaines joined by speakerphone.
Jackson and Styer were the two invited from the elected board.
Jackson said he isn’t sure where discussions will go from here, if anywhere.
“It was a very limited discussion,†Styer said. “But we were invited to the table. That’s a huge step.â€
