Mark Behlmann may be hoping some of his “close white friends” will put pressure on Hazelwood school board members to appoint him to replace Chuck Woods, who resigned recently. Many see Woods’ resignation as the typical Hazelwood school board move – appointing a white candidate to fill the unexpired term of a white board member.
Behlmann, a former school board member who lost in Florissant mayoral races in 2011 and 2015, did not return the St. Louis American’s request for comment by press time.
Voters will have a chance to select Woods’ permanent replacement in the April 4 election. With Woods gone, there are four African-American school board members, Cheryl Latham, Brenda Youngblood, Desiree Whitlock and Karlton Thornton; and two Caucasians, Ann Gibbons and Richard Roberts.
Three of the seven board seats will be on the April 4 ballot. Youngblood is up for re-election; Gibbons is not running again and Woods resigned.
The Hazelwood NEA Teachers’ Union recently endorsed three candidates for the open board seats: Margo McNeil, Elizabeth (Betsy) Rachel and Marcus Allen.
Quoting from his social media post, Behlmann said: “FYI, teachers union decided not to endorse me. The interview team had three African-Americans on their group and they were told by someone on the current board that I was a racist. The teacher’s union is endorsing Becky (A nice lady who has put together the audit) but no board experience.” (The Becky he refers to is actually Elizabeth “Betsy” Rachel.)
Diane Livingston, president of the Hazelwood teachers’ union, said she did not want to comment on Behlmann’s post. However, she said the interview committee followed a “long-standing process.”
“We’ve been doing it this way for years,” Livingston said.
The audit Behlmann references is the result of concerned parents who successfully led a signature petition to get Hazelwood School District audited to see if it is wasting taxpayer dollars. The district had announced financial troubles and proposed cuts to elementary music, gym, as well as teacher and staff cuts – and parents did not take the news sitting down.
In his post, Behlmann went on to say: “Margo McNeil who is the termed out state rep (puppet to Desiree on the current board) and a black guy Marcus Allen who works for the Urban League and knows nothing about a Hazelwood Board of Education. The black negotiators would not allow a three member white slate. Obviously I cannot publicly post this information. Only spreading this around to close white friends.”
The black female board member Behlmann talks about in his posting, Desiree Whitlock, was someone he once vigorously supported.
Livingston said the union’s committee interviewed the six candidates who met certain eligibility requirements. Candidates were asked about their vision for the district, as well as questions about hiring and retaining staff, evaluating teachers, and trust between the different employee groups and the administration and school board.
“We ask about teachers, public education and students,” Livingston said. “That’s our yardstick.”
After some of Behlmann’s white friends shared his post with their black friends, it launched other social media responses. One read: “the remaining board members are smarter than that.”
One former top Hazelwood School District administrator who wants to remain anonymous responded: “Don’t believe the hype!!!!! Word also is that he plans to sue the Board, if they don’t appoint him. Now, what about the deficit, Mr. IWanttobebackontheHSDBoard?!!!! That doesn’t sound like a good steward of your taxpayers’ dollars.”
The board announced the vacancy on January 31. It accepted application letters for the appointment for the two-week period of February 1-15. The school board will announce its decision at a later date.
