[{"_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",6212305,"mediaKeyId","3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903","parentId",3685703,"title","Board hears concerns about library purchase transparency; board member requests agenda item to explore third-party material review","audioSeconds",627,"startMs",8824000,"endMs",9451000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903&start=8824&end=9451","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903/thumbnail_8824000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6212305/Missouri/Board-hears-concerns-about-library-purchase-transparency-board-member-requests-agenda-item-to-explore-third-party-material-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212305-de1e50c3aaa0edf250673100e5ba7d16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534718&Signature=nqHV9Xv~rf5mIFaZWC~bnfPaHiuaYWVs0k7Jkf5UwjoDkFqnRKjtGSDmEZ5lJiQsx0viaN2TI6Y5Dj7Tj7Um6uLkZhZTFyo7X37wpv6O0BpuBHngOB~xyvYFf~vJHFgIh76rV09fzf7LAPCesNhw2EjS51nq9icbhWgwbn-6vU4NWcLwGP1xSuLzA0SKMPlcYghM0HvrIvoyFMhFgf80bgQeOoB35VWlla8BuaoDEpA9DjOMkHg2ohm9Psfcr-HKxOitnIb2ImiJ1xTZCdkN4pCnYw4el8SKsf~RasQVORsXYLVtGKtwYxNhLKZtAT2hXnBVNA-Ro2eYaiSz8HOX-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-05T14:30:46Z","article","The Francis Howell R-III Board debated proposed changes to policy and regulation governing library purchases and public notification on June 5, with questions about ISBN reporting, timing and whether the district should engage a neutral third party to review materials.

Several board members and a policy committee participant expressed concern that proposed changes would reduce transparency — for example by not requiring the district to list new copies of books already in collection or language variants, and by delaying public posting until after purchases are completed. Other members and district staff said the current process imposed heavy administrative workloads on library staff, delaying students’ access to popular or replacement titles.

During the meeting, one board member moved to place an item on the June 19 agenda to discuss investigating the hiring of a “non‑biased third party” to review materials proposed for purchase. The board president accepted the request and the item will be scheduled for discussion on June 19; administration was not asked to produce a vendor proposal before that date. Board members also discussed narrower edits to the policy language (for instance, exempting additional copies or language translations of titles already held in district collections from the requirement to be listed) and requested that, if policy language changes, the accompanying regulation be updated to match.

Board members said they wanted to balance transparency and parental review rights with librarians’ capacity to serve students quickly; several members suggested alternatives such as adding volunteer or paid support for library operations rather than changing transparency rules. No vote on the library policy changes occurred on June 5; the discussion will continue at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","FHSD Board of Education Meeting-June 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board discussion on library materials policy (63-10) focused on transparency, ISBN reporting and administrative burden; a board member moved to add an agenda item for June 19 to discuss hiring a non‑biased third party to review books the district plans to purchase.","taxTitle","Francis Howell R-III, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",13570,"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},6212309,"Francis Howell presents FY2026 budget proposal showing 27.3% estimated ending operating fund balance; board to vote June 19",3502,4762000,8264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903&start=4762&end=8264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903/thumbnail_4762000.jpg","/articles/6212309/Missouri/Francis-Howell-presents-FY2026-budget-proposal-showing-273-estimated-ending-operating-fund-balance-board-to-vote-June-19","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212309-12250733d217a4fdc3d7c2e828084f74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534718&Signature=UwXBg6sYg0UynSSqEIvG1zYPVSecrHIWaRSyPhzSBQh89iE2jwHxGpzrXHB2-juiXdHvKa2uLvB7BZwdU4PmGzZCHYHKIsxySlgOi4ct1AUtREyo8sM5vLy-As-Oz5ZO2-lmWWO2BgqkvndF07YgCJLN15rXmYjzN4ca7PjPQlt0QrKoYVh1TTaKoJd5mWuHEnR5mlTSpSrEbKlCQGbqtLF1MXLmQ83phNzkd8uC7ElWIFMbfFdi5irK~J0KnVRnaJlonucTOR62PGgB9oMaIWlzsFujIvAMtELCdc8dG80XYeaw37oBzXkw8Z2mmGi3tLzWfkYWjFa~8mXJjTKWFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Francis Howell R-III finance staff presented the district’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget on June 5, showing an estimated ending operating fund balance of 27.3% under the current recommendations and laying out revenue assumptions, staffing requests and capital and debt plans. The board will consider final adoption at its June 19 meeting.

Chief Finance and Operations Officer Carol Embree and Director of Finance Julie Walsh reviewed assumptions including assessed-valuation growth, Hancock Amendment limits on revenue increases, a projected shift in state funding calculations toward enrollment measures, and ongoing uncertainty in interest income. Embree emphasized board policy 3114, which calls for an undesignated operating fund balance equal to 15% of prior-year operating expenditures and requires a replenishment plan if the balance drops below that level.

Key items highlighted for FY2026 included: a projected increase in local tax revenue tied to reassessment and new construction; an estimated state funding increase related to the adequacy target (referred to as a $3.2 million increase in the presentation); health insurance premium increases (administration cited a recommendation of a 14% increase to premiums, with design changes and district cost adjustments under consideration); several targeted staffing additions including three campus security officers (placement contingent on municipal agreements), an occupational therapist, registered behavioral technician paraprofessionals, an elementary English language arts content leader and a data associate; and an operating-to-capital transfer proposal reduced from prior years.

Administration reported that the district’s total expenditures are in the range of the previously discussed figure (approximately $333 million in overall expenditures shown in slides) and that, under the proposal, the district’s fund balance trajectory remains on a slow downward slope over the multi-year projection. Embree reminded the board that each 1% change in operating fund balance corresponds to roughly $2.5 million in district dollars.

Administrators flagged a handful of follow-up items: final enrollment and demographic study numbers that may arrive in July, potential updates from the state on the 160th-day or related staffing rules, and the need to finalize any fund transfers (including potential transfers from operating funds to self-insurance) after June 30 once final close-out figures are known. The board did not vote on this budget on June 5; the formal approval vote is scheduled for the June 19 business meeting.","Chief finance officers presented the proposed FY2026 budget, projecting an estimated operating fund balance of 27.3% if recommendations stand; administrators outlined revenue assumptions, health insurance impacts, staffing requests and capital and debt plans; the board will consider final approval June 19.",{"_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},6212314,"Board approves purchase of BrainPOP after heated debate over content, Robert's Rules and measurement",982,3732000,4714000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903&start=3732&end=4714","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903/thumbnail_3732000.jpg","/articles/6212314/Missouri/Board-approves-purchase-of-BrainPOP-after-heated-debate-over-content-Roberts-Rules-and-measurement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212314-10557018c5c5dfda3705725f58654d42/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534718&Signature=ZKwIQhBMMOnjkgFRAh7ZCbYj53PE3xqSOUtO6bkEQCiGA5O7zAGnZhuD7QVZhDvY8n5P0Zj8yvzZMa6nvffcpbIcaKmevQvvY4YgjdyTX78MVyzhtGqFKrQqtQSj6dHBHfRimA8SSjVc6oXkUk~hOiLowQ92NhKN~wCspR1h19c2Q1eZNn4mETf7VgewRzBt4tsOnjI~2MmxPeAaywwX9HoGOJaT~h4zpS7t9w0xSzQZbZx8vyB2Bk8QZwOxWVLk5scXZbBE8LlF9qbQD7AOddzkgp6KZqQwP4talQvEBliAo1w92ZaWmfJMBAzEXZyG-BWMLPKbUNCO~gfD6xE~Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Francis Howell R-III Board of Education on June 5 approved the district purchase of a BrainPOP subscription for the 2025–26 school year after an extended debate that focused on content moderation, how to measure effectiveness, and whether overturning last year’s decision required a higher parliamentary threshold.

The discussion began when a board member raised Robert’s Rules of Order to question whether rescinding a prior decision to discontinue the subscription would require a two-thirds vote. Another member asked for a delay to obtain a parliamentarian’s guidance; a motion to table the purchase until the next meeting was seconded but the board later voted that the motion to table did not carry. Administration and vendors had presented background materials and usage data to the board; administrators said BrainPOP updates content quarterly, offers educator feedback channels for out-of-date or inaccurate content, and that in their review they had not found a comprehensive alternative that matched BrainPOP’s breadth.

Teachers and instructional staff told the board they value BrainPOP as a tool to differentiate instruction for diverse learners and to provide short videos, assessments and lesson supports that align with state standards. Board members who opposed the purchase questioned whether the district can measure BrainPOP’s direct impact on student outcomes and expressed concern about particular videos and compliance with recent federal guidance on instructional content. Administration responded that overall student achievement can’t be traced to a single tool, but usage and integration data can be monitored and that the district would review utilization as part of regular curriculum oversight.

After debate, a motion to approve the purchase (consent item “Prior Approval #3”/purchase #3 on the meeting agenda) was moved and seconded; the board voted and the motion passed. Several board members said they will ask administration to report back on utilization measures and how the district will monitor content and alignment to standards in the coming year.","The Francis Howell Board voted to approve a paid BrainPOP subscription for 2025–26 after a lengthy discussion about content, measurement of outcomes and parliamentary procedure; an attempt to table the item failed and the purchase passed by voice vote.",{"_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},6212319,"Francis Howell board authorizes ability to designate a School Protection Officer under Missouri law",77,91000,168000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903&start=91&end=168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685703-b23835de9f7bfcef6cb32e710045d903/thumbnail_91000.jpg","/articles/6212319/Missouri/Francis-Howell-board-authorizes-ability-to-designate-a-School-Protection-Officer-under-Missouri-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6212319-b2609002c099cf59cded7066f10b1565/orig.mp4?Expires=1770534718&Signature=ToLYx32KevixS8d5O5eaWDVO2pjnWltzDSnV3x8wgVXIQcEbv~to8BTF1b5ayDD2DDSQMj5QI4NupuGxq3a7xxv-OZMChJ~zdQNg8tn0Gjv7JPmNs2HYR9Jewfl1Iw9WHaOV7sYTi5ex4qNnFjbfj1xh2UdMSvVGG~Xm2uQZoJmIeWA5~~PGkVQTJrpN7qom3DsrEch5mDGirga9mOLa5VeyWYJrOJ7uH~2iK~iQaEazHoHuTq9nxGxUboyWSt8A8WQvC7iUBAnixtdXT5b96-DEoLBI7BjwoHpZk~Ez08qRf8HWkpdmFWND9tFf-9tAJhh2rYA8TpFSi-pjFSYkew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Francis Howell R-III Board of Education on June 5 voted to allow the district to use Missouri’s School Protection Officer designation under Missouri Revised Statutes §160.665, clearing the way for the district to bring a separate vote later to designate any specific individual.

The action followed a special public hearing required by state law and a period of public comment. Deputy Superintendent Mark Delaney told the board the district is not proposing to arm teachers broadly but is seeking authority to name a singular SPO to fit a newly created director of safety and security role. Delaney said SPOs must hold a valid concealed-carry endorsement or permit, complete the additional state training, keep any firearm or self-defense device within personal control while on district property, and be registered with the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

At the hearing, district employees and teachers voiced concerns about bringing additional firearms or defensive devices into school buildings. A school counselor described incidents in which students in crisis tried to grab weapons from a school resource officer during responses to behavioral emergencies and urged the board to confirm how weapons would be secured and how the SPO would be used in elementary settings. A veteran elementary teacher and the local FAD president also urged caution, stressing staffing shortfalls and urging policy language that ties any armed designation to the duties of a specific position rather than to individuals.

Board members discussed narrowing the policy language to limit the SPO designation to a single position — the director of safety and security — and to update the job description and district policy (policy 1432 referenced during debate) with clear limits on when and how the SPO would interact with students. Deputy Superintendent Delaney and other administrators confirmed that, under state statute and district practice, any future person seeking SPO designation must be submitted separately to the board for approval and must meet the training and registration requirements laid out in statute.

After concluding the hearing by motion, Director Pushkar moved and Director Ponder seconded a motion to authorize the district to allow use of the SPO designation under Missouri statute 160.665, with any designation of a specific individual to be made by separate board votes. The motion carried.

Next steps: If the board later votes to designate a specific person, that individual would need to demonstrate the required training and concealed-carry endorsement and be registered with the Missouri Department of Public Safety; the board must approve that designation in a separate vote.","After a public hearing and citizen comments, the Francis Howell R-III Board voted to allow the district to use the School Protection Officer (SPO) designation under Missouri statute 160.665; the board will vote later on any specific individual.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board hears concerns about library purchase transparency; board member requests agenda item to explore third-party material review

Francis Howell presents FY2026 budget proposal showing 27.3% estimated ending operating fund balance; board to vote June 19

Board approves purchase of BrainPOP after heated debate over content, Robert's Rules and measurement

Francis Howell board authorizes ability to designate a School Protection Officer under Missouri law