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Internal audit from Francis Howell School District reveals major missteps in spending

Published

2 years ago

March 19, 2023

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ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – The Francis Howell School District released a scathing audit over the spending of tens of millions of dollars from Proposition S, a $244 million bond issue approved by voters in 2020.

The most dramatic item in the audit was how the construction of Francis Howell North High School, which was supposed to cost $86 million, ended up costing nearly $164 million. The audit stated that many of the financial decisions about the project were made without the approval of the board of education.

The audit also said the district was working from inaccurate cost estimates during the conceptualization and initial design of the project.

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Additionally, it claimed that the administration had not accurately informed the board or consistently engaged the public regarding project changes. Inconsistent communication from the district administration, according to the audit, affected board oversight.

The spending on the high school was so off-base that many other projects that the district was supposed to pay for had to be put on hold.

Ken Gontarz, the head of Francis Howell Families, has been fighting the school administration over funds for years.

“My thoughts are, we’re spending a lot of money, we want accountability, we want that money managed properly,” he said. “Well, what’s going to happen now? Inside of that $244 million, there were a lot of other projects that had to be paid for, a lot of HVAC, parking lots. What’s happening now, there are things that will not be done as a result of a lack of funding.”

Jarrett Pillsbury, a Francis Howell parent, said he prefers to give the school administration the benefit of the doubt.

“I think that it is good to have a superintendent communicating transparently and accepting accountability for stuff that happened not during his tenure,” he said. “He walked the public through that last night. I was pleased to see it.”

The school board vowed to take steps to make sure the overspending doesn’t happen again.

Many residents won’t be satisfied with anything less than a full state audit. A member of the St Charles school board and a state representative have both requested a state audit.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

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St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

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Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

Published

2 years ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

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