CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
Vol. 43, No. 44
May 29, 2009
State Board of Education Postpones Intervention in Riverview Gardens
The State Board of Education voted yesterday to postpone possible state intervention in the Riverview Gardens School District (St. Louis County) for one year. The board met yesterday and today in Jefferson City.
In June of 2007, the State Board of Education voted to classify the Riverview Gardens district as unaccredited. Under state law (Section 168.021) unaccredited school districts have two years to regain accreditation, or else they “lapse” and face state intervention. Riverview Gardens was facing the prospect of lapsing as of June 30.
As a result of the decision by the board, the school district will continue in its current status – unaccredited – until June 30, 2010.
“The board, the administration and the faculty of Riverview Gardens are working hard to address the district’s academic and financial challenges. They are committed to doing what is needed to regain accreditation, and they have been very receptive to our efforts to assist. We believe the most constructive approach is to allow the district to continue its improvement efforts.
“The district has a long way to go to regain accreditation. We will be monitoring their progress closely, and the district must stay focused on its accountability goals,” said Stan Johnson, assistant commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.