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Board rejects removing unanimous rule for emergency policy suspension; later approves policy 0510
Summary
The Wentzville board debated whether the body should require unanimous consent to suspend district policy without prior notice, rejected removing that unanimity requirement, and later approved policy 0510 as presented after other amendments failed.
The Wentzville School District Board of Education debated and voted on proposed changes to policy 0510, the board’s policy-development and suspension rules, during its Aug. 21 meeting. Board members considered removing a provision that requires a unanimous vote of all board members to suspend policy when a proposed suspension has not been described in writing or included on the agenda. Supporters of removal argued that unanimous consent could prevent the board from acting in an emergency if a member were absent; opponents and the district’s legal advisor urged caution, saying the unanimity provision is consistent with the Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA) model language and was intended for rare, extraordinary circumstances. Board legal staff explained the provision is designed to allow emergency suspensions only in truly urgent situations — for example, an unforeseen health or safety crisis — and said the existing language is similar to MSBA’s model policy. The board took a roll-call vote on a motion to remove the unanimous-vote option; that motion failed. Later in the same discussion the board considered other amendments, including a proposed addition clarifying that board members may present new policy proposals in open meeting at any time. That amendment passed in a roll call, then procedural confusion followed; a subsequent motion to require the superintendent to notify the board “as soon as possible” when administrators act outside of policy did not pass on roll call. At the end of the item the board voted to approve policy 0510 as presented. Pat, the district staff member who advised on legal matters during the meeting, said the suspension language tracks MSBA guidance and is intended for rare application. “If it’s such an emergency that we don’t even have the time to provide that notice, then we’re going to have to flush that out at the meeting,” Pat said. The board’s approvals leave policy 0510 in effect with the existing emergency-suspension language intact; the board also added clarifying language preserving members’ ability to present policy proposals in open session.
