Board hears first quarterly update on Francis Howell 5‑year strategic plan; work to span academics, staffing, finance and safety

The Francis Howell School District Board on Oct. 16 received the first quarterly progress report on its new five‑year strategic plan, hearing updates on instructional framework work, staff recruitment and retention, financial planning and safety initiatives.

Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Joles and pillar leaders described early work since the plan’s approval in late 2024. Leaders said the strategic plan is a five‑year initiative and that most work this year focuses on establishing structures, workgroups and measures to support larger initiatives in years two and three.

Key takeaways from the four pillars Teaching and learning: Glenn Allen Hancock Jr., pillar leader for teaching and learning, said the district’s KPI is to be in the top 5 percent of Missouri K–12 districts by DESE’s annual performance report (APR) by 2030. Hancock described an instructional framework being rolled out in secondary and early‑childhood grades, development of common formative assessments and proficiency scales, and planned work on a district “portrait of a graduate.”

People and workforce: Lisa Simpkins, chief human resources officer and pillar leader, said recruitment efforts include partnerships with local colleges, paid advertising and enhanced outreach for support‑staff positions. She said the district is at about 93 percent support‑staff fill rate and plans an employee satisfaction survey in November; staffing proposals for 2026–27 will be presented to the board in December and finalized, if needed, after budget work.

Finance and operations: Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations Amy St. John summarized the district’s financial position, reporting a 27.84 percent fund balance and noting projections that assume conservative revenue and benefit increases. She reviewed bond‑program phase 2 projects and flagged an estimated $1.8 million arbitrage payment tied to bond investment income. St. John said the district is monitoring proposed legislation, including Senate Bill 3, which could materially affect revenues.

Culture, climate and safety: Kurt Vanderpool, pillar leader for safety and climate, said the district hired a director of safety and security and three security officers, completed safety walkthroughs, and is implementing the Raptor visitor‑management system to screen visitors; he said the district will recommend a school resource officer at Harvest Ridge and form a district safety advisory group. Vanderpool also said the district is expanding focus groups (starting with parents of African American students at Francis Howell High School) and plans to present a Safe Schools curriculum for board review.

Why it matters: The quarterly report outlines foundational work intended to change districtwide practice over several years. The updates highlight near‑term actions (visitor management, training, staffing recruitment) intended to make the district safer and operationally stronger while laying groundwork for academic goals.

Board questions and next steps Board members asked for quick explanations of the Raptor system and whether staffing‑related ideas discussed by public commenters would be handled through bargaining or other processes; leaders said the visitor system is a widely used ID‑based screening tool and that specifics on pay and sick‑time rules would be addressed in labor negotiations. District leaders said another quarterly update will be presented in January and that KPI results, such as APR scores, are expected later in November when DESE releases data.

Ending Leaders said they will continue to convene pillar teams and return to the board with regular updates; the board did not take legislative action at the Oct. 16 meeting on the strategic‑plan items.