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State Board: Normandy School District accreditation to keep provisional status, for now

Entrance to Normandy High School campus
Google Maps screen capture
The gates of Normandy High School, one of the institutions in the Normandy School District.

The State Board of Education has voted unanimously to keep theNormandy School Districtin St. Louis County provisionally accredited.

Normandy may retain that status for up to a year -- however, the State Board could also choose to revoke the provisional accreditation entirely at any time during the next year.  State Board Member Peter Herschend says Normandy schools are improving, but not enough to warrant full accreditation.

“They are on exceptionally thin ice, in my mind, but they are on top of the ice…they are not underwater," Hershcend said.

Dr. Stanton Lawrence is the district’s superintendent.  He says he’s pleased with the board’s decision.

“They expressed that they have a lot of belief in the work we’re doing, that they know we’re making the right decisions, (that the right) systems (are) in place, (the right) people in place, (and) that given time (it) will make a difference," Lawrence said.

In addition, the State Board also voted unanimously to retain full accreditation for schools in University City and Winfield.  Meanwhile, Kansas City Public schools lost their accreditation today.  School officials there have two years to improve or else the state will take over its district, as it did in St. Louis three years ago. 

Marshal was a political reporter for St. Louis Public Radio until 2018.