ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — After a heated debate Thursday night, the Francis Howell School Board voted 5-2 to remove Black history and Black literature electives from the district’s high schools.
There are currently 60 students enrolled in the Black history course and 40 students enrolled in the Black literature course.
Effective July 1, 2024, any curricula developed using standards called, “Social Justice Standards: The Teaching Tolerance Anti-Bias Framework” published by Teaching Tolerance will be rescinded, according to board documents.
The board did not address what concerns they have regarding the curriculum.
Parents, students and community members spoke on both sides of the issue during public comment.
Board members Randy Cook, Adam Bertrand, Jane Puszkar, Mark Ponder and Ron Harmon voted in favor and Janet Stiglich and Chad Lange were opposed.
There was a motion to not eliminate the electives until they could be replaced with new courses, but that was defeated by 5-2.
During discussion, board member Stiglich asked if this agenda item was brought before the district’s curriculum committee and what their thoughts were, in addition to thoughts from administration. She said the item was added to the agenda Wednesday night and said, “nobody’s had a time to look at this.”
Stiglich asked board member Cook if the removal of the electives had been discussed by the curriculum committee and he said no and added that the committee “generally addresses new curriculum.”
Treasurer Jane Puszkar explained, “The curriculum committee and the academic advisory committee both report to the board and serve for the board, not the other way around. I understand they can be an integral part of developing and/or improving curriculum, however, the board retains the right to make decisions without them.”
Stiglich replied with, “How is that collaborative? We work together as a team.”
“Our teachers work so hard to develop this stuff. Why aren’t we considering what they have to say? If we’re not even addressing it to the curriculum (committee) then why don’t we as a board, why don’t we just start writing all of the curriculum?”
Stiglich went on to say, “I understand that we’re an oversight board that we have to approve some of the curriculums that come forward. I don’t see how we can just come through and just make changes at will. I just don’t understand that.”
Cook, who voted in favor of the removal, said if this issue went before the curriculum committee, it would not change his vote.
“If they voted not to go forward with the motion that we were going to have here tonight, I would not be swayed on this item,” he said. “I value the curriculum committee certainly on a lot of things.”
Stiglich said, “If this was so important why wasn’t this brought up sooner to the curriculum committee so that our administrators, our teachers, our students have a chance to look at this and decide what’s best for them.”
Board President Adam Bertrand said he spoke to Superintendent Kenneth Roumpos and agreed to bring it to the December meeting before open enrollment which begins Jan. 15.
Stiglich said she understood the reasoning but would like to include other people in the decision.
“At the end of the day, it’s the board’s responsibility to take the curriculum and make that judgment call. We take the advice, but at the end of the day, we’re responsible for it,” Bertrand said, followed by some applause.
Stiglich replied, “Why do we pay our superintendent and our chief academic officer that kind of money when we’re going through and telling them what they can and can’t do when none of us, none of us has that experience.”
Some cheers and applause followed.
After more discussion, the board took the vote.