[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6225535,"mediaKeyId","3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3","parentId",3536695,"title","Board discussion flags steep increases in contracted special‑education services; several contract amendments moved to June 10","audioSeconds",476,"startMs",5167000,"endMs",5643000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3&start=5167&end=5643","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3/thumbnail_5167000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6225535/Missouri/Board-discussion-flags-steep-increases-in-contracted-specialeducation-services-several-contract-amendments-moved-to-June-10","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225535-b802dcf5205710d8c02340c89abf2e23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770719619&Signature=jQe4W5E9j~QE0HVr30txhwRWAQdjgd-0yy8wvRkMwXqpOK4OGJRWc014TH2xgcWiHb42BUSE7~ZHdz1cYcqUBmp8iFD3KK2Dkd8Z-hOtBzf7iR3rPZ~20TMwB88rxoTRTUxNS3uyZUj38uo9QgET9B54xhGM0tMNa3AF29mS68K5LuP6Tnu0jPYjxu~d7dXNO0whJdt6VkP3NNWeHSur4QosYs1e2N-w2qZFN32V6gOTWVPHS2TcnU9OhbIpFPiO2mio9ZUqx4g-GwZTNsMec3wOHsB0385LyFpZDTZBzIw0szsTs0wot-0IqMCh1trZ1q2v-NSzj3devsygUOXJ2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T07:56:02.423Z","article","During the consent‑agenda discussion the board examined multiple contract amendments for special‑education and related therapeutic services after staff said student IEP needs and invoice timing required higher contract authority.

Administrators explained that contracts for providers of specialized services (speech/language, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility, virtual services and other licensed services) had higher-than-projected invoices because services are mandated by students’ Individualized Education Programs and because staffing shortages make it difficult to fill certain licensed roles with district employees. \"The goal is always to hire certified staff,\" an SLPS staff member said, \"but... there are certain services that are being asked [in IEPs] and oftentimes we may not be able to\" immediately fill them in-house, requiring contracted providers.

Board members noted the scale of the requested increases. For example, three contract lines discussed together showed aggregate increases that raised the combined total to approximately $12.9 million for the referenced vendor blocks; individual amendments sought large percentage increases (examples discussed in the meeting: 500k → 900k; 1.6M → 3.0M; 2.4M → 9.0M). Trustees asked how the invoices were accruing, whether amounts had already been spent versus committed, and requested more precise forecasting. Staff replied that invoice timing can lag and that some of the requested authority covers services already provided but invoiced late.

Because of the size and implications of the contract increases, the board voted to move the consent items for special‑education contracts to the June 10 regular business meeting for separate consideration and approval so members could review additional documentation prior to action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting - 5/27/25","oneSentenceSummary","Board members scrutinized large proposed increases to contracts for outsourced special‑education services, noting significant dollar increases and forecasting uncertainty; trustees voted to move these consent items for separate action at the June 10 meeting so the district can provide more details.","taxTitle","St. Louis City, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",13573,"location","Missouri","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6225540,"SLPS compliance audit finds past IT gaps; district outlines corrective steps and a cybersecurity plan",721,4278000,4999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3&start=4278&end=4999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3/thumbnail_4278000.jpg","/articles/6225540/Missouri/SLPS-compliance-audit-finds-past-IT-gaps-district-outlines-corrective-steps-and-a-cybersecurity-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225540-d47b4dd1d23c81c5d6302f60e91dc033/orig.mp4?Expires=1770719619&Signature=evEC3Xrrje-h4-hF4WoDsxzdudMjpmh9S-HkPRNG36Ctj~qgYhgjmo~rRROUTuHUdjobO0kP7iyGfS0L8BxvXu9LIQchp8up9ySSRpi0VCocqmgbtG42fXkCuV2fEP3wptozulYkt5rmFJOd2EbQ7dgiWbJtWHBBxL1gO-U8zXf0cKV4wPnymDpXdXM2b6qZ~eWezkXOy33VvJ4tVRv5Htj1xWJDdatsi6IGjEnkdJlygjSC7lKEwTtsQpIG0ZYV5Z2~LvCt5p3aPBEdeuNwUIHzrb0o9aKrMwwjTNlGHbOcGL606I27Bj-lpA9RQxvlKJvGiIf1x2UjOPX-9loFFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The board received an update on two technology audits (a 2020 cybersecurity assessment and a 2022 year‑end audit) and the district’s response to recommendations, including changes to password policy, endpoint management, system‑imaging and inventory controls.

Dr. Hubbard, the district’s director of compliance and internal audit, summarized recurring observations from external auditors: password rules that did not meet contemporary best practices, administrator passwords that had been shared, inconsistent antivirus updates, incomplete group‑policy hardening, out‑of‑date systems and gaps in documentation for devices issued under the Emergency Connectivity Fund. The auditors also found lapses in retaining signed equipment-use agreements for some devices.

District technology staff reported a series of corrective steps taken or underway: stronger password requirements and periodic change intervals; use of Intune to manage and randomize local administrator passwords; deployment of Sophos for endpoint protection; migration or upgrade of unsupported Windows 10 systems to Windows 11 or cloud services; weekly vulnerability scans; and work toward an inventory‑based software assessment database. The district said two items remain pending but that many actions are complete or ongoing.

Miss Mitchell and other technology leaders said the district is developing a comprehensive cybersecurity plan aligned to U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidance and expects to publish a more detailed plan and timeline in July 2025. \"We are in the midst of that work,\" Mitchell said. Board members asked for specifics about which information‑security policies would be published and for assurances about ongoing vulnerability scanning and contract controls.

On older Emergency Connectivity Fund devices, the district said devices were at end of life, reimbursement requests had been completed and device‑tracking systems (MOSAIC/Absolute/Mosul referenced in the presentation) are now in use to ensure devices are assigned and tracked.","A review of 2020 and 2022 technology audits showed prior gaps in password policy, endpoint management, unsupported operating systems and documentation for emergency‑connectivity devices; the district described ongoing corrective actions and said it will publish a comprehensive cybersecurity plan in mid‑2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6225545,"SLPS CFO presents FY26 proposed budget showing projected use of fund balance; board discussion on grants and staffing costs",279,3245000,3524000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3&start=3245&end=3524","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3/thumbnail_3245000.jpg","/articles/6225545/Missouri/SLPS-CFO-presents-FY26-proposed-budget-showing-projected-use-of-fund-balance-board-discussion-on-grants-and-staffing-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225545-23b5ab93fc88ccc68167cb51ce8a59c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770719619&Signature=UL~KP~W~v-4AJguVFEi~xVA~eRcq9r5FeLcxn1Mo2cezwT7ilLUqOwgMZXC1keEbFt83hZQCNlCCsmtmbrjUxu5-9twcpFFZbkFnk6rPWI6udAyn-wbGX04VfVi4xgP0TTJdONyKf7WMCdApXjJvbrmhXxcmydstV1Nq6PLxlJgV67MRCeFa2RLAYE7wTuCYVq5l-iaDFjBkJotmobC8CmZ8Yex7aUfQCnkRU~EMc0vjW4Cy9R3Z2f8sOW849w3mlKCNvnT5U0fi7Il2ZKn896TiZboRgOpy0zFkRN6hirlYb4ytBHW1ll2Chxr1th08wWZbiEX8JQ-LZGuhBJHpBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kimberly Johnson, chief financial officer, presented the St. Louis Public Schools proposed fiscal year 2026 budget to the board on May 20, laying out revenue, expenditure and fund‑balance projections and explaining how the district recorded recent bond proceeds.

Johnson told the board that FY24 actuals show an increase in fund balance and that the district recorded $25 million in bond proceeds in FY25 because accounting rules require recording revenue in the year received even though planned spending may occur in FY26. She warned the board the proposed unrestricted FY26 budget projects revenues of about $400 million and expenditures of about $433 million, meaning projected use of fund balance to cover an estimated shortfall; staff presented cost‑reduction steps including eliminating long‑vacant positions and reviewing purchase services.

On grants and revenue, Johnson said local and grant revenues are estimates that will be refined when official allocations are known in the fall: \"The amounts that you're seeing for FY26 are estimates — we won't know the true allocation until the September–October time frame,\" she said. She also flagged a projected $6 million decrease in state revenue tied to the basic funding formula and charter-related adjustments.

Board members asked for public sharing of written questions and answers the administration had provided in advance; a governance‑committee referral was proposed to determine release. Members also raised concerns about long‑term staffing plans, especially for special education, with Johnson and other administrators reiterating the district's intention to hire certified staff where possible and to use contracted providers when state‑mandated IEP services require immediate placement.

Johnson described Prop S accounting: $25 million of bond proceeds were recorded in FY25 and are budgeted for spending in FY26, with projected interest earnings shown in FY26. She summarized major expenditure categories and noted efforts to reduce projected FY26 spending from FY25 levels by revising staffing and purchase-service plans.

No formal board vote on the FY26 budget occurred at the meeting; administrators offered to return additional information and to route specific document‑sharing questions through governance and legal review before wider publication.","Chief Financial Officer Kimberly Johnson presented the district's proposed FY26 budget, showing projected expenditures above revenues and the recorded Prop S bond receipt; board members pressed for more information about grants, special education costs and public Q&A accessibility.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6225549,"SLPS, City and National Guard agree to open school sites as tornado debris hubs; board OKs drafting MOU",1804,2207000,4011000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3&start=2207&end=4011","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3536695-1cf949ca3b38a9e91648b8072a8499d3/thumbnail_2207000.jpg","/articles/6225549/Missouri/SLPS-City-and-National-Guard-agree-to-open-school-sites-as-tornado-debris-hubs-board-OKs-drafting-MOU","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6225549-8dffd5c7537f158d31a4d7f37043499e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770719619&Signature=FI-tCF-brtHemNZoVRGJUXJQE4BLdbpCHQs5x58GKeRzs-rJkfPJ0swUjGezF~0ZghpyZ0WYm9JLVq~Lz~Ryu4MSvM3q9Hk5aAlIEukfh3c~nUtl7~~1PfmOMLJlRAfdwENphg3I~Qw2F7FZiElmjpgREvwKx3lhynwdtQ1hxTD1WMrLWL8D8oUvBadfG1jbmHAJGYbX22xcwtrtSjIumeC-OAKCReob9YOwm1nzz~NbVb20403DZ39kgD3D75OsWbqOeJFyTG3gJOGwJu6mWopXPO56PerHedShWpdMvXzgd~w8amvGfSiZ9ObwZmqGd5U~k4LjuPcyF8mz27PnMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On May 20 the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) board heard details of emergency stabilization and debris-removal plans after a tornado tore through parts of the city on May 16, damaging school buildings and private properties.

SLPS staff said they have assessed about 28 buildings and moved students and staff from unsafe locations. \"We've assessed damages,\" SLPS staff reported, and Mr. Watson, identified in the meeting as the district operations lead, said the district has spent roughly $1,100,000 on immediate stabilization and estimates total near-term stabilization costs around $1,800,000 including contingency.

City representatives described a short-term National Guard-supported debris program that would use vacant school sites as neighborhood drop-off hubs. Casey Milberg, policy staff in Mayor Spencer's office, told the board the Guard's role is limited and humanitarian: \"The Guard's role is to assist the city. The Guard support is currently planned for a 2 week operating period,\" and she stressed \"there will be no weapons, no armed National Guard members as part of this.\" The sites identified for debris collection included vacant school properties at Marshall, Turner, Farragut and DeAndre's (addresses discussed in the meeting). City staff said gates would be wrapped with co‑branding, sites would operate roughly 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the operation would include environmental oversight by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Officials described staffing and equipment for the hubs: 41 National Guard engineering personnel, city staff and health department employees on site to distribute protective equipment and information, one front loader and two dump trucks per site, sanitation facilities, and nightly site security with unarmed safety officers and directed patrols from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The city said debris would be removed from the sites multiple times daily to avoid on-site accumulation.

Board members raised community concerns including how salvageable materials—especially brick—would be handled and protected. City staff said they were working to identify local brick-preservation options (including a facility in the Mark Twain Industrial Complex area) and to coordinate with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on environmental handling and potential on-site remediation after operations conclude. City representatives also described a parallel, contractor-led “grid-by-grid” debris pick-up program coordinated with community partners.

After discussion, the board voted to authorize staff to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize collaboration with the city on tornado recovery and debris collection. Board member Brown made the motion to draft the MOU; the motion was approved by roll call vote (see actions).","After a May 16 tornado damaged multiple St. Louis Public Schools buildings and homes, city and district officials outlined a debris-collection plan using vacant school sites, backed by a two-week National Guard operation; the board voted to draft a memorandum of understanding to formalize collaboration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board discussion flags steep increases in contracted special‑education services; several contract amendments moved to June 10

SLPS compliance audit finds past IT gaps; district outlines corrective steps and a cybersecurity plan

SLPS CFO presents FY26 proposed budget showing projected use of fund balance; board discussion on grants and staffing costs

SLPS, City and National Guard agree to open school sites as tornado debris hubs; board OKs drafting MOU