Jefferson City News

At a recent meeting, the State Board of Education agreed to Commissioner Margie Vandeven's recommendation to return local governance to the Normandy Schools Collaborative and Riverview Gardens School District. This decision dissolves the Normandy Joint Executive Governing Board (JEGB) and the Riverview Gardens Special Administrative Board (SAB), which will now be known as local boards of education.

In April 2024, voters will elect three new board members in Normandy and two in Riverview Gardens. These newly elected members will join those elected in April 2022 and April 2023.

Commissioner Vandeven emphasized the importance of strong local governance for school district success, stating, “The Normandy and Riverview Gardens communities have expressed a strong commitment to ensuring community support and effective board governance.”

The State Board has set June 30, 2024, as the expiration date for the terms of current JEGB members Sheila Grimes Williams, Valerie Patton, Ronald L. Roberts, and SAB members Tommie Harsley III and Veronica Morrow-Reel.

Expressing gratitude for their service, Commissioner Vandeven said, “We are grateful for the dedicated service of all appointed members of the JEGB and SAB, past and present. Their commitment to improving opportunities for the students in their respective district is admirable.”

School board election filing begins on December 5, 2023, closing on December 26, 2023. Prospective candidates should contact their school district for filing details.

The transition back to local governance began in December 2021 with initial elections held in April 2022. In October 2022, further steps were taken towards this transition with additional elections occurring in April 2023.

Currently provisionally accredited, both districts provided updates at today's meeting.