Vol. 39, No. 19
July 1, 2005
| CONTACT: JIM MORRIS Director, Public Information 573-751-3469 |
Special Board for Wellston Schools
Will Hold First Public Meeting Today
The special administrative board appointed to govern the Wellston School District will meet today, July 1, for the first time.
The three-member panel will meet at 4:00 p.m., at the Metropolitan Education and Training (MET) Center, 6347 Plymouth Ave., in the Wellston School District. The meeting is open to the public.
Yesterday afternoon, Cole County Circuit Court Judge Richard Callahan denied the Wellston School District’s request for a temporary restraining order to prevent state education officials or the special administrative board from assuming responsibility for management of the district.
The judge also set a hearing next week so the school district can challenge the State Board of Education’s June 23 ruling that the district should remain unaccredited. The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m., July 7, in Cole County Circuit Court.
The tentative agenda for today’s meeting of the special administrative board includes providing an orientation for board members about their duties; taking steps to secure the district’s assets; authorizing the superintendent to employ staff; and setting future meeting dates.
This is the first time that state officials have taken over the governance and operation of an unaccredited school district. The Wellston district has been unaccredited since June 2003. Under state law, the district had until June 30 to regain accredited status.