Until the State reconvenes in January there are many unanswered questions reguarding the transfer. What has North done to help transfer students? Will Normandy regain its accreditation? How do the students feel? (photo illustrations by cameron mccarty)
FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE As certain pieces of the transfer process come together, others have yet to be discovered
HOW WE GOT HERE Take a look back at the events that led up to the first day of schoo with the Normandy transfer students
18 FHNTODAY.COM
June 11
June 28
BY JESSICA OLSEN jessicaolsen144@gmail.com • @jessicuhhh9
After a summer of confusion and chaos, students, parents, and teachers of the FHSD and Normandy communities finally begin to settle into a newer normal-- just barely after the first month into the 2013-14 school year. The outlook on today’s situation is bright for most people, including Head Principal Andy Downs, because many are trying to focus on the positives of the Normandy transfer. “On a yearly basis, we get a lot of students who transfer here from other schools and do very well in transferring,” Downs said. “We’re very comfortable with our school and climate and the way that we do things on a daily basis.” At the higher level of the education system, while administrators are positive, they are still trying to finalize the transfer process. There are still many unanswered questions for Superintendent Pam Sloan and the rest of the administrative team. “It is nothing short of a significant challenge for our community and for our school district,” Sloan said. “For us, we’re going along a specific course of action that we’re going to work on this year. It was a distraction from our work that we do as a school district, so we’re working through it and doing the best that we can. I think the most unsettling for me is, what does the future hold? Is it just for this year? Is it this year and next year? Is it forever? We don’t know. We don’t know if the law will stand, if they’ll make changes in the law.” The administration is working hard with the information they do have. Currently, they are focusing on the bussing of transfers. Already, the team has split
July 2
The MO Supreme Court ruled Senior Matt Schneider writes Superintendent Pam Sloan that students in unaccredited and the public are informed of an article to the St. Louis Post schools could transfer. Dispatch the transfer news
09.25.13
July 3 Matt Schneider’s article on the lashback is published to the St. Louis Post Dispatch (goo.gl/uAmh9M)
July 11 Town hall meeting held by Pam Sloan to address the concerns of parents
PAGE BY MADDIE HIATT