Audio: Missouri school board group responds to attorney general’s lawsuits against schools

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is suing 45 K-12 public school districts around the state for what it calls illegally enforcing mask mandates. All of Missouri’s charter schools have mask requirements but they are not being sued. Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, cites a recent Cole County Court ruling he […]

A gavel and a name plate with the engraving Lawsuit

Missouri Attorney General sues nine additional schools to halt mask mandate policies

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt on Monday filed suit against nine more school districts to halt their illegal mask mandate policies. Districts that were sued include Bayless, Jennings, Lexington, Kirkwood, Ritenour, Hancock Place, Special School District of St. Louis, Meramec Valley, and University City. “As we’ve made clear from the beginning, the power to make […]

Unemployment Benefits Graphic

Missouri Senate hears bipartisan push to forgive mistakenly overpaid unemployment benefits

(Missouri Independent) – Tracie Engelmeyer was among hundreds of bus drivers who were furloughed in St. Louis County in March 2020 because of the pandemic. School-district authorities told them that even though drivers are contracted labor, they would qualify for unemployment benefits and urged them to apply. Engelmeyer recalled the conversation she had with a […]

Gallatin R-5 High School Website

Gallatin Board of Education accepts resignations

The Gallatin R-5 Board of Education accepted two resignations after a closed session on January 19th. The resignations were from Superintendent Secretary Lesli Lin and Special Education Teacher Vickie France. They will be effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. During the regular meeting, the board approved entering into a one-year contract to […]

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Missouri Attorney General statement on school districts continuing to enforce mask mandates, quarantine orders

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt released the following statement addressing school districts that continue to illegally enforce mask mandates and quarantine orders despite the recent Cole County ruling.     “School districts have never been given the authority by the legislature to enact public health orders like mask mandates or quarantine orders – the recent […]

Missouri businesses oppose ban on COVID vaccine mandates, argue it’s their choice

(Missouri Independent) – Proposals that would bar COVID-19 vaccine mandates and provide greater exemptions for vaccinations more broadly faced a wave of opposition from Missouri business groups Wednesday. Representatives for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Associated Industries of Missouri, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and other business associations made clear to lawmakers […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Trenton Board of Education hears evaluation reports on multiple programs at Tuesday meeting

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education heard evaluation reports on multiple programs on January 11th. Trenton Middle School Principal Daniel Gott presented the Health Services Evaluation Report, which was submitted by school nurses Tasha McCall and Tyann Cox. Gott said health office visits for the 2020-2021 school year included 33 for preschool, 4,237 for kindergarten […]

Trenton R-9 School District

Trenton R-9 Board of Education to meet on Tuesday

The Trenton R-9 Board of Education will discuss a teacher recruitment and retention program next week. The board will meet at the school district office on January 11th at 5:30 pm. Other items on the agenda include an election candidate update, a Grow Your Own Teachers Grant program, a board work session, and evaluation reports […]

Scott Fitzpatrick

Missouri schools must comply with COVID ruling to win treasurer approval of bond deals

(Missouri Independent) – If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring them to certify compliance with a recent court ruling targeting local health orders before his office will approve of the deal. Fitzpatrick detailed the decision he described as “unprecedented” in an interview Wednesday […]