Francis Howell board formally appoints Mark Delaney as superintendent
Summary
The Francis Howell School District board unanimously voted to remove the interim title and extend a contract to Mark Delaney, citing two decades of service and steady leadership; Delaney thanked staff and emphasized student safety after recent weather disruptions.
The Francis Howell School District Board of Education voted unanimously to offer Mark Delaney the superintendent position, removing his interim title and extending a contract to lead the district.
The board president said Delaney "has functioned in a way that has added just a level of calm" and highlighted his roughly two decades of service to Francis Howell, calling him "the right person to lead us into the next chapter." The board invited Delaney forward for a photo and public recognition.
Delaney, who the board later identified as the superintendent through the 2028 school year in public remarks, thanked trustees and district staff and noted the district's long history of academic work. He also addressed operational matters, praising staff response to an unexpected early dismissal during a December snow event and reporting that 16,563 students were returned home on that day.
The board also used the meeting to preview upcoming items: a community resource fair on Dec. 13, candidate filing for three board seats (closing Dec. 30), and the facility master-plan presentation scheduled for January. District leaders cautioned about budget pressure from proposed state measures and pledged to continue implementing the strategic plan.
The board took a photo with Delaney in the hallway at the end of the meeting; no separate employment vote text or salary details were discussed during the public session.
