The Riverview Gardens School District remains, in part, under the control of the state board, but is on a path to have a fully elected board seated by July 2024.
Based on test scores, the state board has failed to help improve student performance in the respective districts.
Most students in the two districts are not proficient in math or English, based on scores released on Monday. Students were given a new test this year to align with new academic standards, so a comparison to 2022 scores is skewed.
However, only 24% of Normandy students reached a level of proficiency in English while the state average is 60%
About 23% of Riverview Gardens students tested proficient or advanced.
Normandy’s current Joint Executive Governing Board consists of three state-appointed members and four locally elected board members. The board can now return to full local control on June 30, 2024, following the election of three new board members in April 2024.
Michael Triplett, Normandy Schools Collaborative superintendent, said the district is encouraged by the decision.
“We look forward to the hard work continuing as we move the district towards full accreditation,” he said.
“Although we do not have the preliminary data from the state’s MAP Assessments, our interim (benchmark) assessment is a close predictor of how our students will perform or have performed. We expect we will see increases in student scores in math and reading and decreases in the number of students performing in the lowest two proficiency levels.”
Ronald L. Roberts, JEGB president, said “I will join my neighbors as we head to the polls in April 2024 to select the leaders who will carry the baton on the next leg of this journey to delivering and achieving excellence in our district.”
According to a school spokesperson, Riverview Gardens is also currently in the process of being returned to a fully elected board. The state board has approved the election of two new board members in April 2024.
Board members previously elected by a state board can finish their current terms through June 30, 2024.
When the state took over the district in 2010, there were three appointed board members. It later went to five.
The state board of education then began the process of returning RGSD to local control and two additional board members were elected in April 2022. That brought the board to seven members, with two elected and the other five appointed.
In April 2023, three of the appointed seats were transitioned to elected seats. In April 2024, the final two State-appointed seats will transition to elected seats.
“Strong local governance is key to the success of any school district,” said Missouri DESE Commissioner Margie Vandeven, who announced her retirement this week.
“The Normandy and Riverview Gardens communities have expressed a strong commitment to ensuring community support and effective board governance.”
Appointed members in both districts have the option to run for an elected seat during the election periods.
Normandy schools will have a candidate forum on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at Normandy High School.
Candidates interested in running for the positions should reach out to the respective districts for more information.