Difficult and disappointing | Kirkwood school leaders respond to independent investigation concerning sex abuse reporting and culture
An independent investigation into the Kirkwood School District found years of an imbalance of power, where students who reported abuse often went ignored. Author: Michelle Li Updated: 11:40 PM CDT June 28, 2021
KIRKWOOD, Mo. The last review of an independent report by Encompass Resolution presented an assessment of the Kirkwood School District s culture and climate to the school board Monday night. The independent firm looked at thousands of surveys, hundreds of social media pages and talked to sexual abuse victims and survivors about their time in the district.
Report planned on Missouri district s handling of sex abuse
May 28, 2021
FacebookTwitterEmail
KIRKWOOD, Mo. (AP) A report is expected next month on a suburban St. Louis school district’s handling of past sexual abuse and misconduct complaints.
Investigators with Kansas City-based Encompass Resolution have reviewed hundreds of pages of documents, including previous investigative files and Facebook posts, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Friday. The firm will present those findings on June 28 to the Kirkwood School Board.
The investigation using the outside firm was launched after a former teacher, Christopher Stephens, was indicted last September on charges of statutory sodomy, statutory rape and sexual assault.
Incumbents Jean Marie Andrews and Angie Bernardi triumphed in the race for the Kirkwood School District Board of Education.Â
In Tuesdayâs election, Bernardi took the lead with 5,772 votes or 38.3% of the vote. Andrews earned 5,253 votes or 34.9% of the vote. Newcomer Allen McCoy fell short with 4,041 votes or 26.8% of the vote.
Andrews
The election earned Andrews her second term on the board, on which she currently serves as vice president. She holds degrees in early childhood education and special education, and became a stay-at-home mom after teaching for 10 years at Robinson Elementary. All three of her children attend Keysor Elementary. Her top priority is the academic success of all groups of students, from those who excel to those who need intense support inside or outside of the classroom.Â