Normandy superintendent makes pitch for district's schools

But he said he understood if parents wanted to transfer their students to the Francis Howell School District in St. Charles County.

“We understand in our hearts why,” he said. “But in our heads, we hope you will give us a chance to prove we will be different.”

More than 200 people packed a room at a Lucas Crossing Elementary. The mood in the room was mostly positive, and applause occasionally broke out as McNichols explained the board’s choice of Francis Howell as a transfer district and the changes administrators plan to make at Normandy.

The Missouri Supreme Court upheld last month a state law that allows children in unaccredited school districts — such as Normandy and Riverview Gardens — to transfer to other districts in the same or adjoining counties. The unaccredited systems must foot tuition bills and provide transportation to one district.

Normandy chose Francis Howell to bus its students to because that district was one of the closest ones accredited “with distinction” and served a similar percentage of special education students as Normandy, McNichols said. Also the tuition cost there is lower than some surrounding districts. He gave an example that the $21,000 a year spent per student in Clayton schools would educate three students at Normandy.

Normandy considered busing students to St. Louis or Parkway schools, but students might have to attend school in the far ends of those districts, he said.

“I didn’t want our kids sitting in traffic, trying to get to Parkway South.”

Some parents from Francis Howell spoke up at the meeting and welcomed the Normandy families. They mentioned a contentious meeting at Francis Howell earlier this month at which some parents raised concerns about safety and lower test scores.

“There’s a lot of people in Francis Howell who don’t feel the way you see on the news,” Francis Howell parent Carla Yungermann said. “We’re happy to have your kids in our buildings.”

Normandy parent Harriet Gladney said she would keep her 9-year-old daughter at Normandy.

“I didn’t choose Francis Howell because I feared for my child’s life when I saw that on the news,” she said. She did express concerns about Normandy schools’ not giving enough homework or having sufficient textbooks.

McNichols outlined improvements the district plans to make, including adding security cameras in the schools, enhanced technology such as laptops and iPads, and improved science and technology programs.

“We’re here tonight, we’re listening, and we want to do better,” he said. “We will do better.”