State Education Board puts Normandy Schools on notice for losing its accredidation

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Intro:	A day after the Normandy School District lost its accreditation, a top district official says community outreach is essential to recovery.
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Wrap: This decision comes after the Missouri State Education board said the school is meeting only five out of the 14 standards required for accreditation. A school must meet at least nine to receive full accreditation.

Normandy District Chief Administrative Officer Phillip Boyd says the student population of the district has close to a 95 percent poverty rate, which presents many social and academic barriers for students and teachers to overcome.

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Description: "There's no barrier regarding children coming into school from poverty that says they can't learn. What it says is we should all do what we can both internal, in the school system or external to the school system to address some of the issues that hold some of our children back."

State education spokeswoman Sarah Potter says the district has two years to implement a drastic turnaround to avoid state takeover.

From the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	A state education spokeswoman says the decision to remove accreditation from the Normandy School District is an act to provoke urgency.
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Wrap: The district met only five of the 14 standards the board requires for state accredidation. In order to qualify for full accreditation, a school must meet nine of the standards.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Communications Coordinator Sarah Potter says the board took the action to give the district a "laser-like" focus in changing its direction.

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Description: "Unfortunately we're seeing that the district does not have a good system in place in order to turn their schools around. All of their buildings are some of the lowest performing in the state."

Normandy District Chief Administrative Officer Phillip Boyd says the board's decision amped up the urgency the district already felt.

From the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.

Intro:	The Normandy School District has lost its accreditation, but a teacher's union says instructors aren't entirely at fault.
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Wrap: Currently the district, located in St. Louis County, meets only five of the 14 standards the state requires for accreditation. Schools must meet at least nine of these standards for full accredidation.

Director of the Missouri National Education Association Ann Jarrett says teacher performance is not the most important factor when it comes to student learning.

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Description: "Outside influences and home life and community resources and economic issues play a big role in how well students are able to concentrate and do in their school work."

A Normandy District administrator says the community demographics present social and academic barriers. But cooperation between the community and the school is imperative in addressing these issues.

From the state capitol, I'm Alex Mallin.