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Board approves Leader in Me amendment swapping unused materials for coaching; debate centers on program value
Summary
The Wentzville R‑IV Board approved a contract amendment with Franklin Covey to convert pre‑purchased Leader in Me materials into customized coaching at no additional district cost after a divided vote.
WENTZVILLE, Mo. — The Wentzville R‑IV School District Board on Sept. 18 approved an amendment to its Leader in Me agreement that trades pre‑purchased print materials for customized coaching, a swap administrators said carries no additional cost to the district.
Director Lewis moved to pull the item for discussion and said he opposed continuing to invest district time in the program, arguing the district should focus on basic reading, writing and math. “We cannot afford to have our students scoring 50% or less on basic math, basic reading…This is another example where we're spending money that shouldn't be spent until we get our house in order,” Lewis said.
Administrators and other board members countered that the amendment does not increase district spending. A district presenter explained that Franklin Covey (Leader in Me) agreed to convert materials the district does not need into coaching support, which can include work with lighthouse teams, alignment of goals and micro‑credentialing for students. “This is just a swapping of resources that were already agreed to for coaching,” the presenter said. District staff described coaching as customizable in length and format and useful for goal alignment, PLC work and school‑level leadership teams.
After discussion, the board took a roll‑call vote. The amendment passed with a majority: Secretary Biesenthal — Aye; Doctor Wilson — Aye; Director Wei — Aye; Director Lewis — Nay; President Scott — Aye; Vice President Walsh — Aye; Director Henke — Nay. The motion carried.
Board members who voted in favor said the swap prevents the district from receiving paper materials it would not use and provides coaching resources for buildings that request them. Opponents said they worried Leader in Me diverts teacher time and does not address core academic deficits.
The item did not change the term length of the broader Leader in Me agreement, according to administration.
