On the same day that the Ferguson-Florissant school board announced its intention to move towards terminating Superintendent Art McCoy Jr., district administrators also sent out an email to school principals announcing that the district will require all students who transferred from Normandy and Riverview Gardens schools to reapply to the district.
Reapplication is not standard procedure for the statewide Student Transfer Program, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
“Our assumption would be that the student intends to return unless they notify the district otherwise,” said DESE’s spokesperson Sarah Potter. “Therefore, there would be no need to reapply.”
According to the Dec. 19 email sent to principals, the district is in the process of mailing parents of Normandy and Riverview students an “Intent to Return” application, which they must return or mail to the Admissions Office directly by Monday, Feb. 3. Parents cannot send the application back with students.
District administrators did not return The St. Louis American’s calls about these mailings.
Several principals were disappointed in the district’s move to make the transfer process more difficult for students and parents, according to district sources. They believe it’s a disruption that takes away from focusing on the kids’ immediate needs, sources said.
On Nov. 6, six of the seven school board members voted to place McCoy on administrative leave because of “differences in focus and philosophy between the board and the superintendent.” Paul Schroeder was the only board member who voted against placing McCoy on leave.
At the time, district sources said that part of the board majority’s differences with McCoy stem from the school transfer issue.
Board members have said publicly that they will honor the state law and take in transfer students coming from the unaccredited Normandy and Riverview Gardens school districts. However, transportation for these students has been a contested issue between McCoy and the board.
In August, board members expressed concerns about spending tax money on transportation for the transfer students. On Sept. 13, McCoy held a fundraising campaign on KMOX radio, asking the community to support students who need transportation. McCoy was quickly able to raise $22,000 in private funds and secure a deal with a bus company to help transfer 80 students.
In total, 430 students from unaccredited districts chose to enroll in the district; most were able to provide their own transportation.
According to the Dec. 19 public statement from board President Paul Morris, the board voted 6-1 to issue a “notice of charges” to McCoy, which states the reasons the board is considering his termination. McCoy will receive a full hearing, which will most likely be held in closed session. No date has been set for the hearing.
School board elections
Three of the board members – Morris, Vice President Chris Martinez and Secretary Robert Chabot – are up for reelection in 2014.
At the past board meetings, supporters of McCoy have been urging community members to register to vote and get involved in the upcoming April 8 school board election.
The filing for school board candidates opened on Dec. 17 and closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21. Those interested in running for the school board may pick up a “declaration of candidacy” at the District’s Administration Center at 1005 Waterford Drive. School district offices will be closed through January 6.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens, at least 24 years old, resident taxpayers of the school district and residents of Missouri for at least one year.
