Francis Howell Board Makes Quick Work of Lengthy Agenda

The Francis Howell Board of Education wasted little time .

Clocking in at a crisp 46 minutes, the members of the Board worked quickly to get things done at the second-to-last meeting of the 2010-11 school year. With very little discussion and unanimous 6-0 votes—Board Director Mark Lafata was absent—the Board tackled the lengthy agenda and began making plans for the next school year. The Board approved contracts, transportation routes and a calendar for next season.

After a snowy winter this school year, Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Steven Griggs offered up a proposed calendar with 10 extra snow days instead of six. This year, Franci Howell was forced to scramble when the snow day count pushed past six. Scheduled days off became days of classes and breaks became shorter. That won’t be the case in 2011-12.

Griggs joked that he hopes the District won’t have to use the four extra days built into the schedule, but at least it will make planning easier should St. Charles County get his by snow again in the winter months. The Board agreed with the beefier schedule and approved it with a 6-0 vote.

The 2011-12 school year for all Francis Howell schools will start Aug. 8. May 23, 2012 will be the last day for students. If the District uses all 10 snow days, the year will end June 1, 2012 for all students.

The Board also approved five service contracts for next year. The Board agreed to deals with the following groups:

Excel Sports and Physical Therapy, which provides certified athletic trainers at selected activities.

• Express Medical Transporters, Inc., Missouri's largest transportation company specializing in non-emergency transportation
• First Student, Inc., which provides transportation for the District.
• Sentry Security Agency, Inc., which provides security guards at the schools during the day and for special events.
• Sodexho, Inc., which supplies meals for students.

the Code of Conduct was a big topic for discussion. Thursday night, the Board approved the proposed Code with a 6-0 vote.

Superintendant Dr. Pam Sloan made it clear that the Code is a living document that is always up for debate and changes. She said the Code would go to the Strategic Planning Committee to see if anything else needs to be ironed out.

• The Board authorized the sale of surplus library books and surplus textbooks.
• The Board also approved the destruction of outdated equipment.
• Also approved: The Final Transportation Routes, the Transportation Annual Review, the Food Service Annual Review and the Wellness Program Review.
• Becky-David Elementary was given three SmartBoards by the PTO. The Warren Elementary PTO gave the school four Smartboards. Both donations were approved by a 6-0 vote.
• All purchases more than $7,500 were approved, also by a 6-0 vote. 

The next Board of Education meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on June 16.