HAZELWOOD 鈥 Hazelwood School District is considering whether it should do what no other school district in 51黑料 County has done 鈥 run its own special education department.
kAms:DEC:4E @77:4:2=D 962C5 2 AC6D6?E2E:@? @? H92E :?\9@FD6 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? D6CG:46D 4@F=5 :?G@=G6 5FC:?8 2 D49@@= 3@2C5 >66E:?8 @? $6AE a]k^Am
kAm$F49 2 >@G6 鈥 H9:49 5:DEC:4E =6256CD DEC6DD65 H2D ?@E 2 A@DD:3:=:EJ 7@C E96 ?62C 7FEFC6 鈥 H@F=5 C6AC6D6?E 2 D:8?:7:42?E D9:7E 2H2J 7C@> E96 F?:BF6 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? DJDE6> $E] {@F:D r@F?EJ 92D FD65 7@C E96 A2DE f_ J62CD]k^Am
kAmxE H@F=5 C6BF:C6 2 3C62< 7C@> $A64:2= $49@@= s:DEC:4E @7 $E] {@F:D r@F?EJ[ E96 =2C86DE AC@G:56C @7 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? :? E96 DE2E6[ H9:49 D6CG:46D E96 4@F?EJ鈥橠 aa D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am
kAm}@ 5:DEC:4E :? E96 4@F?EJ 92D DE6AA65 2H2J 7C@> $A64:2= $49@@= s:DEC:4E[ @C $$s[ D:?46 :E 7@C>65 :? `hdf]k^Am
kAm$$s H2D 6DE23=:D965 G:2 =68:D=2E:@? 2E E96 E:>6] xE :D 7F?565[ :? A2CE[ 3J 2 G@E6C\2AAC@G65 E2I] r92?8:?8 9@H D6CG:46D 2C6 AC@G:565 :? w2K6=H@@5 D49@@=D H@F=5 C6BF:C6 2 492?86 E@ DE2E6 =2H 2?5 2AAC@G2= E9C@F89 2 4@F?EJH:56 G@E6] xE :D F?4=62C H96E96C 2 492?86 3J E96 {68:D=2EFC6 H@F=5 :?4=F56 2 C6A62= @7 E96 $$s E2I @? w2K6=H@@5 C6D:56?ED @C H96E96C :E 4@F=5 36 C65:C64E65 E@ E96 5:DEC:4E]k^Am
kAmw2K6=H@@5鈥橠 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8@]3@2C55@4D]4@>^>@^92K6=H@@5^q@2C5]?D7^7:=6D^s{d|vcdq`tsf^S7:=6^h]a]a_adQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmAC6D6?E2E:@?k^2m 4@G6C65 E96 7:?2?4:2= 2?5 =@8:DE:42= 4@?D:56C2E:@?D @7 =62G:?8 $$s 2?5 @A6C2E:?8 :ED @H? DA64:2= 65F42E:@? 56A2CE>6?E]k^Am
kAms:DEC:4E =6256CD H:== ?@E D2J H92E AC@>AE65 E96 5:D4FDD:@?]k^Am
kAmp w2K6=H@@5 DA@<6DA6CD@? 92D 56?:65 @C :8?@C65 :?E6CG:6H C6BF6DED] p AF3=:4 C64@C5D C6BF6DE 7@C :?E6C?2= 4@>>F?:42E:@?D C6EFC?65 @?=J 2 D=:56D9@H AC6D6?E2E:@? 7C@> E96 3@2C5 >66E:?8[ 2?5 =24<65 2 >6>@ 7C@> $FA6C:?E6?56?E }6EE:6 r@==:?D\w2CE @? E96 AC@A@D2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8@]3@2C55@4D]4@>^>@^92K6=H@@5^q@2C5]?D7^7:=6D^sz*}##e`aqcg^S7:=6^a_ad\a_aeQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmA@DE65 AF3=:4=Jk^2m @? 2 5:DEC:4E H63D:E6]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 E96 9@FC\=@?8 AC6D6?E2E:@?[ D49@@= 3@2C5 >6>36CD 2?5 5:DEC:4E @77:4:2=D H6C6 42C67F= ?@E E@ DA62< ?682E:G6=J 23@FE $$s] }@C 5:5 E96J 8:G6 2?J :?5:42E:@? E92E 2 3C62< 7C@> $$s H2D 2 C62= A@DD:3:=:EJ]k^Am
kAm鈥(6 2C6 ;FDE[ 7@C 2 =24< @7 36EE6C H@C5D[ D66:?8 H92E @FC @AE:@?D 2C6[鈥 $J=G6DE6C %2J=@C xx[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 D49@@= 3@2C5[ D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 >66E:?8]k^Am
kAmxE H2D 4=62C 7C@> E96 5:D4FDD:@?[ 9@H6G6C[ E92E D@>6 w2K6=H@@5 @77:4:2=D 36=:6G6 E96 5:DEC:4E 4@F=5 36EE6C D6CG6 :ED DEF56?ED H:E9 DA64:2= ?665D @? :ED @H?]k^Am
kAm鈥渪 36=:6G6[ :? >J 962CE @7 962CE[ E92E H9@ 36EE6C E@ E6249 @FC DA64:2= ?665D <:5D WE92? w2K6=H@@5 $49@@= s:DEC:4EX[鈥 %2J=@C D2:5]k^Am
kAmq@2C5 >6>36C $A2C<= (6DE\!CF:EE[ H9@D6 D@? C646:G6D DA64:2= 65 D6CG:46D 7C@> $$s[ D2:5 E96 5:D4FDD:@? H2D 鈥=@?8 2H2:E65]鈥漦^Am
Hazelwood School Board President Sylvester Taylor II speaks during a board meeting at Jana Elementary on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at Hazelwood School District Learning Center.
Post-Dispatch photo
kAm(6DE\!CF:EE D2:5 D96 564:565 E@ AFCDF6 2 D62E @? E96 w2K6=H@@5 D49@@= 3@2C5[ :? A2CE[ 3642FD6 @7 H92E $$s 鈥淗@F=5 ?@E 5@ 7@C >J 49:=5[鈥 255:?8 5:DEC:4E @77:4:2=D D2:5 96C D@? 925 E@ 72:= 367@C6 96 4@F=5 C646:G6 D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAm$96 4:E65 2 鈥5:G:56鈥 36EH66? w2K6=H@@5 2?5 $$s 2?5 4@>A=2:?65 @7 鈥淓6CC:3=6 2EE:EF56D鈥 D96 92D D66? 7C@> $$s E62496CD]k^Am
kAm鈥渪 FA9@=5 E9:D[ 2?5 <?@H E92E H6 42? 5@ E9:D 2?5 E92E H6 42? 5@ :E 4@CC64E=J E@ 36?67:E @FC DEF56?ED[鈥 (6DE\!CF:EE D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 >66E:?8]k^Am
k9amp? F?4@>>@? DJDE6>k^9am
kAm$$s :D @?6 @7 @?=J 2 92?57F= @7 DF49 5:DEC:4ED :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 @?6 @7 @?=J EH@ DA64:2= D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED :? |:DD@FC: E@ @776C 4@F?EJH:56 DA64:2= 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAm|@DE @7 E96 5:DEC:4E鈥橠 ?62C=J ab[___ DEF56?ED C646:G6 D6CG:46D :? E96:C =@42= AF3=:4 D49@@=D] $$s 2=D@ @A6C2E6D D:I @7 :ED @H? =@42E:@?D 7@C DEF56?ED H:E9 9:89 ?665D 2?5 EH@ E649?:42= D49@@=D H:E9 9:89=J D@F89E\27E6C AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAmpE E96 E:>6 @7 $$s鈥橠 7@C>2E:@?[ =@42= 65F42E:@? =6256CD D2:5 E96C6 H6C6 E@@ 76H DEF56?ED ?665:?8 DA64:2= D6CG:46D 2E 2?J @7 E96 E96?\ah D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED :? $E] {@F:D r@F?EJ E@ 65F42E6 E96> 677:4:6?E=J 2?5 64@?@>:42==J]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ !@DE\s:DA2E49 2C49:G6D[ E96C6 H6C6 23@FE a[___ DEF56?ED H:E9 A9JD:42= @C >6?E2= 5:D23:=:E:6D :? E96 4@F?EJ :? `hdf]k^Am
kAmw2K6=H@@5 2=@?6 925 a[dce DEF56?ED H:E9 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? A=2?D[ 42==65 xt!D[ =2DE D49@@= J62C]k^Am
kAm$$s @? %9FCD52J :DDF65 2 DE2E6>6?E 5676?5:?8 E96 4@F?EJH:56 >@56=[ 2?5 564=2C65 :E 2D G:E2= E@52J 2D :E H2D :? E96 `hd_D[ 2=E9@F89 7@C 5:776C6?E C62D@?D]k^Am
kAm鈥(9:=6 E96 ?F>36C @7 DEF56?ED :56?E:7:65 H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D 92D 8C@H?[ D@[ E@@[ 92D E96 4@>A=6I:EJ 2?5 DA64:2=:K2E:@? @7 E96 D6CG:46D E96J C6BF:C6[鈥 E96 DE2E6>6?E C625D]k^Am
kAm鈥$$s鈥橠 4@F?EJH:56 DECF4EFC6 AC@G:56D 5:DEC:4ED 2?5 72>:=:6D 2446DD E@ 2? 6IE6?D:G6 C2?86 @7 AC@8C2>D[ DE277 6IA6CE:D6[ 2?5 C6D@FC46D E92E ?@ D:?8=6 5:DEC:4E 4@F=5 62D:=J C6A=:42E6 @? :ED @H?] %9:D :?4=F56D 9:89=J BF2=:7:65 DE277 H9@ AC@G:56 DA64:2=:K65 4=2DDC@@>D[ E96C2A6FE:4 2?5 3692G:@C2= DFAA@CED[ 2DD:DE:G6 E649?@=@8J[ EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ 2?5 EC2?D:E:@? 2?5 42C66C D6CG:46D]鈥漦^Am
kAmx? 62C=J a_ac[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]DE=E@52J]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^65F42E:@?^4=2JE@?\A2C6?ED\D2J\DA64:2=\D49@@=\5:DEC:4E\:D\72:=:?8\E96:C\<:5D\E96J\H2?E\4=2JE@?\D49@@=D\E@^2CE:4=60a3a``2ee\5`25\``66\3`e2\b7345d`6f5dc]9E>=nFE>0D@FC46lDE=E@52J]4@>U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l?6HD\2=6CEDU2>AjFE>0>65:F>l4:@U2>Aj=4E8l767b_f_g4bha_`4c6d_7U2>AjE?06>2:=069`l32354h3`a_daa25g5cg472c7`2f64`ba5gcg24haa7hhbh`ga62g42c6c__h46agQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD@>6 A2C6?ED :? r=2JE@? $49@@= s:DEC:4Ek^2m D2:5 92G:?8 2 D6A2C2E6 DJDE6> 7@C DA64:2= 65F42E:@? 72:=65 DEF56?ED H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D[ 4:E:?8 @?6C@FD 3FC62F4C24J 2?5 2 =24< @7 4@>>F?:42E:@? 36EH66? $$s 2?5 r=2JE@?] %96 A2C6?ED D2:5 E96J 76=E 42F89E 36EH66? EH@ 5:DEC:4ED 2?5 H6C6 F?DFC6 H9@ E@ 4@?E24E H96? AC@3=6>D 2C@D6]k^Am
kAmr=2JE@? A2C6?E %29?66 y24<D@?\(9:E=@4< D2:5 E9:?8D 92G6 :>AC@G65 5C2DE:42==J :? E96 ?62C=J EH@ J62CD D:?46]k^Am
kAm%96 5:DEC:4ED H@C< E@86E96C >@C6[ D96 D2:5] p?5 H96? A2C6?ED C6A@CE :DDF6D[ E96J ?@ =@?86C 鈥72== @? 5627 62CD 3642FD6 ?@ @?6 H2D E2<:?8 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ[鈥 y24<D@?\(9:E=@4< D2:5]k^Am
kAm鈥渢G6CJ3@5J D66>D 2== :? ?@H[鈥 y24<D@?\(9:E=@4< D2:5]k^Am
k9amw2K6=H@@5 4@?46C?D k^9am
kAm$@>6 4@?46C?D C6=2E65 E@ DA64:2= 65F42E:@? :? w2K6=H@@5 92G6 3F33=65 FA :? C646?E J62CD]k^Am
kAm{2DE D49@@= J62C[ w2K6=H@@5 2?5 $$s D6EE=65 2 5F6 AC@46DD 4@>A=2:?E[ H9:49 2C6 7:=65 AC65@>:?2?E=J 3J A2C6?ED H9@ 36=:6G6 E96:C 49:=5C6? HC@?87F==J H6C6 56?:65 D6CG:46D @C AC@G:565 :?2AAC@AC:2E6 D6CG:46D] s6E2:=D @7 E96 4@>A=2:?E 2C6 ?@E AF3=:4=J 2G2:=23=6] xE H2D @?6 @7 `a D6EE=65 H:E9 $$s =2DE J62C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^56D6]>@]8@G^DA64:2=\65F42E:@?^4@>A=:2?46^5F6\AC@46DD49:=5\4@>A=2:?E^5F6\AC@46DD\564:D:@?DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDE2E6 C64@C5D D9@Hk^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 @E96C `` 4@>A=2:?ED :?G@=G65 D:I 5:DEC:4ED[ :?4=F5:?8 7@FC 7:=65 282:?DE !2C<H2J $49@@= s:DEC:4E 2?5 EH@ 282:?DE E96 {:?536C89 $49@@= s:DEC:4E]k^Am
kAmx? yF=J[ 2 =@?8\E6C> DF3DE:EFE6 E62496C DF65 $$s 2?5 w2K6=H@@5 @G6C 4=2:>D @7 C6E2=:2E:@?[ D2J:?8 D96 H2D C6AC:>2?565 2?5 56>@E65 27E6C 25G@42E:?8 7@C 2 DEF56?E D96 36=:6G65 H2D ?@E 8:G6? 256BF2E6 DA64:2= D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAm%96 DEF56?E鈥橠 >@E96C[ $92G6EE6 q=24<>@?[ E@=5 E96 !@DE\s:DA2E49 D96 92D 8@?6 324< 2?5 7@CE9 36EH66? w2K6=H@@5 2?5 $$s 7@C J62CD E@ 25G@42E6 7@C 96C D@? E@ C646:G6 E96 D6CG:46D 96 ?665D]k^Am
kAmw6C D@? 92D 2FE:D> 2?5 :D ?@H 2 E9:C5 8C256C 2E y2>6DE@H? t=6>6?E2CJ] q=24<>@? 42==65 E96 2CC2?86>6?E 鈥5JDC68F=2E65 2?5 5JD7F?4E:@?2=]鈥漦^Am
kAm鈥減D 2 A2C6?E[ x 2=C625J 925 >J 92?5D 7F==[ 3FE x 925 E@ 2=>@DE F?AFKK=6 H92E H2D 8@:?8 @? 36EH66? 3@E9 @7 E96D6 6?E:E:6D[鈥 q=24<>@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 =2HDF:E[ 7:=65 3J DF3DE:EFE6 E62496C z2鈥檥:6D92 #@36CED@?[ 92D J6E E@ 92G6 2 962C:?8] x? 2 4@FCE 7:=:?8 =2DE >@?E9[ $$s 56?:65 :E 72:=65 E@ AC@G:56 256BF2E6 D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAm#@36CED@? 564=:?65 E@ DA62< 23@FE >@DE @7 E96 2==682E:@?D :? 96C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@FCED]>@]8@G^7G^4^!6E:E:@?]!sun4@FCEr@56la`U2>Aj5:lb_cge`afQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm=2HDF:Ek^2m[ 3FE D2:5 D96 鈥淗2D?鈥橢 E96 7:CDE鈥 E62496C E@ CF? :?E@ D:>:=2C AC@3=6>D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 5:DEC:4E鈥橠 DE2E6>6?E[ $FA6C:?E6?56?E |:4926= |24=:? D2:5 $$s C6>2:?D 7@4FD65 @? D6CG:?8 w2K6=H@@5]k^Am
kAm鈥減D ?665D 2?5 DFAA@CE 4@?E:?F6 E@ 6G@=G6[ E96 G2=F6 @7 2 4@F?EJH:56 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? DJDE6> =:<6 $$s 92D @?=J 566A6?65[鈥 |24=:? D2:5] 鈥渵FC DJDE6> 252AED H:E9 @FC A2CE?6C 5:DEC:4ED[ @776C:?8 E96 6IA6CE:D6[ 4@==23@C2E:@?[ 2?5 D6CG:46D E96J ?665 J62C @G6C J62C E@ 6?DFC6 6G6CJ DEF56?E C646:G6D E96 9:89\BF2=:EJ 65F42E:@? 2?5 DFAA@CE E96J 56D6CG6]鈥漦^Am
k9amr@>>F?:42E:@? 2?5 4@?EC@=k^9am
kAmp C64FCC:?8 E96>6 5FC:?8 w2K6=H@@5鈥橠 $6AE] a 3@2C5 AC6D6?E2E:@? H2D 2 56D:C6 3J E96 5:DEC:4E 7@C >@C6 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAmy2?2 $492676C[ 4@@C5:?2E@C @7 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? 7@C w2K6=H@@5[ D2:5 AC@G:5:?8 D6CG:46D :?\9@FD6 H@F=5 2==@H E96 5:DEC:4E E@ 5:C64E=J >2?286 DE277:?8 2?5 6IA6CE:D6 E92E 鈥2=:8? 4=@D6=J H:E9 5:DEC:4E AC:@C:E:6D]鈥 {@42= @G6CD:89E @776CD >@C6 7=6I:3:=:EJ[ D96 D2:5] p?5 H:E9 E62496C DFA6CG:D:@? 2?5 6G2=F2E:@? D9:7E65 E@ 2 w2K6=H@@5 25>:?:DEC2E@C[ E96 5:DEC:4E 4@F=5 鈥淍AE:>:K6 E96 DE277:?8 DECF4EFC6 E@ @FC =:<:?8]鈥漦^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 2 492?86 H@F=5 A@D:E:@? w2K6=H@@5 E@ 鈥=625 E96 H2J :? D92A:?8 2 a`DE r6?EFCJ >@56= @7 DA64:2= 65F42E:@?[鈥 @?6 E92E H2D 鈥淒EF56?E 7@4FD65 2?5 C6DA@?D:G6 E@ @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]鈥漦^Am
kAmpE @?6 A@:?E[ 3@2C5 >6>36C $E6A96? {6H:D 2D<65 9@H E96 4FCC6?E DA=:E DJDE6> 27764E65 w2K6=H@@5]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E H2?E J@F E@ D2J 2?JE9:?8 325
23@FE $$s[ 3FE x’> 8@:?8 E@ :>28:?6 E92E 3642FD6 :E’D 2 D6A2C2E6 @C82?:K2E:@?[ 2 D6A2C2E6 9:6C2C49J[ ,:E. D@>6E:>6D >:89E :>A656 4@>>F?:42E:@? 36EH66? w2K6=H@@5 A6@A=6[” {6H:D D2:5] “*@F C6BF6DE D6CG:46D[ 2?5 E96? :E
8@6D :?E@ 2 BF6F6 E92E J@F 8FJD 5@?’E 92G6 2?J 4@?EC@= @G6C]”k^Am
kAm鈥%92E鈥橠 2 72:C 2DD6DD>6?E[鈥 $492676C C6DA@?565]k^Am
kAm%96 3@2C5 6?565 E96 AC6D6?E2E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^8@]3@2C55@4D]4@>^>@^92K6=H@@5^q@2C5]?D7^7:=6D^s{ty'$cu`_he^S7:=6^|:?FE6DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm>66E:?8 >:?FE6Dk^2m[ 3J 4@>:?8 E@ 鈥2 4@?D6?DFD E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5鈥 H:E9 D66<:?8 =68:D=2E:@? E@ 8:G6 w2K6=H@@5 E96 @AE:@? E@ D6A2C2E6 7C@> $$s]k^Am
kAmxE :D F?<?@H? 9@H 72C E96 5:DEC:4E 92D 8@?6 :? E92E AC@46DD D:?46]k^Am
kAm%96 !@DE\s:DA2E49 C624965 @FE E@ D:I DE2E6 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 2?5 D6?2E@CD H9@D6 5:DEC:4ED :?4=F56 w2K6=H@@5] ~7 E96 E9C66 E92E C6DA@?565[ ?@?6 D2:5 E96J 925 366? 2D<65 E@ DA@?D@C =68:D=2E:@? @? 3692=7 @7 w2K6=H@@5]k^Am
kAm$FA6C:?E6?56?E }6EE:6 r@==:?D\w2CE D2:5 E96 $6AE] a C6A@CE H2D 2 7@==@H\FA E@ 5:D4FDD:@?D E92E 3682? :? a_ab] %96 5:DEC:4E H:== ?@E E2<6 24E:@? E9:D J62C[ D96 D2:5[ 2?5 鈥>2J36 ?@E 6G6? E96 ?6IE]鈥漦^Am
kAm鈥%9:D :D ?@E 2 AC@A@D2=[ E9:D :D ?@E 2 C64@>>6?52E:@?[鈥 r@==:?D\w2CE D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 $6AE6>36C >66E:?8] 鈥%9:D :D :?7@C>2E:@? E@ FA52E6 2? :?BF:CJ 2D E@ H92E :E >:89E =@@< =:<6[ H92E H@F=5 36 WE96X 4@?D:56C2E:@?D :7 E96 w2K6=H@@5 $49@@= s:DEC:4E 564:565 E@ CF? :ED DA64:2= 65 56A2CE>6?E[ 2D D@>6 @E96C D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2C6 2==@H65 E@ 5@ :? E96 DE2E6]鈥漦^Am
kAm|24=:?[ $$s鈥橠 DFA6C:?E6?56?E[ D6?E @FE 2? 6>2:= E@ A2C6?ED `_ 52JD 27E6C E96 $6AE] a AC6D6?E2E:@?[ D2J:?8 :E =65 E@ BF6DE:@?D 7C@> DE277 2?5 72>:=:6D]k^Am
kAmw6 C6:E6C2E65 H92E r@==:?D\w2CE D2:5 5FC:?8 E96 >66E:?8[ E92E E96 AC6D6?E2E:@? H2D ?@E 2 AC@A@D2= @C C64@>>6?52E:@?]k^Am
kAmw6 25565 E92E 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 w2K6=H@@5 C6>2:?D]k^Am
Post-Dispatch photographers capture tens of thousands of images every year. See some of their best work from September 2025 in this video. Edited by Jenna Jones.
Post-Dispatch staff
Want to see more like this?
Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.