ROCKWOOD SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR STOPS CONTRACT APPROVAL OF A BUSINESS THAT'S NOT IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE STATE.

September 15, 2022

ROCKWOOD SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR STOPS CONTRACT APPROVAL OF A BUSINESS THAT'S NOT IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE STATE.

PLUS, A SURPRISE CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTION.

More on that below.

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Missouri Secretary of State records show Shante Duncan dba "Sisters Helping Each Other Reach A Higher Height" is administratively dissolved for failing to file needed paperwork with the state.

The technicality was enough to temporarily halt proceedings at Rockwood's school board meeting Thursday night, and ultimately prompt confusion, apparent embarrassment, and, a vote to remove this proposed contract from the agenda:

The proposed contract that was removed.

OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT THIS CONTRACT

Some of Rockwood's parents and taxpayers had questioned the contract on social media because the program referenced excludes the majority of Rockwood's students.

According to the website of "Sisters Helping Each Other Reach A Higher Height," (SHERAH), a nonprofit, creates safe spaces for women and girls of color.

The L.O.V.E. project that's referenced in the contract is a girl's empowerment program for middle and high school girls of color.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

"Rockwood: What's Going On" staff looked further into SHERAH and its connection to Rockwood.

SHERAH started getting contracts with the district in 2016, when a Rockwood administrator was on SHERAH's board of directors.

That administrator was Executive Director of Student Services, Dr. Terry Harris. Records show Harris was on SHERAH's board in 2016 and 2017.

Link to Secretary of State records

Dr. Harris decides how his Student Services department spends Rockwood's money.

Dr. Harris is also the one who submitted the SHERAH proposal that was on tonight's agenda.

Prior to tonight, two middle administrators under Dr. Harris had submitted 7 other SHERAH contracts approved by Rockwood's school board, every year since 2016, for a total of $120,350.00.

Those administrators are Brittany Hogan and Dr. Aisha Grace.

Hogan left Rockwood after claims of death threats, despite no proof surfacing of such threats. Grace is the current director of Educational Equity and Diversity, and was recently charged with a DWI.

NO BIDS

Every SHERAH contract has been approved by Rockwood with no other bids from any other company. The documents either say N/A in the bid section, or they call SHERAH a single source vendor, meaning it is the only company that provides that service.

WOULD HAVE BEEN THE 8TH CONTRACT

Had the board approved the contract Thursday night, the additional $28,000 would have brought SHERAH's total Rockwood bill to $148,350.00.

And, all of it would have likely stayed under the radar, buried as a "Consent Agenda Item."

"Consent Agenda Items" is the school board's method for handling dozens of items at once, with one vote. Items under this heading are routinely approved or rejected without ever being specifically named or discussed.

This time, board member Izzy Imig wanted discussion and raised the issue of SHERAH's standing with the state. Imig discovered the dissolution standing through her research.

After Imig shared her findings, the board voted to remove the contract from tonight's agenda.