[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6081515,"mediaKeyId","2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022","parentId",2941664,"title","Board opens superintendent search with community input; April 22 first application review date","audioSeconds",217,"startMs",8821000,"endMs",9038000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022&start=8821&end=9038","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022/thumbnail_8821000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081515/Missouri/Board-opens-superintendent-search-with-community-input-April-22-first-application-review-date","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081515-3d2e39ed92a8a7b69456cbfcd23a602b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820621&Signature=CBTgrWaaTQovjNNs9G-h-Wq~PfDAWdz63-VEreO16ZKGCBKpg3hDYZwouSDzA~2ep85t3fgUI7pk-J8-edySQn9IMHKNByhCAcm8ue41DRBup5PEZF1sSh9C-s-~m9~ZbYwSqSVyzjL~tRn7u35xuHs9NzjLXY9mWOZ1-1G6or9ajsRbdq-yHf72w3R43d6XQQjDcNP7ibV38TG2CKYOlalcb6g9AkGiH3TmfbWPkqSKTOuf1-lkvevCkZEYxmNl0Er-XRY~nmPw0qgHRlPm-xLeedOnzFzjgKUPLQE9vssKADmlTO-nE1-T6tq2LhmX8HlGwv1uxDEuo3VHUH9rKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ferguson-Florissant School District","date","2025-04-09T15:25:09Z","article","The Ferguson‑Florissant R‑II Board of Education described a public superintendent search plan that the board described as deliberately transparent and community‑driven and set April 22 as the first scheduled application review date.

Board members and the president urged community members to review the public job profile — which the board said includes three pages of stakeholder feedback — and to encourage candidates who understand the district’s context to apply. Trustees said they prioritized applicants who already understand Ferguson‑Florissant given the district’s ongoing fiscal and operational challenges: “We do not have time for a traditional superintendent to come in and be able to learn the district for a year before making tough decisions,” the board president said.

The board said its timeline is tentative and that if the pool of applicants is insufficient, it could appoint an interim, reopen the search, or pursue an alternate plan. The board also described confidentiality protections for any community members selected to serve on the confidential screening panel and said those panelists will sign confidentiality agreements when chosen.

Why it matters: A new superintendent will lead district operations during an active budget and personnel transition. The board framed the search around visibility, accountability and improved student achievement across groups.

The board encouraged community members to read full meeting materials and the superintendent profile on the district website, and trustees said they will update the public on the search steps at future meetings. The board also noted that the board had received one application as of the meeting and asked the public to help identify qualified internal or external candidates.

Ending: Trustees reiterated that the process is open and pledged follow‑up updates; the board emphasized the search will not be rushed if suitable candidates do not appear in the initial round.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - April 9 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board laid out a public superintendent search timeline that emphasizes stakeholder feedback and transparency and set April 22 as the initial application review date; trustees said the board will re-evaluate if the candidate pool doesn't meet district needs.","taxTitle","Ferguson-florissant R-II, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",13561,"location","Missouri","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081520,"Nurses and early‑childhood special‑education director reinstated after public outcry; staff warn of safety risks",1075,2485000,3560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022&start=2485&end=3560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022/thumbnail_2485000.jpg","/articles/6081520/Missouri/Nurses-and-earlychildhood-specialeducation-director-reinstated-after-public-outcry-staff-warn-of-safety-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081520-1abfdd72c26a01c64aded5960ecff1e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820621&Signature=I-L4sszOsZ1e~7DO8YbdfEXjV4~nzH~zSd9cSQQWivrmj4P~5gftGFPmaUtHUgK4IvuGAI1G5egQ2qdh2Aq-mvflGNck3NHSfClL~vlWZc8ptZSTPTuwwuW7N5gW1dpyjnaTNmHO6rysZQIaL6y1sTztagTUIlxmbsSe7zF20bjWrCrcUAbDOhMFFpS6rb9eLOrKTrrYIXXMTcqPbe2k3tqIEE6aIc5kgMsXM3CZeDaKEkb1-8r2DIEUgu4I19hwhUfGLrgIZAdEPWTQKfAUkWuLkif7dU4RndfqkOCZCMf1tvsIkYQ2ERe27fMZ7KaqCRrk~f~AXjbcjzXnaaOq7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several public commenters and district nurses told the board that recent staffing changes — notably the elimination of agency nurses and the freeze on the early childhood special education (ECSE) executive director position — harmed student safety and the district’s ability to meet legally required services.

Long‑time school nurses said the removal of agency nurses left multiple buildings without a regularly assigned nurse and would force untrained staff to manage medical needs, including students with diabetes, feeding tubes, asthma or seizure plans. “Who is going to provide these students with appropriate and safe health care?” asked a nurse who said she sees more than 40 students a day. Another nurse warned that, without nurses, staff unfamiliar with medical care could call 911 more frequently and delay appropriate responses.

Speakers representing ECSE described trauma and anxiety in the department after the executive director role was frozen; administrators told the board that due to “available little funding” the board had briefly frozen the ECSE executive director position but then moved to reinstate it that same meeting. Several speakers asked for the hiring freeze to be lifted and that ECSE retain an experienced director to manage IEP placement, legal requirements and parent communication.

Why it matters: School nurses are licensed health professionals whose duties can include administering medication, responding to emergencies and implementing medically required IEP accommodations. Special education leadership plays a legal role in ensuring federal and state requirements are met for students with disabilities.

The board president acknowledged concerns and said Mr. Joyce and other administrators would follow up individually with parents who raised issues during public comment. The transcript records the administration stating the ECSE executive director position was reinstated earlier the same evening and that the board had approved that action.

Ending: Board members promised follow‑up with parents and staff; nurses and ECSE speakers asked the board to address compensation and the district’s stated hiring freeze so that the nursing and special‑education workforce can be stabilized before the next school year.","Parents, nurses and special‑education staff told the board that cuts to agency nurses and the prior freezing of the ECSE executive director post posed safety and legal risks; the board later announced the ECSE director position had been reinstated and said administrators will follow up with concerned parents.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081525,"Parents and teachers contest planned school moves; board and administration say some moves already approved",760,2540000,3300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022&start=2540&end=3300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022/thumbnail_2540000.jpg","/articles/6081525/Missouri/Parents-and-teachers-contest-planned-school-moves-board-and-administration-say-some-moves-already-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081525-84ebbfa9a465ecf11db6c4c029cc4b94/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820621&Signature=DrxyBTb6y6DOSAox2jMBJP1pRQ7BTNvtt4jR8NlGdI19yhdApF6o4tRKzNNwrb17Fioqr6pveztZOth2Wk~7KITxUMCDqNgCCmiGdqSmSdKNqmfRmW93aNGIyCHyOHuJdDOomd~-XMlqeg0GOdvQvR-Pklo1D~6kBG~6YEB6VHi9xoL~mkNypIV~1eLYRgptz-bNTz~PLhN-0PnBJENQ6mUb5jsibaqTnJ-GDYz8wDQWKkko5cELZDEx~hnAnL9MV3rifIpXzN9zQqJwd59nNURnMCZxgqvxO8a78jav96rhuBWZzq~XePBX6KqQNbNdhW3lfG2S9SL~E4lUvHzp4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several parents, teachers and students told the board they fear the district’s planned school consolidations and building reassignments will harm instruction, school culture and student opportunities.

Public speakers at the board meeting urged the trustees to reconsider or to provide more specifics about multiple reconfiguration plans the administration is advancing. Topics included a previous decision to move Mark Twain students (speakers said the board had taken action to move Mark Twain; a student speaker, Fancy Hancock, said she appreciated the decision), a proposed relocation of some Wedgwood programs, and a plan to combine STEAM middle school and STEAM High School in the same building. Teachers and parents asked how the district will separate age groups, preserve electives and extracurriculars, and maintain safety and appropriate services for younger students co‑located with older ones.

“Courses, lunchtime, sports, activities, homecoming, dances, organizations should not be represented as 6–12 grade population,” said one STEAM parent during public comment. A Wedgwood teacher told the board that Wedgwood’s current team structure and growth in math achievement make it unsuitable for compressing additional teams into the building and applauded the board’s decision to seek alternatives.

The administration and several trustees said some relocation decisions had already been made: the board president stated that, earlier, the board approved graduation locations and that the first communication the board received about Innovation High School graduation date came in a superintendent weekly update; trustees also confirmed actions on a previous meeting to relocate certain students. The board and administration repeatedly said they would follow up with stakeholders and promised additional communications, and the administration agreed to prepare a stakeholder-facing draft communications plan with timelines and bullet points for parents, students and employees.

Why it matters: Consolidation and reassignments can affect class sizes, extracurricular programming, scheduling, and students’ sense of belonging. Parents and teachers asked for specific assurances — for example, that 9–12 graders would continue to have distinct high‑school‑level events and that younger students would be physically separated from older students.

The board assigned staff to follow up, and trustees said they would attend community meetings (the administration scheduled campus meetings, including Innovation on short notice) and promised to circulate details in the district’s weekly update.

Ending: The board committed to additional outreach; stakeholders requested firm timelines and written assurances about class separation, schedules and program preservation.","Community members, teachers and students raised concerns about proposed moves — including Mark Twain/Wedgwood and consolidating STEAM middle and high schools — over space, class size, student experience and scheduling; the board and administration said some location decisions were already approved while other details remain in development.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081530,"Board hearing emphasizes budget shortfalls and accounting questions after March financial report",769,6725000,7494000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022&start=6725&end=7494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022/thumbnail_6725000.jpg","/articles/6081530/Missouri/Board-hearing-emphasizes-budget-shortfalls-and-accounting-questions-after-March-financial-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081530-a58dfa849ac8633545d1cbce1ea39344/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820621&Signature=gybNaswht6P-dMi1QdSOh4nBmjjmkd9Cb5IY1nqFzG4IYxa-d~zndx~tF1hEDPPPM6IRyA~1dDbksP3j1~herh4l9mH-cFkNmi5VeBYqeh3OKtOZFdQNwN2g7vlOWbOqJ2w0rbsQRNqyewSe72jmQ7tsqVI4UubfGcf8pmkpmU5lpKQ0k0skv89~AppYCdkPnvaLI49N~8T70Wa5uPCMnzXKLKQr2cFxwiCYX~ZADJbhIb3NtU8IzCXMVmGQOUW5kAtAQpm-Yq8B5zEkgakeP-ENagAqj2VzWpVqtHTR2X3KGWW7xzXlM538hUb~3~4PGWgKyoHv9kcG-dC4LHxR3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ferguson‑Florissant R‑II finance staff presented the district’s March financial report and year‑to‑date collections and expenditures during the April meeting, and board members pressed administration for clearer reconciliations after staff identified overspending in multiple accounts.

The administration reported year‑to‑date revenues and expenses across general, special revenue, debt service and capital funds and read the March disbursement totals into the record. The presentation included a payroll and nonpayroll total of $12,154,653 for March. The administration also said that property tax collections were ahead of last year's pace and that about $20 million had been placed in an interest‑bearing account (described in the presentation) to earn increased interest.

Board members repeatedly asked for clearer, itemized reconciliation. “We keep getting numbers that are either not in the right budget line, not in the right spot,” said Dr. Martin during questioning on the presentation. Board members requested written follow‑up clarifying how a line labeled as having $0 in student activity revenues nonetheless had receipts recorded elsewhere in fund accounts; administration said receipts had been recorded in fund 16 while originally budgeted in fund 11 and promised to “make sure those funds are rolling up” in the next month's report.

Why it matters: The district is operating under constrained finances and the board uses monthly financial reports to decide whether to amend budgets or adopt other measures. Several members said the March figures already show overages in some accounts and asked how the administration will avoid further shortfalls before June 30.

Administration said more reconciliations are under way and that some overages would require an additional budget revision. Board members asked for proactive scenario planning and triggers that would halt discretionary spending if certain accounts approached critical thresholds.

The finance presentation also prompted multiple public commenters to link the board's budget questions to recent staffing and program changes, including the elimination of agency nurses earlier in the year and the temporary freezing of an early childhood special education director post (the board later announced that position had been reinstated). The board asked the administration to provide written clarifications on specific points, including a discrepancy in the reported interest figure for March, and promised to circulate the requested detail to board members after the meeting.

Ending: Trustees directed the finance office to provide a written response and to continue reconciliations; the board and administration signaled additional budget revisions may be needed before the end of the fiscal year.
","Finance staff presented March revenue and expense figures; board members and community speakers pressed for clearer reconciliations after several accounts appeared over budget and some revenues were recorded in different fund lines.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6081535,"Board approves agenda, disbursements and ratifies teacher agreement; roll calls recorded",6764,2040000,8804000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022&start=2040&end=8804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941664-db557cc3efbc11170d1941e8062f9022/thumbnail_2040000.jpg","/articles/6081535/Missouri/Board-approves-agenda-disbursements-and-ratifies-teacher-agreement-roll-calls-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081535-cad68e17ac1269a501a403333383f078/orig.mp4?Expires=1770820621&Signature=f-XJDhq5Nj9bl76LqnAOPCNqTpTIRjl5l2OO-7cNg1KMlkU-LxBh3gYON9zJSHWC6sfFBr0l~YqOL2cmanivdC6haofe96NoQsUHrDs2eAzeh0d~UJUPcZedxXnRgdt2istElx0l9e7FSmGvZt0na7dI8KjBuoou9uoDSPbgrotMDhtwtdqzMZipRLV41wwM31rWb7lfWJnvbDzpO7KmodRz6on~cKTx7WXytSeLtjNex7bCO6G8-GYjEK3z1~qxK~o3PZ2HJKLCY1ycla59wLur~Ls1CzTGNxoj7hfQQyhNsHfOGlxCQxt48eNG9k0MCRYfeCMuxtQ4K0d0Oe8DOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ferguson‑Florissant R‑II Board of Education on April 9 approved the meeting agenda, consent items, the district's March disbursements and the negotiated salary and working-conditions packet with the Ferguson Florissant Neighborhood Education Association (FFNEA).

The board president called for a motion to adopt the agenda; the motion was moved by Dr. Thurman and seconded by Ms. Dunn and passed on a roll call recorded in the meeting materials. The board then approved the consent agenda (moved by Mr. Tyson, seconded by Ms. Dunn) and later approved disbursements after a financial presentation. Dr. Paul Walker moved to approve the negotiated packet with FFNEA; Dr. Thurman seconded the motion and the board voted in favor.

Why it matters: Formal approvals set the district's immediate administrative course — authorizing payroll and operational payments and accepting a union negotiation that will affect pay and benefits for staff this fiscal year.

The board’s financial approval included a payroll and nonpayroll disbursement package for March that the administration presented during the financial report. The FFNEA ratification at the board meeting followed a separate membership ratification among union members, which the association reported passed by a 55–45 margin among its voting membership; the board’s vote approved the administration’s negotiated packet, including a step increase described by staff as having an estimated financial impact of $1,970,000.

No board member offered a recorded dissent during the motions as presented in the meeting transcript. Several votes were recorded by roll call earlier in the meeting when the agenda was adopted; those roll calls named Mr. Bailey, Mr. Tyson, the board secretary, Dr. Paul Walker, Dr. Graves, Dr. Thurman, Mr. Gates and Dr. Martin as voting in favor of the agenda.

The board did not take additional policy votes during the public session.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to adopt meeting agenda (moved: Dr. Thurman; second: Ms. Dunn): outcome approved (roll call recorded: Mr. Bailey — yes; Mr. Tyson — yes; Secretary — yes; Dr. Paul Walker — yes; Dr. Graves — yes; Dr. Thurman — yes; Mr. Gates — yes; Dr. Martin — yes).
- Motion to approve consent agenda (moved: Mr. Tyson; second: Ms. Dunn): outcome approved.
- Motion to approve March disbursements (moved: Mr. Tyson; second: Dr. Graves): outcome approved; payroll and operational totals read into the record by the administration.
- Motion to approve negotiated FFNEA packet as presented (moved: Dr. Paul Walker; second: Dr. Thurman): outcome approved.

Ending note: The board recorded the formal approvals that allow the administration to continue operating under the current budget and to implement the locally negotiated agreement with FFNEA.","At its April meeting the Ferguson‑Florissant R‑II Board approved the meeting agenda, consent items and March disbursements and voted to accept the negotiated FFNEA package; roll-call votes and a union ratification margin were reported.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board opens superintendent search with community input; April 22 first application review date

Nurses and early‑childhood special‑education director reinstated after public outcry; staff warn of safety risks

Parents and teachers contest planned school moves; board and administration say some moves already approved

Board hearing emphasizes budget shortfalls and accounting questions after March financial report

Board approves agenda, disbursements and ratifies teacher agreement; roll calls recorded