Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Meeting Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Francis board approves curricula, personnel and policy updates; public comments press for book-policy changes
Summary
At its April 14 meeting the St. Francis Area Schools Board approved purchases of new English and fine-arts curricula, several personnel actions, a Title IX-related policy rollback and other routine items; public comment focused on the district's book-review policy.
The St. Francis Area Schools Board of Education on April 14 approved multiple administrative actions and heard extended public comment on the district's book-review policy.
At a glance: the board approved the consent agenda and routine personnel items, authorized purchases of new English-language-arts and fine-arts curricula for next school year, approved a Title IX-related policy revision, ratified an MOU on reading-act training and approved additional employment for a board member as a middle-school track coach. The board also accepted the recommendation of a committee to deny a level-3 grievance. Public comment prior to those votes was dominated by student and community pleas to revise the book-review policy.
Key actions and outcomes
- Adoption of meeting agenda: Motion passed; vote recorded as 7-0 in favor.
- Consent agenda (7 items): Approved by roll call, 7-0.
- Approval of routine personnel items (item 4.3): Approved by motion and roll call, 7-0. Board members discussed one hire on the consent list and asked staff to provide additional information at a future meeting.
- Purchase of curricula: The board debated and ultimately approved the administration's recommendation to purchase English-language-arts materials for grades 6'12 and fine-arts materials for grades K'12 for the 2025'6 school year. Board members discussed timeline concerns, community input and the need to align materials with state standards. The administration said the purchases fall within previously approved budget authority and that most of the materials would be delivered and available for teacher study groups over the summer. Vote outcome: motion carried (final roll-call totals not specified in the transcript).
- Policy 5-22 (Title IX-related revision): Board approved returning to the prior policy after staff said a January 2025 federal court decision vacated the 2024 Title IX final rule. Vote recorded as 7-0.
- Approval of additional employment for a school board member (track and field coach): Approved by roll call; all members voted aye.
- Memorandum of understanding (MOU) under the teachers' contract for reading-act training payments: Approved 7-0.
- Level 3 grievance: The board accepted a committee's findings and denied the grievance in a roll-call resolution, 7-0.
What the board said: Board members repeatedly noted the curriculum materials had been under review for several years, that teachers and curriculum committees participated in vetting, and that some new board members requested more time to digest pricing and rubrics. Stacy Parker, director of curriculum and instruction, told the board the recommended purchases are intended to replace materials she described as about 20 years old and to align instruction with updated state standards and new expectations such as American Indian standards.
Budget and procurement notes: Administration said the district could fund the curriculum purchases within previously approved budget authorization and that some technology and curriculum purchases qualify for federal E-rate or other reimbursements. On technology staffing and procurement (discussed during the consent/routine items conversation), staff described a move toward subscription-based equipment plus vendor support to avoid large up-front capital purchases; the vendor would own the equipment while the district pays a monthly fee and seeks E-rate reimbursement.
Next steps: The board scheduled additional work sessions on superintendent goals, student-assessment data, district improvement planning, discipline and the district's technology plan. Several board members and staff said they would follow up with additional details on the technology subscription, procurement review, and clarifications requested about curriculum selections and indigenous-text additions.
Ending: The meeting closed after routine business. The book-review policy remained the subject of public concern; the board did not take immediate policy action on that item at the April 14 meeting.
