O’FALLON, Mo. — On a June evening in 2021, Ken Gontarz walked from his front-row seat to speak in front of a school board he would later help uproot.
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Sam Young, far left in front row, and Adriana Kuhn, far right in second row, who are both running for the Francis Howell School District board, speak with others in the audience during a break in a board meeting on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
David Carson, Post-Dispatch
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During public comments at the Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, Francis Howell school board meeting, two students and a parent addressed the school board about a proposed rule on which bathrooms transgender students (and others) can use. Video courtesy of the district; edited by Beth O'Malley
Beth O'Malley | Post-Dispatch
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Francis Howell North High School senior Kyndall Bovinett, front, gives a speech to classmates during a walkout protest in front of the school on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. The students were protesting the school board's changes to Black studies courses.Â
David Carson, Post-Dispatch
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Francis Howell School Board member Jane Puszkar listens during a July 20, 2023, meeting as speakers urged the board to vote against rescinding all previously passed resolutions, including an anti-racism resolution.
David Carson, Post-Dispatch
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Kimberly Thompson, center, listens as Francis Howell School Board members on July 20, 2023, consider rescinding an anti-racism resolution. Thompson graduated from a district high school, has two children who also graduated from the district and one child who is currently enrolled.
David Carson, Post-Dispatch
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