ST. CHARLES COUNTY — The Francis Howell School Board has yet to make changes to an anti-racism resolution set to expire in October after garnering national media attention.
At its monthly meeting Thursday, the board again heard from critics and supporters, but did not make any decisions about the resolution and two others that they voted last month to rescind.
Last month, just five days after the vote was met with community outcry and appeals for unity from school leaders, board President Adam Bertrand said he would consider changes to the anti-racism resolution and solicit community input.
But Bertrand has not spoken to Francis Howell Forward or the St. Charles branch of the NAACP, groups which oppose rescinding the resolution.
“Should the board consider revising the resolution, I encourage these revisions first be justified by compelling and credible reasoning to do so, and that this be done in a formal public exchange,†said Jamie Martin, president of Francis Howell Forward, on Thursday at the school board’s monthly meeting.
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The “Resolution in Response to Racism and Discrimination†passed by a previous board in August 2020 states in part: “We will promote racial healing, especially for our Black and brown students and families. We will no longer be silent. We are committed to creating an equitable and anti-racist system that honors and elevates all, but one that also specifically acknowledges the challenges faced by our Black and brown students and families.â€
The resolution was adopted about two months after thousands of protesters marched three miles down Mid Rivers Mall Drive in support of Black students following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The protesters called for changes to Francis Howell’s curriculum, hiring practices and discipline policies they said discriminated against people of color.
The all-white school board has since turned over to a conservative majority.
“The 16,000 patrons who cast their votes in the last two elections as well as the Francis Howell Families appreciate and applaud this board’s courage and resolve,†said Ken Gontarz of the conservative group Francis Howell Families, during Thursday’s meeting. “The vast majority of our patrons and elected officials support and thank you.â€
The other two resolutions set to expire Oct. 3 include one passed in 2017 in opposition to statewide charter school expansion, and another from last year against a state bill that would phase out or eliminate personal property taxes.
Former school board member Patrick Lane signed all three resolutions during his tenure and told the current board that they are still relevant.
“Please set aside your personal or political thoughts and remember your role to promote and provide our students with the very best education in an accepting and welcoming environment,†Lane said during the meeting Thursday.
Nearly 80% of Francis Howell’s 16,500 students are white and the district has a history of racial tension. Most recently, an internal investigation of a civil rights complaint involving a Black student found violations of the district’s policy against discrimination, harassment and retaliation, according to a July letter from district compliance officer Will Vanderpool to the family.