Francis Howell School District

A spokesperson for Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s office confirmed the office will be reviewing the nearly $230,000 payout to former Superintendent Mike Dominguez, who resigned from the district weeks before the start of the school year.

School board President Steven Blair said in a statement that Mike Dominguez had resigned “to pursue opportunities that better align with the current needs of his family."

Board member Jane Puszkar asked a consultant to review the district’s library books for age-inappropriate content without school board or district approval, according to a letter sent by the district’s former superintendent.

The school board races signal a desire from voters to move past some of the culture war issues the districts have faced in recent years.

Leadership changes in two St. Louis-area districts come as they navigate post-pandemic relief budget shortfalls and increased scrutiny over curriculum.

Francis Howell School District officials did not inform the Board of Education about the growing cost of the new Francis Howell North High School, according to a new state audit.

Kenneth Roumpos is the new superintendent of the Kirkwood School District, and Melissa Schneider will be Parkway School District’s superintendent starting in the fall.

The school board voted 5-2 in favor of the policy to allow hate speech, false science and false historical claims if a book is “educationally suitable.” But books will still be banned for containing drug use, descriptions of crime and sexual conduct.

If the policy amendment passes, "hate speech, false science, and false historical claims” would be allowed in educational materials — but books would still be banned for containing drug use, descriptions of crime and sexual conduct.

The new policy bans books that include excessive violence, drug use and sexual content. Another measure aims to keep students and teachers from talking about gender identity in the classroom.