MVBT school board meets as petition circulates
Tue, 03/25/2025 - 2:03pm
admin
A petition from a group of concerned parents is circulating regarding the Mountain View-Birch Tree School District. The outcry centers on the administration/principals of the district and lack of communication on critical issues, "such as the reported presence of a sex offender on school grounds". The group, who has requested anonymity and posted the petition under the name, "Concerned Parents" urges the district to, "reconsider the current leadership structure and commit to improving communication within the district."
The petition has been circulated by the same group of parents who released an open letter to the district calling for Superintendent Lanna Tharp's resignation, confirms the group leadership.
During the school board's regular meeting held on Thursday, March 20, there was an item on the agenda alluding to guest comments on these issues, "District visitor policy." That person, however, sent an email to the district stating they would not be in attendance. The meeting, which had an unusually high amount of guests in the audience, continued with the agenda. The meeting wrapped in under thirty minutes. None of the other guests present spoke during the "guest comments" portion of the meeting.
The board approved the consent agenda including minutes of the previous meeting, approval of payment of monthly bills and monthly administrative/principal reports.
Shelly Mantel, board member and the MSBA Board Delegate, gave a briefing on issues related to MSBA as she was in attendance at a national convention. The meeting swiftly moved on to new business including items extracted from the consent agenda, exceptions to monthly bills (payments related to individuals related to board members), monthly financial report and Policy KK: Visitors to District Property and Events. This particular item was one that several people were eager to hear about, however, the person who was on the agenda to speak sent an email that they would not be in attendance. Without that person there to speak, the board moved on to wrapping up the meeting with administrators reports, discussion on upcoming student trips and student time.
The board then entered into closed session citing RSMO 610.021 (1) Legal actions; (3) Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees; (9) Preparation, including any discussions or work product, on behalf of a public governmental body or its representatives for negotiations with employee groups; (13) Individually identifiable personnel records, performance ratings or records pertaining to employees or applicants for employment; and (14) Records which are protected from disclosure by law.
On Tuesday, the district announced parents will soon receive a letter detailing the, "new leadership plan" for the elementary buildings next year.
Please look to next week's issue for the minutes/votes of this closed session meeting as The News follows this on-going situation.