Report of the Missouri State Board of Education Meeting (April 12, 2022)

Update on St. Louis Public Schools

In April 2019, the Board approved the termination of the Transitional School District of St. Louis and returned district governance to the elected board of education. State Board members requested that SLPS provide periodic updates on the district’s progress. Dr. Adams, SLPS superintendent, reported that the district continues to meet its goals for continuous student achievement, certificated staff, reserve fund balances, and community engagement. The SLPS shared with the Board the many socio-economic factors that SLPS staff and leadership are addressing that impact student success including healthcare, housing, family workforce, social-emotional needs, and gun violence.

Update on Normandy Schools Collaborative

In 2014, the Board authorized the establishment of the Normandy Schools Collaborative, governed by a Joint Executive Governing Board (JEGB). The Board approved a plan in April 2021 for the JEGB to work toward full accreditation that includes quarterly reports to the Board regarding the students’ academic achievement and other steps the JEGB has taken in the process toward regaining full accreditation. The current superintendent is leaving Normandy in June and a search is ongoing for filling that position. Two new members of the Board were elected on April 5th and are beginning their training.

Update on Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 6

The Missouri School Improvement Program was created in 1990. MSIP has been revised multiple times to include the review of districts’ resources, processes, and student academic achievement. MSIP 6 will include a new emphasis on continuous improvement and innovation by districts that demonstrate student growth and strategic planning included in school improvement plans. MSIP 6 will include opportunities to recognize excellence, highlight best practices, and acknowledge the ongoing challenges post-COVID. DESE staff and Board members debated the priorities of MSIP 6 and how to test the new system before holding implementation.

Update on the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission

The members of the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission have been appointed and will hold their first meeting in June 2022. The group will develop a report for the State Board suggesting strategies to be addressed to improve teacher recruitment and retention. The 18-member committee, led by Maxine Clark of Clayton, founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, includes ten business leaders, four state legislators, three members of the State Board of Education, a representative from the Governor’s staff, a DESE staff member, a local school board member, and two former state teachers of the year, Darrion Cockrell and Misty Grandel. The goals of the commission include:

• Developing strategies that address teacher recruitment and retention.
• Providing recommendations for increasing teacher pay and improving retention.
• Addressing long-term and sustainable funding for increased teacher compensation.
• Strategies to attract students to pursue a career in education.
• Investigating the factors impacting the well-being of teachers and respect for the profession.