Community member tells Mehlville R-IX board concerns about new before‑/after‑school provider
Summary
A community speaker criticized the district's switch from a long‑standing nonprofit before/after‑school provider to a newly acquired for‑profit company, alleging poor safety inspections, negative reviews and inadequate parent consultation; the board heard the statement but offered no detailed response on record.
During the governance portion of the Mehlville R‑IX board meeting, a community member delivered a five‑minute group statement strongly criticizing the district’s decision to end a long relationship with a nonprofit before‑ and after‑school care provider and award services to a newly contracted company.
The speaker alleged the new provider was purchased in 2023 by a Canadian private equity firm, characterized the replacement as a shift from a nonprofit to a for‑profit operator, and cited online reviews and inspection concerns in arguing the company is ill suited to serve Mehlville children. The speaker also said the district did not consult parents before making the change and asserted that known staff would lose jobs because of the switch. The statement referenced a 2024 news account alleging staff misconduct at the provider in another jurisdiction and claimed public inspection records showed compliance issues, including staff‑to‑student ratio and background‑check violations.
The board did not provide a formal rebuttal or a detailed response during the public comment period; the meeting record shows the chair acknowledged the speaker and proceeded to audit and budget business. No board motion, staff report, or vote addressing the cited vendor selection was taken at the meeting.
Why it matters: Contracting decisions for before‑ and after‑school care affect families’ childcare options, staff employment and student safety; allegations about vendor compliance and transparency may prompt requests for further review or a staff report at a future meeting.
What’s next: The board is scheduled to continue governance business in future meetings and has facility steering and strategic plan meetings planned; community members may request follow‑up or additional agenda placement if they seek a formal review.
