Francis Howell School District board member Chad Lange rubs his forehead in frustration as another member proposes delaying approval of changes to part of the district’s curriculum during a meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024. All the proposed changes later passed.
O’FALLON, Mo. — On a June evening in 2021, Ken Gontarz walked from his front-row seat to speak in front of a school board he would later help uproot.
Sam Young, far left in front row, and Adriana Kuhn, far right in second row, who are both running for the Francis Howell School District board, speak with others in the audience during a break in a board meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
During public comments at the Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, Francis Howell school board meeting, two students and a parent addressed the school board about a proposed rule on which bathrooms transgender students (and others) can use. Video courtesy of the district; edited by Beth O'Malley
Francis Howell North High School senior Kyndall Bovinett, front, gives a speech to classmates during a walkout protest in front of the school on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. The students were protesting the school board's changes to Black studies courses.Â
Francis Howell School Board member Jane Puszkar listens during a July 20, 2023, meeting as speakers urged the board to vote against rescinding all previously passed resolutions, including an anti-racism resolution.
Kimberly Thompson, center, listens as Francis Howell School Board members on July 20, 2023, consider rescinding an anti-racism resolution. Thompson graduated from a district high school, has two children who also graduated from the district and one child who is currently enrolled.
Kimberly Thompson, center, listens as Francis Howell School Board members on July 20, 2023, consider rescinding an anti-racism resolution. Thompson graduated from a district high school, has two children who also graduated from the district and one child who is currently enrolled.
Francis Howell School District board member Chad Lange rubs his forehead in frustration as another member proposes delaying approval of changes to part of the district’s curriculum during a meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024. All the proposed changes later passed.
Francis Howell School Board member Jane Puszkar listens during a July 20, 2023, meeting as speakers urged the board to vote against rescinding all previously passed resolutions, including an anti-racism resolution.
Sam Young, far left in front row, and Adriana Kuhn, far right in second row, who are both running for the Francis Howell School District board, speak with others in the audience during a break in a board meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Francis Howell North High School senior Kyndall Bovinett, front, gives a speech to classmates during a walkout protest in front of the school on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. The students were protesting the school board's changes to Black studies courses.Â
