Ferguson‑Florissant board reorganizes, swears in two members and elects officers

At its reorganization meeting, the Ferguson‑Florissant R‑II Board of Education on April 2025 swore in two newly elected board members, elected officers for the coming year and approved routine organizational business, including reaffirming ethics and conflict-of-interest rules and authorizing continued use of facsimile signatures until new signatures are filed.

The meeting opened with the formal adoption of the agenda and approval of the minutes from the April 9, 2025 meeting. The board then presented departing board member Ms. Dunn with flowers and remarks before administering the oath of office to newly elected members Sheila Pah Walker and Vivian Mansory, who will each serve three‑year terms, the board said during the meeting. Newly sworn members repeated the oath: "I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Missouri and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of school director ... to the best of my ability, according to law."

The reorganization continued with nominations and votes for board officers. Dr. Thurman was nominated and elected board president by voice vote. Mr. Terry Tyson was nominated and elected vice president; Jamaal Bailey was nominated and chosen for assistant secretary; other customary officer assignments followed administrative practice and were approved by the board.

The board also addressed several required policy actions. Members reaffirmed the district's code of ethics and readopted the board member conflict-of-interest and financial disclosure policy (policy 4036) to comply with Missouri law chapter 105. The board authorized continued use of existing facsimile signatures for checks, contracts and other documents until the new president's and treasurer's manual signatures are filed with the Missouri Secretary of State.

Board staff announced organizational details related to the recent school election: candidate filing closed Dec. 31, 2024; an election was held on April 8 under Missouri Statute Section 115.124 because more candidates filed than positions available; and the board reported that Sheila Pah Walker received 32% of the vote and John Flick received 16.8%, per the board's announcement. The newly sworn members were identified as Sheila Pah Walker and Vivian Mansory and will serve three‑year terms.

The board set regular meeting dates and selected delegates to the Missouri School Boards' Association (MSBA). Dr. Graves and Mr. Jamaal Bailey were named delegates, with Dr. Kevin M. Martin named as an alternate. The meeting concluded after routine closing business and an adjournment motion that passed by voice vote.

"Perception is not reality," said Ms. Dunn, the departing member, during brief farewell remarks; she added, "I leave tonight feeling really good about that." The board's actions at the reorganization meeting were procedural and organizational and did not adopt new instructional or budgetary policies.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt agenda — Moved by Mr. Tyson; second by Ms. Dunn. Roll-call vote recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved. - Approve minutes (04/09/2025) — Moved by Dr. Powell Walker; second by Dr. Thurman. Roll-call vote recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved. - Administer oath and swear in Sheila Pah Walker and Vivian Mansory — Oath administered; no roll-call vote required. Outcome: sworn in to three‑year terms. - Elect board president (Dr. Thurman) — Nomination and voice vote; outcome: elected. - Elect vice president (Mr. Terry Tyson) — Nomination and voice vote; outcome: elected. - Appoint assistant secretary (Jamaal Bailey) and other officer assignments — Nominations and voice votes; outcome: approved. - Authorize continued use of facsimile signatures until manual signatures filed — Motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved. - Reaffirm code of ethics — Motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved. - Readopt board member conflict-of-interest and financial disclosure policy (policy 4036) — Moved by Dr. Kevin M. Martin; second by Mr. Tyson. Roll-call vote recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved. - Adopt regular meeting dates / continue policy 4051 — Motion presented and approved by the board. Outcome: approved. - Select MSBA delegates (Dr. Graves and Mr. Jamaal Bailey) and alternate (Dr. Kevin M. Martin) — Nominations and voice votes; outcome: approved.

Why it matters

Reorganization meetings set the board's leadership and procedural rules for the coming year. Election of officers determines who chairs meetings and represents the district to external bodies such as MSBA; readopting ethics and disclosure policies ensures statutory compliance; and authorization of facsimile signatures preserves continuity for district business until updated signatures are filed with state authorities.

What the board said

Ms. Dunn, a departing board member invited to speak, thanked the community and board colleagues and urged continued community engagement; she stated, "Perception is not reality," and added that she was leaving "feeling really good about that." President-elect Dr. Thurman thanked outgoing President Dr. Kevin M. Martin for his service.

Additional notes and context

- The board announced that candidate filing closed Dec. 31, 2024 and that an election was held April 8 under Missouri Statute Section 115.124 because more candidates filed than positions available. - The notice for the meeting was posted April 14, 2025 at the administration center and distributed as required by state public meeting law, according to the board's remarks at the meeting. - The meeting included a short presentation of district programs and student remarks earlier in the agenda; those ceremonial and informational items did not result in formal board policy changes at the reorganization meeting.

Ending

The board adjourned after completing the organizational items; routine operational matters will return to the consent and regular agendas at upcoming board meetings.